Dutch football powerhouse Ajax have parted ways with coach John Heitinga following a dismal run of results that has left the club bottom of their Champions League group and struggling domestically.
“Ajax is looking for a new head coach. In the meantime, Fred Grim will take over Heitinga’s duties,” the four-time European champions announced in a statement on Thursday.
Heitinga, who signed a two-year contract in May, failed to reverse the club’s decline and will now have his deal terminated.
The club’s technical director, Alex Kroes, described the decision as “painful” but said it was necessary. “We know it can take time for a new coach to work with a squad that has undergone changes,” Kroes said. “We have given John that time, but we believe it’s best for the club to appoint someone else to lead the team.”
Kroes offered to resign in light of the crisis, but the board urged him to remain to maintain stability until a new appointment is made.
The final straw came after a 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday, compounding earlier 5-1, 4-0, and 2-0 losses to Chelsea, Marseille, and Inter Milan respectively. Ajax’s European record stands at zero points, one goal scored, and 14 conceded—their worst in decades.
In the Eredivisie, the Amsterdam club sits fourth, eight points behind leaders Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven. Fans’ frustration boiled over at Stamford Bridge last week, where Heitinga was jeered for his substitutions.
Ajax’s decline has been dramatic. Just last season, they squandered a nine-point lead with five games remaining to hand the league title to PSV. The year before, they endured their worst-ever start to a domestic campaign.
Heitinga, 41, enjoyed a successful playing career as a centre-back with Atletico Madrid, Everton, and Fulham, and earned 87 caps for the Netherlands, notably receiving a red card in the 2010 World Cup final against Spain.
What You Should Know
John Heitinga, a former Dutch international defender, has been dismissed as Ajax head coach after a catastrophic European campaign.
Under his leadership, Ajax failed to earn a single Champions League point, conceding 14 goals in four games. Despite his legacy as a former club player, mounting pressure and fan unrest left the board with no choice but to act.
