Ajax has added Fred Grim to John Heitinga’s technical staff on Tuesday. The head coach himself proposed the sixty-year-old former goalkeeper.
Technical director Alex Kroes says at Grim’s presentation that he, Heitinga and Marijn Beuker had been looking for a reinforcement for the technical staff for some time. “John suggested adding Fred,” says Kroes.
“With Fred, we bring in quality and a lot of experience, daily on the field and on the bench at matches. We want to further strengthen the staff around the team, with the aim of improving both the sporting results and the development of the game and of the individual players.”
The expansion of the technical staff indicates that the Ajax board supports Heitinga for the time being. The coach of the Amsterdammers is criticized for the sluggish game and the disappointing results.
Ajax is still unbeaten in the Eredivisie, but loses points against Go Ahead Eagles, Sparta Rotterdam and FC Volendam. In the Champions League, Ajax lost without a chance against Olympique Marseille last week.
Grim was already working as head coaching in Ajax’s youth academy. Previously, he was also active as a trainer at Ajax, and also at Sparta Rotterdam, Almere City, RKC, Willem II, Emmen, Jong Oranje and the Dutch national team.