Ajax are out of European football for the season after what the Dutch media describe as a “humiliating” 4-0 loss to English side Aston Villa in the Conference League round of 16 on Thursday evening.

The first leg, at home in Amsterdam, was a 0-0 draw. 

The defeat means no Dutch clubs have made it through to the quarter-finals of any of the three European club competitions this year. 

The painful exit for Ajax coincides with the first day of work for new director Alex Kroes, who had been previously in charge at Go Ahead Eagles and AZ. He, said broadcaster NOS, now faces his biggest ever task – helping an imploded Ajax get back on top.

The club is currently in fifth place in the Eredivisie and has no chance of overtaking current league leader PSV. European football next season is also open to question.

Top of his to-do list will be finding a new chief coach. John van ‘t Schip, will have a different role within the organisation next season. Youth trainer Dave Vos is one of the names that has been mentioned, as is Pepijn Lijnders, who is leaving Liverpool where he has been assisting Jürgen Klopp.

Ajax are next in action in the Eredivise against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday.