Sad report: John van’t Schip shed tears as Ajax Amsterdam introduced new coach to the team
October 30: Reuters A week after firing Maurice Steijn, Ajax Amsterdam announced on Monday that they had hired John van’t Schip as their interim head coach.
After a string of four league losses left Ajax in second place, Steijn’s tenure at the club came to an end. They fell to the basement position on Sunday following a 5-2 loss at PSV Eindhoven, the league leaders.
John van’t Schip is named Ajax’s temporary head coach. The club announced that the former Ajax player has signed a deal that will keep him with them through June 30, 2025, as of October 30, 2023.
“Van’t Schip and Ajax have agreed to him stepping into a function in technical management from 1, 2024.”
The 59-year-old spent 11 years as an Ajax player before going back to the team to help Marco Van Basten as assistant manager. In 2009, he served as interim manager.
“John is a true Ajax man with a wealth of domestic and global experience, both on and off the field. He seems like the ideal candidate to improve our performances, according to Ajax CEO John van Halst.
“First, as head coach of the first team, for the long term, we see a different technical role for him.”
In his previous management post, he oversaw the Greece national team for more than two years until 2021. Michael Valkanis, who served as that team’s assistant trainer, will now work with him as an assistant at Ajax.
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