Ajax fired manager John Heitinga and assistant manager Marcel Keizer on Thursday after a bad run of results to start the season. With the former Liverpool assistant at the helm, Ajax won five, drew five, and lost five games, scoring 21 goals and conceding 28 in the process.
"This was a unanimous decision. I also agreed. (CEO) Menno Geelen and I then sat down with John," Kroes said in an interview with Ajax Life. "He was very disappointed. I understand that."
Last summer, Heitinga took over from current FC Porto manager Francesco Farioli, who left the club after just one season. In his only season in charge, Farioli nearly won an improbable league title, but finished second after a late-season collapse.
The Italian left the club one day after the last game of the season. Not because of the disappointment, but because he and Kroes could not agree on conditions regarding the club's culture. Farioli's departure earned Kroes some hard criticism from fans and the media.
Judging by how the first months following Farioli's departure went, shouldn't Kroes have worked harder to keep the Italian at the club? "I often get that criticism, but it's really unfair. Francesco was unstoppable. He just wanted to leave. Period."
'Unless we appoint Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique'
The appointment of Heitinga was a surprise, given the former Dutch international's little experience as a manager. Was it doomed to fail, according to Kroes?
"There were similar rumours about Farioli at first. There will always be doubts about every decision we make now, unless we appoint Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique. There is always room for improvement at Ajax. You know that. Normally, you hope to be given more time or to make progress."
Kroes and the board wanted to give Heitinga more time and support the young manager, rather than put him under additional pressure.
"The difficult thing is that we also saw positive moments in matches. Unfortunately, they were very brief," said Kroes.
"It's always difficult to say afterwards, 'If only I had done this or that'. You also hope that the tide can be turned. We wanted to give John time and space, but it wasn't to be. In hindsight, it's easy to see that this decision should have been made earlier."
Ten Hag meeting was 'nothing exciting'
Earlier on Thursday, Dutch media reported that former Ajax and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had met with Alex Kroes at the latter's home in Huizen. Further reports said that Ajax and Ten Hag were in talks about a reunion, but Kroes categorically denied the rumours.
"I am not making any statements about top candidates or second or third choices. My meeting with Erik was not exciting, but I understand that it now has extra significance. Beyond that, I cannot and will not say anything meaningful about it at this time."
No time will be wasted to find a replacement for Heitinga, however. "‘Our search has now begun. There are always names circulating and people we have been in contact with over time," Kroes confirmed.
"After all, you want to be ready when you are faced with the task of appointing a new manager. However, you can only really start once the curtain has fallen. That is the process we are in now."
Fred Grim, who's been given caretaker duties as long as Ajax are looking for a new manager, will not finish the season, Kroes confirmed as well.
'I feel responsible'
Along with Heitinga and Keizer, technical director Alex Kroes announced that he had made his position available. "I feel responsible for the current situation," he said in an interview with Ajax Life.
"It is not without reason that I am making my position available. I am not resigning immediately because the other members of the executive board and the Supervisory Board have asked me not to."
If the club finds a new technical director before Kroes' contract runs out in June 2026, the former CEO will vacate his position immediately, he said. Even if the new manager wants him to stay.