Ajax officially sack John Heitinga

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Ajax officially sacked head coach John Heitinga following a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League, a result which left the Dutch club bottom of their group with four losses from four matches[1]. This poor run in Europe is compounded by a disappointing domestic form, as Ajax currently sits fourth in the Eredivisie, eight points adrift of leaders Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven[1].

The club issued a statement confirming that Heitinga's contract, originally running until June 30, 2027, has been terminated with immediate effect. Assistant coach Marcel Keizer was also relieved of his duties. In the interim, academy chief Fred Grim will take charge of the first team as Ajax begins the search for a new head coach[1][2].

Technical director Alex Kroes expressed disappointment over the lack of progress under Heitinga, emphasizing the decision was painful but necessary due to the team’s inability to meet expectations and dropped points both domestically and in Europe. Kroes acknowledged the challenges of integrating a new coach with a changing squad but stated the club felt a change in leadership was required[2].

Heitinga, a former Netherlands international and ex-Liverpool coach, had joined Ajax with hopes of restoring the club’s former dominance after a three-year trophy drought. Despite initial support and praise for his mentorship qualities, particularly from players like Ryan Gravenberch, inconsistent performances and poor results led to growing fan and pundit unrest[4].

Earlier in the season, after heavy losses in the Champions League against clubs like Olympique Marseille and Inter Milan, the Ajax board had chosen to back Heitinga, urging patience given the challenging transfer window and squad changes. However, mounting pressure and recent defeats culminated in the club’s decision to part ways[3][5].

Fred Grim, who was promoted to assistant coach on Heitinga’s recommendation, now steps up as caretaker manager. The club thanked Heitinga and Keizer for their efforts and indicated a swift process to appoint a permanent replacement[1][2].