Champions League strugglers Ajax sack manager John Heitinga | OneFootball

Ajax announced this Thursday (6th) the dismissal of coach John Heitinga, after a poor start to the season in which the team occupies the last position (36th) in the Champions League, with four defeats. Heitinga had been in the position since May, when he signed a two-year contract.

The club's technical director, Alex Kroes, admitted that the decision to dismiss the coach was “painful”.

“We know that a new coach needs time to work with a team that has undergone changes,” said the director. “We gave John that time, but we believe that it is better for the club to put someone else in charge of the team,” he added.

Kroes also offered to step down, but the board asked him to stay. His contract runs until the end of the season.

Interim coach Fred Grim will take charge of the team until a new coach is hired.

Last Wednesday, Ajax was defeated at home by Galatasaray 3-0, in a match for the 4th round of the Champions League.

Photo: John Thys / AFP

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.