Ajax has announced the dismissal of manager John Heitinga, less than six months after the former Liverpool coach took the permanent job. The decision follows a dismal start to the season that has seen the club fall well behind its rivals.
Disappointing Tenure and Results
Heitinga, 41, who had signed a two-year contract in May after joining from Liverpool, where he served as Arne Slot’s assistant, has been suspended, and his contract will be officially terminated.
- In the Eredivisie, the Amsterdam club won only five of his 11 matches in charge and now sits eight points behind league leaders Feyenoord.
- The team’s performance in the Champions League was particularly poor, losing all four matches, including a decisive 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday.
Heitinga, a former Netherlands defender, has deep ties to Ajax, having played over 200 games for the club before spells as their reserve-team manager and interim head coach.
Club Justification and Staff Changes
Technical director Alex Kroes addressed the “painful decision,” stating that while the club understood a new coach needs time to work with a changed squad, they ultimately felt a change was necessary.
“We have given John that time, but we believe it’s best for the club to appoint someone else to lead the team,” Kroes told the club’s website.
Heitinga’s assistant, Marcel Keizer, will also be dismissed. In a related move, Kroes offered to step down from his own role but was encouraged by the club to remain.
Assistant coach Fred Grim, 60, will take over as Ajax manager on an interim basis.
Search for a New Manager
Local media reports suggest that Ajax is interested in bringing back former manager Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag’s recent managerial history has been turbulent, having been sacked by Manchester United in October 2024 and lasting only two Bundesliga games at Bayer Leverkusen before his dismissal in September of this year.
