NOS Football•
Fred Grim finishes the season at Ajax. The coach took over on an interim basis after the dismissal of John Heitinga in November.
Due to good results, Ajax has now chosen to keep Grim in the group for the coming months. Grim lost his first three matches with Ajax before the winter break, but then the tide turned. Ajax won six of the seven matches that followed.
After a poor start to the season, the Amsterdam team is now third, three points behind number two Feyenoord.
The 60-year-old former goalkeeper started this season in his managerial role as Head of Coaching, but left that post when a replacement for Heitinga was needed.
Ajax will have a new technical director in Jordi Cruijff from February. He must decide whether Ajax will look for a new trainer for the new season or whether Grim may be allowed to stay on longer.
Technical staff
After appointing Grim, Ajax strengthened its technical staff with Denny Landzaat and Paul Nuijten. Of the staff that started the season under Heitinga, only former player Urby Emanuelson stayed on.
Last week Grim said that he gradually wants to play more attacking football with Ajax. Before the winter break, he mainly returned to the tactical recipe of Francesco Farioli, who left for Porto, and the emphasis was on control.
Under Grim, three youth players got their chance: Aaron Bouwman, Rayane Bounida and Sean Steur. Ajax hopes to strengthen itself in the transfer market with a back and a controlling midfielder. Ajax sold midfielder Kenneth Taylor to Italian Lazio last week.
Grim played as a goalkeeper for Ajax and SC Cambuur. He was active as a trainer at Almere City, RKC, Willem II and FC Emmen, among others. He was also an assistant and interim coach with the Dutch national team.
