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Alfred Schreuder is FIRED by Ajax after a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Volendam, with the Dutch champions fifth in the Eredivisie table having won just one of their last seven games.
Alfred Schreuder has been sacked from his role as Ajax manager after an unfortunate 1-1 draw with Volendam extended his team’s losing streak.
The Dutch giants have won just two games since November 1, and a late equalizer from Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus was the only thing that prevented further embarrassment.
The Dutch champions drew at home to an ailing Volendam and it proved to be the final straw for Schreuder, who has struggled since taking over from Erik ten Hag this season.
Alfred Schreuder was sacked from his position as Ajax manager after a 1-1 draw with Volendam
The club’s fans grew increasingly impatient with the team’s progress under Schreuder.
Thursday’s draw was Schreuder’s sixth in the last nine games in charge, and the pressure had begun to mount on his shoulders with fans growing impatient.
On the heels of the poor midweek result, the club released a statement saying: ‘Ajax has immediately suspended Alfred Schreuder. The coach’s contract was valid until June 30, 2024, but will now be terminated immediately.
‘The many points lost and the lack of development of the team are the main reasons for this decision. The club management no longer trusts further cooperation.
Schreuder will be followed out of the club by his assistant Matthias Kaltenbach
“The collaboration with assistant coach Matthias Kaltenbach will also end.”
Historically the most successful team in Dutch football, Ajax enjoyed a sensational Eredivisie-Dutch Cup double last year under new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who has evidently proven a tough act to follow in the Dutch capital. .
Schreuder’s Ajax now sit fifth in the Dutch top flight, seven points behind leaders Feyenoord, and also behind rivals PSV, AZ Alkmaar and Twente.
The Dutchman faced an open revolt from his players, who reportedly lost faith in his power.
A poor showing in Europe also saw De Godenzonen finish third in their Champions League group, albeit behind Liverpool and Napoli, and they will now face Union Berlin in the Europa League play-offs.
Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Saar has admitted it was a painful move for the club to sack its manager, but it had to happen to get the club back to where it should be.
“It is a painful decision, but also necessary”, began the ex goalkeeper. ‘After a good start to the season, we lost an unnecessary number of points.
It has been suggested that the club lacks leadership at the top after the departure of Erik ten Hag
‘The game was also volatile. The World Cup meant an early and long winter break. time and kept us confident to change things for the better.
In recent weeks it became increasingly clear that he could not turn the tide, while we believe that despite many transfers, he had a strong and championship-worthy team at his disposal.
“We have also lost a lot of points in the last few weeks and unfortunately we didn’t see any progress.”
Several players have expressed their concern about the club’s coaching staff.
Most players raised their hands when asked if they thought the problem was staffing.
Schreuder initially looked like a shrewd signing by the club, after losing just once in October, including a seven-match winning streak between August and September.
But a loss to Liverpool in the Champions League seemed to alter Ajax’s form which became much more erratic.
Back-to-back defeats to Napoli with a 10-3 aggregate scoreline were followed by a 7-1 win over Exelsior and a 4-1 win against RKC Waalwijk.
And a 2-1 loss to arch-rivals PSV sparked a run of six consecutive Eredivisie draws on both sides of the World Cup, punctuated by just a 2-0 win over second-tier side Den Bosch in the Cup. .
Schreuder leaves the club with a record of 12 wins out of 25 in 2022-23, drawing six and losing seven.