John van ‘t Schip in discussions with Ajax to become new manager

John van ‘t Schip is in talks with Ajax to become the new manager. The former Dutch international and former Ajax player confirmed this to NOS. The Amsterdam football club is searching for a new men’s team manager following the immediate departure of Maurice Steijn on Monday.

It remains unclear whether this appointment would be interim and, if so, how long the interim period would last. According to De Telegraaf, he was approached by Ajax to lead the team for the rest of the season, a role he seems open to.

Van ‘t Schip was initially set to take on a more administrative role at the Amsterdam club. He played for Ajax for 11 years between 1981 and 1992 as a winger. After retiring as a player, he worked as a youth coach and later as an assistant coach for Ajax.

He served as the national coach for Greece until 2021 and was previously an assistant coach for the Dutch national team under Marco van Basten between 2004 and 2008. He was also head coach at FC Twente, Melbourne Heart, Chivas, Melbourne City, and PEC Zwolle.

He would replace Maurice Steijn, who had been with the team for less than five months. With only five points in seven Eredivisie matches, the club is off to its worst start ever under Steijn, with the last victory dating back two months ago.

“This morning, I sat down with the board, and we continued our talks later this afternoon. We came to the conclusion that this is what is best for Ajax, although I regret that,” Steijn said on Monday.

Van ‘t Schip is likely to be introduced as the new Ajax head coach after the game against PSV on Sunday. In the interim, Hedwiges Maduro, one of Steijn’s assistants, has been appointed as the temporary coach. Ajax has two away games this week: they will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by a match against Eredivisie leader PSV in Eindhoven on Sunday.