Ajax sack assistant Dennis Bergkamp in coaching clear-out

Ajax have sacked assistant coach Dennis Bergkamp and head coach Marcel Keizer.

Fellow assistant Hennie Spijkerman has also been “removed from active duty”.

General manager Edwin van der Sar said the decision came following “European elimination” and a poor start to the season.

Ajax sit second in the Dutch league, but exited the Champions League and Europa League in the preliminary rounds and were knocked out of the Dutch Cup on penalties by FC Twente on Wednesday.

Van der Sar added that the club “did not have the confidence that we will reach the levels we seek in the manner in which we have been proceeding” with the trio leading the coaching team.

​​The club added that with Bergkamp “there is also a difference of opinion about the technical policy to be implemented”.

In a statement on the club website, Van der Sar said: “We had a horrible summer and poor start to the season.

“The elimination from European competition was the lowest point and with [technical director] Marc Overmars we have had many discussions in recent months over the ongoing ability of our first team.”

Keizer was promoted from his role in charge of the youth team in the summer after Peter Bosz left for Borussia Dortmund.

Bergkamp, 48, returned to the club in a coaching capacity in 2011.

The former Arsenal and Netherlands forward began his playing career at Ajax, where he was given his debut as a 17-year-old by manager Johan Cruyff.

 

bbc.com

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