Ajax appoint Oscar Garcia as third head coach this season | OneFootball

Ajax have promoted Oscar Garcia from the reserves to head coach on Sunday, a day after a 1-3 defeat to Groningen, with Fred Grim returning to the academy. He is their third coach of the season.

Jordi Cruyff said on the club's website that after talks with Grim they agreed a change was needed. He thanked Grim, confirmed Garcia will see out the campaign and said the next months are crucial, with eight matches left that they must win together.

Ajax have struggled to replace Francesco Farioli, who left for Porto after one season. They began the campaign with John Heitinga, dismissed in early November, and academy chief Grim stepped in to see it through.

The latest switch followed Saturday's defeat to Groningen, which came after a run of one win, four draws and one defeat since early February.

Garcia, previously in charge at Saint-Étienne and Reims, was appointed as Ajax's reserve coach in February.

Ajax are fourth in the Eredivisie, 5 points behind second-placed Feyenoord and 24 adrift of leaders PSV Eindhoven. They exited in the Champions League league phase and lost 0-6 to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Cup last 16.

Source: L'Équipe