AP, Amsterdam :
Ajax has hired Erik ten Hag from Utrecht to coach the 33-time Dutch champions.
The 47-year-old Ten Hag signed a 2 +-year contract to replace Marcel Keizer, who was fired last week after Ajax was eliminated from the Dutch Cup.
Ajax entered the winter break second in the Dutch league, five points behind PSV Eindhoven, and doesn’t play again until Jan. 21 against Feyenoord.
Ten Hag played for FC Twente, De Graafschap, RKC Waalwijk and Utrecht.
He began his coaching career at the Twente academy in 2002 and served as assistant at PSV from 2009 to 2012 before leading Go Ahead Eagles into the Eredivisie. He moved to Germany in 2013 to coach Bayern Munich’s reserve team but returned to the Netherlands two years later.
After being hired by Utrecht, Ten Hag finished fifth in his first season and went one better the following campaign.
Erik ten Hag has been appointed as Ajax’s new head coach on a two-and-half-year deal.
Ajax last week suspended boss Marcel Keizer and coaches Hennie Spijkerman and Dennis Bergkamp from active duty due to an underwhelming campaign that has seen them fail to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League – having finished runners-up to Manchester United in the latter last season.
