Ajax have announced the sacking of John Heitinga. The 39-year-old former Ajax defender spent the second half of the season as Ajax’s head coach, but after a third-place finish in the Eredivisie, the Amsterdam giants have started the search for his successor.
In a statement issued on the club website, Director of Football Sven Mislintat said ‘I have told John this afternoon. On a personal level, this was a tough decision and it was not easy to tell him. John got on board to help the club in a difficult time, and he did that full of dedication. We are very grateful for that. It was a difficult period, Ajax was in fifth place and ended in third place. He learnt a lot in the last couple of months and we would like to play a role in his development and keep him connected to the club.’
Mislintat continued by saying ‘I have concluded that Ajax needs a more experienced head coach. In the phase we are in right now, and to better Ajax’s performance, that is of great importance.’ Ajax will have to settle for Europa League football next season after a disappointing campaign.
