Ajax Seeks New Coach as Erik ten Hag Declines Offer

Erik ten Hag has officially declined the coaching position at Ajax, stating, “No, thank you,” citing a lack of prospective opportunities as the primary reason for his decision. The club is now in discussions with their second candidate.

The frontrunner for the role appears to be Paul Simonis, who was recently dismissed from his position as coach of the German club VfL Wolfsburg. Reports from journalist Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland indicate that conversations are underway with Simonis, who achieved success last season by winning the KNVB Cup with Go Ahead Eagles, a fact that is being corroborated by multiple sources.

However, reactions from fans of the Eredivisie club on various social media platforms have been largely negative. Comments such as “We’re going to fail” and concerns about Simonis’ recent termination at Wolfsburg have surfaced. One fan expressed skepticism, stating, “How can Ajax, with all its internal pressures, media scrutiny, and impatient supporters, opt for a coach who just left a troubled situation? This seems destined for disaster.” Another fan voiced a strong preference for alternative candidates, arguing that Simonis does not measure up to former coach Farioli and advocated for Iñigo Perez as the best current option, insisting that the team’s players deserve a more capable trainer.