Prior to Netherlands international John Heitinga will stay Ajax coach for the rest of the season, the club said on Thursday.
the Old Atlético Madrid and Everton defender transferred from Jong AjaxThe club’s reserve team, playing in the Dutch second division, will take over the first team last weekend as caretaker manager after Alfred Schreuder was sacked.
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Ajax beat Excelsior Rotterdam 4-1 away in his first game in charge on Sunday.
The club say Heitinga will remain at the helm for the remainder of the season, with experienced Dwight Lodeweges appointed as his assistant.
“We believe this is the right solution. John has followed a careful and gradual path, which has allowed him to develop very well as a coach in recent years.” , general manager Edwin van der Sar said in a statement.
The victory helped Ajax increase one place in the Dutch rankings to 4th place, 5 points behind the top team Feyenoord. Defending champions Ajax will visit Cambuur Leeuwarden on Sunday.
The 65-year-old is a temporary assistant and coach at PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch national team.
Schreuder was fired after a string of bad results just six months after taking over from Erik ten Hag, who had moved to Manchester United.
