Dutch football giant Ajax has announced the sacking of coach John Heitinga. The decision follows a dismal start to the season. The team currently occupies the bottom spot in the Champions League table.
“Ajax is looking for a new head coach,” the four-time European champions stated. “In the meantime, Fred Grim will take over Heitinga’s duties.”
Heitinga signed a two-year contract in May. However, he failed to orchestrate a turnaround in the club’s fortunes. Ajax confirmed his contract would be terminated immediately.
Humiliating European Run
The final blow to Heitinga’s tenure was a humiliating loss in the Champions League on Wednesday. Ajax suffered a bruising 3-0 defeat at home to Galatasaray. This followed a demoralizing 5-1 thrashing away to Chelsea.
The team’s European record became untenable:
- Key Losses: They faced a 4-0 loss to Marseille and a 2-0 defeat against Inter Milan.
- Overall Record: The final tally in Europe stands at zero points, one goal scored, and 14 conceded.
Domestically, Ajax currently sits in fourth place in the Dutch Eredivisie. They languish eight points behind the leading teams, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.
Fans had already expressed their frustration. Supporters jeered Heitinga at Stamford Bridge, signaling a loss of faith in their manager.
Technical Director Stays for Continuity
The club’s technical director, Alex Kroes, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. He admitted it was a “painful decision.”
“We know it can take time for a new coach to work with a squad that has undergone changes,” Kroes said. “We have given John that time, but we believe it’s best for the club to appoint someone else to lead the team.”
Kroes offered his own resignation. Nevertheless, the board asked him to stay in place to maintain some continuity during the transition. He is under contract until the end of the season. “Should the club appoint a new technical director earlier, I will hand over my responsibilities at that time,” he stated.
Recovering from Past Failures
The Amsterdam-based club is still recovering from an extraordinary collapse last season. They somehow squandered the league title from a seemingly impregnable position.
With only five matches remaining, Ajax was nine points clear. Yet, they managed to hand the title to PSV Eindhoven after drawing twice and losing twice. The season before, Ajax had suffered its worst-ever start to a campaign.
Heitinga’s playing career included stints at centre-back for Atletico Madrid, Everton, and Fulham. He retired in 2016 after a brief return to his boyhood club.
He earned 87 caps for the Netherlands, famously receiving a red card in extra time during the 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.
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