Ajax has reached an agreement with Michael Valkanis about an employment contract, it is reported Football International. The 49-year-old coach must become the assistant coach of interim coach John van ‘t Schip in Amsterdam, who will be appointed early next week. Valkanis has yet to be released by Hapoel Tel Aviv, where the former defender is head coach.
Valkanis is willing to leave Israel to become Ajax’s temporary assistant coach. The Amsterdam team hope to free the former defender, who played one international match for Australia, from Hapoel Tel Aviv on a free transfer. Valkanis’ commitment continues in Israel until the end of June.
Van ‘t Schip knows Valkanis from his time at Melbourne City. The one-time Australian international was the Dutchman’s assistant there between 2016 and 2017. When Van ‘t Schip subsequently left for PEC Zwolle, Valkanis came along. Even when Van ‘t Schip became national coach of Greece, Valkanis served as his right-hand man.
The duo parted ways in 2021, when Van ‘t Schip decided not to complete his contract in Greece. Valkanis left for KAS Eupen, before taking over at Hapoel Tel Aviv. The 49-year-old Australian has only played five matches there. Two of them were won, two were drawn and one was lost.
It is also unclear what consequences a possible arrival will have for Hedwiges Maduro and Saïd Bakkati. The duo was only brought to Amsterdam in the summer to assist the now dismissed Maurice Steijn.
Maduro said on Sunday at the press conference after the match against PSV (5-2 loss) that he had not yet heard anything from the club management about the plans. It is expected that Dave Vos, now temporarily Maduro’s assistant, will at least return to his role as head coach of Jong Ajax.