Ajax Dismisses Coach Heitinga, Technical Director Kroes Resigns
Ajax has taken decisive action by dismissing coach John Heitinga following a disappointing start to the season. Heitinga’s team struggled in the Eredivisie and suffered four consecutive losses in the Champions League. Alongside Heitinga, assistant coach Marcel Keizer has also been let go.
Fred Grim, who joined the technical staff last month, will temporarily assume Heitinga’s responsibilities. Meanwhile, technical director Alex Kroes has resigned from his position effective immediately. Kroes stated, “My contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but I will hand over my duties if the club appoints a new technical director.”
Performance Overview
Kroes addressed the decision to part ways with Heitinga, emphasizing its painful nature. He noted, “Given how the past months have unfolded, we must acknowledge that our expectations were not met. The lack of progress and dropped points were concerning.”
Champions League Struggles
Ajax faced humiliating defeats in the Champions League, including a 4-0 loss to Olympique Marseille and a 5-1 defeat to Chelsea. Additionally, they suffered a 3-0 loss at home to Galatasaray. Currently, in the Eredivisie, Ajax finds themselves in fourth place, trailing leaders Feyenoord and PSV by eight points.
Background on Heitinga
John Heitinga, aged 41, is a former Ajax player who made 218 appearances, winning the league title twice. He also represented the Netherlands in 87 international matches, including the 2010 World Cup final. After retiring as a player, he transitioned to coaching, initially serving as a youth trainer at Ajax.
In January 2023, Heitinga was appointed as interim coach after Alfred Schreuder’s dismissal. Under his leadership, Ajax reached the KNVB Cup final and secured third place in the Eredivisie. Despite this, the club opted not to continue with him, leading Heitinga to work as an assistant manager in England for clubs like West Ham United and Liverpool.
Upcoming Matches
Ajax’s next game will be against FC Utrecht on Sunday. Following the international break, they will host Excelsior. Additionally, Ajax’s next European challenge is scheduled for November 25, where they will face Benfica, who, like Ajax, currently sits without points in the Champions League.
