Ajax director on Farioli’s exit: “He was unstoppable, wanted out” | OneFootball

Alex Kroes spoke publicly about the current situation at Ajax, following the dismissal of John Heitinga from the technical command of the Dutch club. In statements to Ajax Life, the technical director justified the decision and acknowledged that it could have been made earlier.

“I had a meeting with the entire board and we concluded that it was time to let John [Heitinga] go. Everyone agreed, it was a unanimous decision. He was very disappointed. The hardest part is that we also saw positive moments in the games. Unfortunately, they were very brief. We wanted to give John more time and space, but it wasn't possible. Now, looking back, it's easy to see that this decision should have been made earlier.”

The 51-year-old official also responded to criticism regarding the departure of Francesco Farioli from Ajax, assuring that the initiative came from the coach himself:

“I often receive that criticism, but it is really unfair. Francesco [Farioli] was unstoppable. He really wanted to leave.”

When asked about who might take over the command, Alex Kroes commented on rumors pointing to Erik ten Hag's return to the Dutch club:

“I don’t comment on main candidates, or even second or third options. There are always names circulating and people we have already been in contact with over time. Initially, there were also similar rumors about Farioli. Now, there will always be doubts about any decision we make, unless we appoint Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique. At Ajax, there is always room for improvement.”

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