The BD Cricket Match community has been buzzing over European football news as Ajax officially announced the dismissal of head coach John Heitinga. According to the club’s statement, Heitinga’s contract—originally set to run until June 30, 2027—has been terminated effective immediately. Assistant coach Marcel Keizer has also been relieved of his duties. In the interim, Fred Grim will step in as caretaker manager while Ajax begins the search for a permanent replacement.
Last season, Heitinga served as assistant coach to Liverpool’s Arne Slot, helping secure the Premier League title. Over the summer, Ajax brought him in to rebuild the squad, hoping to revive the team’s fading dominance in Dutch and European football. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. His record stands at five wins, five draws, and five losses. The breaking point came after a disastrous 0–3 home defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League. With Ajax losing all four of their group-stage matches and sitting at the bottom of the table, the club decided a managerial change was unavoidable. It was a bitter pill to swallow, one that fans compared to a tough BD Cricket Match loss where every decision seemed to go wrong.
Ajax now joins Benfica as one of only two teams in this season’s Champions League without a single win. However, Benfica’s situation is slightly different: after one loss, José Mourinho took over and has since recorded three consecutive defeats in European play. Ajax’s ongoing struggles, coupled with mounting fan frustration, made the board’s decision all but inevitable.
Reports from football insider Fabrizio Romano suggest that Ajax is already in contact with former manager Erik ten Hag. Once hailed as a tactical genius during his first stint with the Dutch giants, Ten Hag is reportedly open to a return after turbulent spells at Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen. His previous tenure saw Ajax reach the Champions League semifinals and dominate the Eredivisie with attacking flair and youth development—qualities the club desperately needs again.
Football fans in Bangladesh who follow both European leagues and BD Cricket Match updates are drawing parallels between Ajax’s revival hopes and the spirit of rebuilding seen in national sports teams. As the club attempts to turn the page and restore its legacy, supporters worldwide hope that Ten Hag’s possible return can bring back the discipline, confidence, and creativity that once defined Ajax. After all, in football as in a BD Cricket Match, momentum can change in the blink of an eye—and sometimes, all it takes is the right leader to make that happen.