Ajax Amsterdam in crisis: Coach Van ‘t Schip before taking office

Bottom of the Eredivisie table

After a “dark day for Ajax” and the historic fall to the bottom of the Eredivisie table, the mood in Amsterdam has reached its lowest point: the Dutch record champions have never had a worse start to a season in which, after eight games, they have already lost a coach, the sports director and a chairman of the supervisory board had to take off their hat. After the fifth league defeat in a row at PSV Eindhoven, those responsible, despite all the despair, turned their attention to the future and possible winter transfers. According to consistent media reports, ex-professional John van ‘t Schip will officially take over the coaching position on Monday.

After the dismissal of Maurice Steijn last week, the latter was taken over on an interim basis by 38-year-old Hedwiges Maduro, who will continue to be part of the team under van ‘t Schip, it is said. After the 2:5 in Eindhoven, Maduro confirmed with a view to the current sporting situation: “You could see in the second half that we weren’t mentally and physically up to speed. It’s also about perseverance. And if an opponent hurts you, you have to act smart. I think we miss certain guys on the field. We have to pay attention to this even in winter.”

Midfielder Branco van den Boomen also echoed the same sentiment: “Of course things can go much better with this selection, but if you really want to progress, you need more maturity in some positions. (…) I find it unbelievable how we gave this game away, I’m angry about that.”

Ajax’s sell-outs: Only two clubs since 2000 with a better transfer balance

Ajax underwent a major squad shake-up in the summer, as a result of which the team did not get back to its usual rhythm and was a sporting disappointment after the opening win against Almelo. In the Europa League too, after three group games, there have only been two meager draws, and as the bottom of the group is currently in danger of being eliminated. Around a dozen new players came before the season for 109.3 million euros, in return the club earned 156.4 million euros from transfers. In recent years, Ajax has regularly sold its top performers to top international clubs for a lot of money as part of several bloodlettings; only two European clubs have made a larger profit this millennium (for statistics).

On Sunday, Maduro complained about the “lack of a certain structure,” which now needs to be repaired internally as quickly as possible. “Then decisions will be made better. That hasn’t happened here in the last two years, which means people are constantly coming and going. That carries over into the selection and ultimately onto the field.”

But it wasn’t just his team’s attacking play that gave the interim coach hope for a return to success in the first half. The fact that “a lot has started to happen in the background” at the club at other levels and that Louis van Gaal and Danny Blind, “now real Ajax players,” are providing advice there, also makes Maduro look positively into the future. “And maybe another Ajax player will come next week,” explained the 38-year-old, referring to his successor.

Ajax Amsterdam: John van ‘t Schip should take over as coach

According to consistent media reports, this should officially be taken over on Monday by the former Greek national coach John van ‘t Schip, who can look back on a long Ajax past both as a coach and as a professional.

According to reports, the 59-year-old will have a contract until the end of the season. The Canadian native could make his debut in the catch-up game against FC Volendam on Thursday and leave the Eredivisie relegation zone with a win.

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