Ajax appoint Van Basten as new boss

Van Basten (top), a former AC Milan striker, signed a four-year deal with Ajax that will begin on July 1.

Ajax have named Marco van Basten as their new coach with the former AC Milan striker set to take over after Euro 2008.


Van Basten is currently in charge of Holland but announced in December he would not be renewing his contract with the Dutch FA (KNVB) following the summer showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.


He has agreed a four-year deal at the Amsterdam Arena which starts on July 1.


Van Basten's assistants John van't Schip and Rob Witschge will also move to Ajax in the summer.


The 43-year-old, who had a spell coaching Ajax's reserves in the 2003/04 season, will take over from Adrie Koster who has been in caretaker charge since Henk ten Cate quit the post in October to become part of Avram Grant's backroom staff at Chelsea.


Ajax technical director Martin van Geel told the club's official website: "We are delighted with the news.


"They (Van Basten, Van't Schip and Witschge) are three ambitious coaches with an Ajax pedigree and all three have had an international career as a player and now they also have enough experience as coaches.


"It's also very good that we have clarity about the technical staff for the coming seasons."


Van Basten's agent Perry Overeem said his client was pleased to have returned to a club he served with such distinction as a player.


Overeem said: "We have worked in the last few weeks with the full management of Ajax to come to a successful conclusion.


"Both parties are pleased about how things went and the outcome of it all.


"The duration of the negotiations makes clear the precision and attention to the whole process."