Marco van Basten out as coach at Ajax

Agence France-Presse

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The former star striker for the Dutch national side "had reached the conclusion that he had failed to achieve the goals he had set at the start of the season and that he would be unable to do any better next season," a club statement said.

The 44-year-old took over at his former club last July after being Dutch national coach for four years.

The four-time European club champion is currently lying third in the Dutch first division behind unfashionable AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente.

The team's last game of the season on Sunday against FC Twente will see assistant coach John van't Schip in charge on an interim basis.

Despite his legendary status at the club, Van Basten has frequently been the target of protests from the supporters who used to idolize him.

On Sunday the club's general director, Rik van den Boog, spoke out in support of his beleaguered coach, saying "Ajax needs stability," but his resolve had weakened and, in the face of continued criticism from both supporters and the media, he chose to walk away from a contract that had three years left to run.