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The Amsterdam club announced on Wednesday the dismissal of the head coach Danny Blind and his assistants Ruud Krol and Gerard van der Lemo. Despite the team recently securing a ticket to the next season's Champions League in additional matches, the official club statement claims that the team did not fulfill their tasks.
"The team did not achieve its main goal - the fight for the title of Dutch champions, the style of football played was not what was expected, it was not attractive, attacking, and dominating. The progress of the team and individual players, despite some exceptions, was insufficient throughout the year. The club wishes to especially thank Danny Blind for all his efforts working with Ajax," the statement said.
After Ronaldo Koeman's departure in March 2005, former long-time Ajax player Danny Blind took over as head coach and helped the team win the Dutch Super Cup and silver medals in the league in the 2004/05 season. This season, the team also reached the Champions League quarterfinals, but they performed poorly in the national championship, finishing 24 points behind champions PSV and in fourth place.
However, despite this poor position, Ajax managed to secure a spot in the Champions League qualifying tournament. They defeated Feyenoord and Groningen in the additional matches, sealing their qualification. Despite his success as a player and coach, Blind could not save his position as head coach.
During his 13-year playing career with Ajax from 1986 to 1999, Blind played 372 league matches for the club, winning five national championship titles, four cups, the Champions League, the Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. After retiring, he joined the coaching staff and became the head of Ajax's youth academy in February 2003, later taking over as the head coach of the main team.
It is believed that Blind's vacant position could be filled by Henk ten Cate, currently an assistant coach at Barcelona. However, ten Cate stated that he would not discuss his future until after the Champions League final on May 17, where the Dutchman will face Arsenal from London.
