With Ten Hag heading for Man U, Ajax has a few jobs to fill

Photo: DutchNews.nl
Photo: DutchNews.nl

Now Ajax has confirmed that coach Erik ten Hag is heading for England at the end of the season, after months of speculation, the focus is on who will replace him at the Amsterdam club.

Dutch media report that Alfred Schreuder, Ten Hag’s former assistant who now coaches Club Brugge, is top of the club’s list of potentials.

Schreuder was assistant coach when Ajax made the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019 and is now in with a chance of winning the Belgian league title with Brugge.

According to Voetbal International, the 49-year-old’s contract runs until 2023 but he has a release clause of €1.5 million.

Peter Bosz, now with Olympique Lyonnais, would also fit with Ajax’s wish for someone who stimulates attacking football, but the club chairman has reportedly said he will not let the 58-year-old go.

Other options include Feyenoord trainer Arne Slot, who has not yet totally dismissed the idea – despite the controversy it would create.

In addition to replacing Ten Hag, the club needs to find a new director of football following the departure of Marc Overmars in a sexual harassment scandal.

Technical manager Gerry Hamstra is currently responsible for the squad, but told broadcaster ESPN earlier that it was ‘up to the supervisory board’ whether or not he had their long term confidence.

The new director will also have to decide how to replace several key players who are on the transfer list.

Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui and keeper André Onana are all poised to leave, as is, potentially, Nicolás Tagliafico. Some also suggest that Antony and top scorer Sébastien Haller may be difficult to keep.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag has said he aims to finish his tenure at Ajax on a positive note by winning the league.

Ajax are currently four points clear of PSV Eindhoven with five matches to play.

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