As long as Ajax has not yet made it clear who will be responsible for the group next year, speculation about a possible successor to John Heitinga will continue. The topic of discussion came up again on Thursday evening Football talk. In addition to a successor for Ruud van Nistelrooij at PSV, the trainer’s position at Ajax was also appointed.
The analysts at the table were asked by a viewer at home whether Julian Nagelsmann would be a realistic option for Ajax, to which Cristian Willaert responded. “I think he is a very good trainer, but that is absolutely not realistic. A trainer who earns more than ten million euros is not realistic for Ajax,” said the reporter. Nagelsmann has been without a club since his resignation from Bayern Munich. His name has already been mentioned at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, but that does not seem to be his next destination.
Mark van Rijswijk then suggests another name. “I would give it a try, if they think he’s good enough, with Graham Potter. That was a top coach at Brighton. He didn’t make it at Chelsea, but he received 68 million euros. Maybe he could do it for five at Ajax. million. He doesn’t have to worry financially. And is there another top club in the Premier League waiting for him? In terms of name, I wouldn’t find that an illogical attempt. It would be more realistic than Nagelsmann.”
It is suggested in the corridors that Ajax will first wait for Sunday’s result before a decision is made about Heitinga’s future. The interim trainer must win second place at FC Twente in the hunt and then depends on the result at AZ – PSV. If Ajax loses and AZ wins, the team from Amsterdam will even end up as number four. Qualification for the Conference League is then the small consolation.
Earnings Potter
Potter started his coaching career at the Swedish Östersunds FK, but made an impression as manager of Brighton & Hove Albion. Brighton finished 15th and 16th consecutively under the Englishman’s reign and succeeded in 2021 in maintaining their fifth consecutive season at the highest level. That was the first time in club history. In the 2021/22 season, Potter achieved the highest ever finish at the highest level with Brighton with ninth place. The success coach then left for Chelsea.