Ajax appoints Van't Schip as New Manager

Ajax has n seeamed John van't Schip (59) as their interim head coach following the departure of Maurice Steijn (49), the Eredivisie club revealed on Monday.

Steijn exited after a string of four league defeats that left Ajax in the penultimate position, and a subsequent 5-2 loss to league leaders PSV Eindhoven pushed them to the bottom spot.

"Former Ajax player John van't Schip has been appointed as the interim head coach. He has penned a contract with the club spanning from October 30th, 2023 to June 30th, 2025," the club officially announced.

Van't Schip, a player who began his career at Ajax and spent 11 years at the club, returned as an assistant manager to Marco Van Basten and took up the interim manager role in 2009.

"John, a true Ajax figure with vast national and international experience both on and off the field, is the ideal individual to steer our team's performances in a positive direction," stated Ajax CEO John van Halst.

Van't Schip is not just envisioned as the immediate head coach but is also being considered for a different technical role in the long term by Ajax.

Formerly coaching the Greece national team until 2021, van't Schip will be joined by his assistant trainer from that tenure, Michael Valkanis (49), who will now assume the role of his assistant at Ajax.