Ex-Chelsea and Barcelona assistant REJECTS Ajax to star in TV show
Suraj Radia
- 2 Nov 2023 17:10 GMT
- 3 min read
Ajax had hoped to appoint Henk ten Cate as their new boss in order to save their season but they were turned down because he was set to feature in a new Dutch TV show.
The Dutch giants sit bottom of the Eredivisie after enduring their worst ever start to a season, leading to Ajax sacking their manager Maurice Steijn last month.
With just five points from their opening eight games, Ajax had turned to Henk ten Cate, who had a brief spell in charge of the club in the 2006/07 season, as well as stints as assistant manager of Chelsea and Barcelona.
REVEALED: How a d*** pic destroyed Ajax
But despite Ten Cate having not held a managerial role since 2021, the 68-year-old rejected the chance to take over at the Johan Cruyff Arena, with a claim on Dutch talkshow Vandaag Inside revealing the bizarre reasoning for the rejection.
“Henk didn't do it for a very strange reason,” guest Johan Derksen said. "He will play the role of chief inspector in a police series, Sleepers , for Videoland, ten episodes. That is a bit difficult to put together. Yes, this is a serious story.”
However, Derksen admitted that Ajax’s plight was also a potential reason for Ten Cate’s decision, adding: “I don't think Henk was in the mood either, because Henk has seen this player material and thought: I will never come fifth with this mess.”
Dismal Ajax having worst ever campaign
Ajax have struggled since Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United last summer, finishing third in the Eredivisie last season and having changed managers three times over the past 18 months.
Having lost five straight games in the league for the first time in their history, Ajax are now winless in ten games and 25 points off rivals PSV, who are top.
LIST: Ajax's ten biggest sales of all time
Issues off the pitch with the board combined with sales of the clubs top players without quality replacements has left Ajax bottom for the first time in their history.
🔴⚪️ Here’s John van ‘t Schip signing in as new Ajax interim manager until the 30th of June, 2024. pic.twitter.com/tPG9kHIA4A
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 30, 2023
After Ten Cate’s rejection, John van ‘t Schip has been appointed interim manager until the end of the season, when he will then become a technical director at the club.
