Ex-professional convinces with “Vision”
Ajax Amsterdam is going into the rest of the season with ex-professional Johnny Heitinga as coach. As the top Dutch club announced on Thursday, the 39-year-old, who recently worked on an interim basis, will be on the sidelines until the summer. Both sides have agreed on this. The 39-year-old Heitinga, actually responsible for the under-23s in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie and once in action 87 times for the “Elftal”, recorded his first win as a professional head coach in the 4-1 win over Excelsior on January 29.
Those responsible at Ajax had parted ways with Alfred Schreuder three days earlier, and the former Hoffenheim trainer’s contract was terminated with immediate effect. The Eredivisie champions were still without a win in the new year and have not won a single one of the last seven games under Schreuder. The capital city have drawn their opponents six times since November. Then Heitinga took over and won. He will have an experienced assistant at his side in the form of Dwight Lodeweges.
Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar said: “We are convinced that this is the right solution. John is on a clear and steady path that has resulted in him evolving very well over the years. Gerry Hamstra (Technical Director; ed.), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Management Advisor) and I had many discussions and of course also with John. We are confident in John’s qualities and the vision he has. When looking for reinforcements for the technical staff, we unanimously agreed on Dwight Lodeweges. His knowledge and extensive coaching experience complement John and the rest of the team. The team needs to win now, work on their confidence and develop. We still have a lot ahead of us this season.”
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Actually, Amsterdam went into the long World Cup break with confidence, before which Ajax was in second place. Vulnerabilities should be addressed over time. Ajax, currently fourth, had made numerous key players in the summer transfer window. The club earned 216 million euros through transfers and reinvested 113 million euros in new players. Ajax even set a new record sale with Anthony (for 95 million euros to Man United). Lisandro Martínez (Man United), Sébastien Haller (BVB) and Ryan Gravenberch (FC Bayern) also left the club before the season.
Ajax and @JohnHeitinga have agreed on remaining head coach of Ajax 1 for the rest of the season.
Let’s do this, John!
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 2, 2023
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