Ajax confirm that they have appointed John Van’t Schip as their new coach for the remainder of the season.
Ajax have confirmed that they appointed John van’t Schip as the club’s head coach until the end of the season.
The Dutch giants are currently enduring their worst-ever start to a season in their history on the back of selling a number of their key men during the summer.
Maurice Steijn was tasked with the job of rebuilding a new squad, but he lasted just 11 matches having recorded only two wins, one of which came in the Europa League qualifiers.
As a result, Steijn was removed from his position in charge at the start of last week, Hedwiges Maduro being handed the reins on a temporary basis.
However, subsequent defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and PSV Eindhoven – leaving Ajax at the bottom of the Eredivisie standings – have led to club officials bringing in Van’t Schip on a contract until the conclusion of 2023-24.
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Van’t Schip is no stranger to the Amsterdam giants having spent over a decade of his playing days at the club as assistant and youth coach since hanging up his boots.
The 59-year-old’s last stint came between 2008 and 2010, but he has since spend time abroad with the likes of Guadalajara and Melbourne City.
A period with Dutch club PEC Zwolle preceded his time on the international scene with Greece, with whom he recorded 11 wins and just six defeats during a 26-game spell.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Van’t Schip said: “I am happy that it has been completed and I am very much looking forward to starting at the club where it all started for me.
“From the conversations I have had with everyone involved about this, I have a very good feeling left. Ajax must quickly take the sporting path upwards and I am happy to contribute to that.”
Van’t Schip’s first fixture in charge will be the Eredivisie showdown with FC Volendam – a team that sits just two points ahead of Ajax in the table – on Thursday.