Paul Simonis, the coach linked to Ajax, has extended his contract with Go Ahead Eagles by a year on Thursday. The rest of the technical staff is also now committed to the cup winner until mid-2027.
“I am really enjoying myself at this great club,” says Simonis on the Go Ahead website. “It was a very nice proposal from the club. It shows a lot of trust and appreciation from the club.”
The forty-year-old Simonis was appointed head coach of Go Ahead at the beginning of this season. He won the KNVB Cup with the club from Deventer by defeating AZ via penalties. Go Ahead finished a commendable seventh in the Eredivisie.
Simonis is pleased that the rest of the staff will also continue at Go Ahead for longer. “In the changing world of football, it is very nice that you can maintain continuity. Especially with the challenge ahead of us,” the coach refers to Go Ahead’s European adventure next season.
Due to the cup win, Go Ahead will enter the group stage of the Europa League next season. The club will therefore play at least eight European matches. “A great challenge awaits in the coming years,” says Simonis.
Simonis rumored to be in ajax’s list
Technical manager Paul Bosvelt is delighted with the contract extensions of Simonis and the other staff members. “We are very satisfied with how the staff works and the role everyone has in it. We also wanted to appreciate that and safeguard it for a longer period.”
Simonis’ contract extension follows days of speculation about the coach’s future. Ajax reportedly sees Simonis as a possible successor to Francesco Farioli, who decided to step down from the Amsterdam club on Monday.
With his new contract at Go Ahead, Simonis seems to rule out a summer move to Ajax. In addition to Simonis, the unemployed Erik ten Hag is also linked with the Amsterdammers.