NOS Football•
Maurice Steijn is no longer the coach of Ajax. The Amsterdam club reports that the management and Steijn “have jointly decided that the trainer will resign his duties.”
Assistant coach Hedwiges Maduro will take over Steijn’s duties for the time being, but does not have the necessary coaching credentials. John van ‘t Schip is mentioned as an important candidate to finish the season as head coach.
The 49-year-old Steijn signed a three-year contract last summer. Under his leadership, Ajax managed to win only one of its seven competition matches. Last weekend Ajax lost 4-3 to last-place FC Utrecht, leaving Ajax in penultimate place with five points.
“We have worked together very intensively and professionally in recent months, but the sporting results and the development of the team lagged behind,” says interim director Jan van Halst on the Ajax website.
Steijn’s four months at Ajax in a nutshell
“That’s why we sat around the table again today. Maurice himself now also indicated that he has doubts as to whether he is still the right man in the right place. Together we then came to the conclusion that it is better to part ways. “, says Van Halst.
Steijn: all the best for Ajax
Steijn himself also responds on the website: “We came to the conclusion that this is now the best thing for Ajax, although I think it is a great shame. Anyone who knows me knows that I have done everything I can to bring Ajax back to where it is today. club. But I did not succeed. I would like to thank the supporters and the people I have worked with here and I hope that Ajax will soon take the upward path.”
Van der Vaart about Steijn’s departure: ‘Ajax has bigger problem than trainer’
After the loss in Utrecht, Steijn indicated that he still felt confidence from the management. Discussions with Louis van Gaal, advisor to the supervisory board, had strengthened him in this.
Turbulent transfer period
Sven Mislintat appointed Steijn this summer as John Heitinga’s successor. Last season, Steijn surprised as trainer of Sparta, which finished sixth in the Premier League. He previously worked at ADO Den Haag, VVV-Venlo, Al-Wahda FC and NAC Breda.
After an extremely turbulent transfer period, which ultimately cost Mislintat his head, Steijn expressed his dissatisfaction in the media with the summer purchases. After a 0-0 draw at Fortuna Sittard, he said that he only had the feeling that Josip Sutalo would be there immediately.
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