Jol named Ajax boss

Martin Jol has been appointed Ajax head coach on a three-year contract, the club have confirmed.

The former Tottenham manager was appointed Hamburg coach last summer and led the club to a fifth-place finish – and a Europa League spot – in the recently-completed Bundesliga campaign.

The Amsterdam outfit today confirmed the 53-year-old would succeed Marco van Basten, who resigned with one game of the Eredivisie season remaining after missing out on a Champions League spot.

A statement posted on www.ajax.nl this afternoon read: "Ajax, HSV (Hamburg) and Martin Jol have agreed the transfer of Jol to Ajax. Jol has signed a contract for three seasons with Ajax.

“Martin Jol is head coach of the Ajax first team and in that capacity also responsible for other football matters such as the buying and selling policy, scouting and youth set-up.

“Jol will report directly to chief executive Rik van den Boog.”