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'Couldn't change the tide' - Alfred Schreuder sacked by Ajax half a season after succeeding Erik ten Hag
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Published 27/01/2023 at 10:59 GMT
Ajax have sacked Alfred Schreuder just half a season after appointing the manager to replace Erik ten Hag. Schreuder's side sit fifth in the Eredivisie after a seven-match winless league run and Ajax director Edwin van der Sar said it "became clear he 'couldn't change the tide". Ten Hag departed for Manchester United in the summer, bringing key players Lisandro Martinez and Antony with him.
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Alfred Schreuder has been sacked as Ajax manager just seven months after succeeding Manchester United-bound Erik ten Hag at the club.
The announcement was made after the Dutch giants were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation battlers Volendam on Thursday, leaving Ajax fifth in the Eredivisie and seven points behind leaders Feyenoord.
Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar pointed to "precarious" football and dropping "unnecessary points" as the main reasons for the decision, along with a belief that Schreuder "couldn’t change the tide".
“The disappointing results and lack of development within the team are the main reason for this decision,” read a club statement.
“The management of the club is no longer confident about their agreement. Assistant coach Matthias Kaltenbach’s contract will also be terminated with immediate effect.”
Former Twente, Hoffenheim and Club Brugge boss Schreuder had big boots to fill at Ajax after replacing Ten Hag, who won three league titles and two Dutch Cups in Amsterdam and oversaw a run to the Champions League semi-finals.
His task wasn’t helped by key players Lisandro Martinez and Antony following Ten Hag to Old Trafford, while Sebastien Haller, Ryan Gravenberch, Nicolas Tagliafico and Daley Blind also departed.
Ajax are winless in their last seven league games, drawing the last six in a row, while they were knocked out of the Champions League by finishing third in their group, behind Napoli and Liverpool but ahead of Rangers, to drop into the Europa League.
"This is a painful decision, but it’s necessary. Regardless of the good start to the season, we lost a lot of unnecessary points,” said Van der Sar.
“The football itself was precarious too. Due to the World Cup, we had an early and long break during the winter. We gave Alfred our time and trust to change the way things were going.
“It became clear to us that he could not change the tide. Regardless of the many transfers that took place, we consider the squad fit for a championship. We lost a lot of points over the last few weeks and sadly saw a lack of progression."
Ajax face a trip to Excelsior next on Sunday, while they have a two-legged Europa League clash with Union Berlin coming up next month.
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