Former Netherlands defender John Heitinga has been appointed as the new coach at Ajax, the Dutch club announced on Saturday."I'm ready to continue as a head coach and I'm honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax.

Ajax has hired John Heitinga as head coach to replace Francesco Farioli nearly two weeks after the Italian resigned following the team’s late-season collapse.

The 41-year-old has rejoined the club on a two-year contract and will be assisted by another Ajax academy product, Marcel Keizer. Heitinga succeeds Francesco Farioli, who left Aja