Marco Van Basten to coach Ajax
22 February: Marco van Basten has signed a four-year contract to become the head coach of Ajax, once his duties as head of Oranje are completed at Euro 2008. The former Ajax and AC Milan great will take over in Amsterdam in July, and will be joined by his current Oranje assistants John van’t Schip and Rob Witschge.
Rumors about the coaching position at Ajax had centered on Van Basten, who was also considered a candidate for FC Barcelona, and Frank Rijkaard, who is expected to leave Barcelona after a mixed season at Nou Camp. But came under pressure following inconsistent play this season. Both men have the Ajax pedigree the club was seeking. But Van Basten emerged as the favorite this week following the appointment of his mentor, Johann Cruijff, to a special technical oversight position. Cruijff has made no secret of his partiality toward Van Basten for the top post at Ajax.
Van Basten's signing completes a remarkable week of transition at the storied Amsterdam club, following the release of the Colonel Report on Monday, which led to the resignation of the Board of Ajax and the appointment of Cruijff.
Supporters no doubt hope this is marks the end of an ignominious period for Ajax, who have been consistently disappointing in Europe and have not won the Dutch league title since 2004.
"Johan and I have an extremely good relationship. He trusts my feeling and professional insight," van Basten said. "We are in regular contact and have discussed the situation at Ajax."
Regarding his assistants John van 't Schip and Rob Witschge, van Basten said: "I trust the people I have worked with in recent years. We are a team and complement each other."
Van Basten will be officially presented at Ajax on March 5 and then will return to his duties at Oranje to prepare for the Euro 2008 finals.
Ajax technical director Martin van Geel expressed his satisfaction with his new coaching staff on the club's official web site: "They are three ambitious coaches with an Ajax background who all have had international soccer careers and have built up experience as trainers."
Marco van Basten returns to Ajax for the first time since his brief stint as coach of Young Ajax in 2003-2004. As a player, he debuted for Ajax in 1982 at age 17, as a replacement for "living legend" Cruyff. He scored a total of 151 goals in 172 games for the club before moving to AC Milan, where he twice won the European Cup, in 1989 and 1990. (Jim McGough)
Sources: Ajax.nl, CNN
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