Ajax set to break 26-year tradition after worst start to a season in their history

Ajax are set to break a 26-year tradition after experiencing their worst ever to start to an Eredivisie season since the 1960s.

The Amsterdam outfit are the most successful club in the Netherlands, with 36 Eredivisie titles and 20 KNVB cups in their trophy cabinet.

Ajax were Champions League semi-finalists back in 2019 but are currently locked in a genuine relegation battle after starting the season poorly.

The four-time European champions are in crisis, with fans protesting and rioting after a dismal run of form which has seen them claim just five points from their opening seven fixtures.

They are 17th in the league, just one point ahead of bottom side FC Volendam and already 22 points behind leaders PSV.

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Ajax have ended up in their lowest ever league position after a 4-3 loss to FC Utrecht, a result which saw manager Maurice Steijn leave via mutual consent the following day.

Former player and assistant manager Hedwiges Maduro took charge of the 2-0 Europa League defeat to Brighton on Thursday but the club are now looking for a permanent appointment.

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A number of names have been linked with the vacancy but according to a new report from Het Parool, Ajax are now likely to break a long-standing club rule.

For 26 years now every manager has been from the Netherlands.

The last foreign boss was Morten Olsen from Denmark, who won the Eredivisie and KNVB cup double in the 1997/98 season.

When he was relieved of his duties in December 1998, the club decided they would only have Dutch managers.

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The likes of Ronald Koeman, Marco van Basten, Martin Jol, Erik ten Hag and Alfred Schreuder have all been at the helm since then.

However, with a lack of available Dutch candidates, the club are set to look abroad for their next boss.