عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Ajax Parts Company with Coach Steijn After Woeful Start to the Season 

Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)
Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)
TT
TT

Ajax Parts Company with Coach Steijn After Woeful Start to the Season 

Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)
Ajax's head coach Maurice Steijn instructs his players during the Europa League Group B soccer match between AEK Athens and Ajax at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP)

Ajax parted company with coach Maurice Steijn on Monday with the biggest team in the Netherlands languishing in next-to-last place in the Dutch league after just one win from its opening seven games.

Steijn only joined from Sparta Rotterdam in the offseason, signing a three-year deal.

The mutual decision for Steijn to leave was taken after a 4-3 loss at Utrecht that left Ajax, a four-time European champion, one point off last place.

“We have worked intensely and professionally together over the last few months,” Ajax chief executive Jan van Halst said. “But the sporting successes and the development of the team were lacking. That is why we decided to sit down together again today.

“This time, Maurice also expressed his concerns on whether he was the right man in the right place. Together we decided that it would be best to part ways.”

Ajax’s last win in any competition came on Aug. 24.

Hedwiges Maduro, a former Ajax player, will take temporary charge of the team starting with the trip to Brighton in the Europa League on Thursday.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

England's Ali Retires from International Cricket at 37

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
TT
TT

England's Ali Retires from International Cricket at 37

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

England allrounder Moeen Ali has retired from international cricket at age 37, the player told the Daily Mail in an interview published on Saturday.

The Birmingham-born left-handed batter and right-arm spinner has played in 68 tests, 138 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 92 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for England since 2014, with his last international appearance in June.

"I'm 37 years old and didn't get picked for this month's Australia series," Ali said.

"I've played a lot of cricket for England. It's time for the next generation, which was also explained to me. It felt the time was right. I've done my part."

The first Asian-origin cricketer to captain England in T20Is, Ali has scored five centuries in tests and three in ODIs, also taking 366 wickets across all three formats. He was in the squad when England won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, according to Reuters.

Ali, who holds the England record for the fastest half-century in T20Is having reached fifty in 16 balls against South Africa in 2022, said he was proud of his international career.

"When you first play for England, you don't know how many games you are going to play. So to play nearly 300 ... I know they were the best days of my life," Ali said.

Ali said he planned to keep playing in franchise cricket and take up coaching in the future.

The video player is currently playing an ad.00:11Thousands of NFL fans attend first-ever game in Brazil

"I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won't," he added.

"Even retiring, I don't feel it's because I'm not good enough ... but I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle. It's about being real to myself."