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Ajax is in danger of losing Hedwiges Maduro to Almere City. The 39-year-old former footballer took the opposite path last summer, but according to Voetbal International he is now in the picture to succeed Alex Pastoor as head coach in Almere at the end of the season. Maduro’s contract with Ajax expires in mid-2026.
De Telegraaf announced last Friday that Pastoor does not intend to extend his contract, which expires at the end of the season. The coach, who led the Flevolanders to the Eredivisie for the first time in club history last season, is said to have hoped to take ‘a step higher’ and has given Almere City permission to look for a successor.
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The newspaper wrote that Rick Kruys is one of the candidates to take over Pastor’s duties next summer. The former midfielder announced earlier this year that he would not renew his contract with VVV-Venlo, and is also mentioned as a possible successor to Kees van Wonderen at SC Heerenveen. However, the Frisian club has also approached Robin van Persie and according to Voetbal International, Maduro is now also a name that is ‘frequently circulating’ in Almere.
However, Ajax would like to keep Maduro on board, albeit in a different role than that of assistant coach that he currently holds. “The club sees him as the successor to Dave Vos at Jong Ajax,” reporter Tim van Duijn reports. Last Monday, Maduro was also ultimately responsible for that team, but that was related to obtaining the highest coaching diploma next month.
Maduro had been Pastoor’s assistant coach at Almere for two years, but decided to move to his childhood sweetheart Ajax last summer. There, Maduro initially became assistant coach to Maurice Steijn, who was soon fired. After a few games as interim head coach of Ajax, Maduro became assistant to John van ‘t Schip.
