AMSTERDAM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam have signed Vitesse Arnhem coach Ronald Koeman to replace Co Adriaanse, who was sacked on Thursday following a string of poor results, the Dutch club said on Monday.
Ajax have also signed former Ajax defender Ruud Krol as
Koeman's assistant. Krol was assistant to Dutch national team
coach Louis van Gaal, who stepped down on Friday.
Koeman signed until July 2004 and Krol has agreed a deal for
a year longer.
'I have the same feeling as when I went to Ajax as a
20-year-old,' Koeman told a news conference at which he signed
his contract.
He said he did not hesitate when he was asked by Ajax to
take the job.
Koeman and Krol will make their debut on the bench on
Tuesday, when Ajax take on Fortuna Sittard at home.
Ajax are second in the Dutch first division and could take
the lead from Feyenoord with a victory over bottom side Fortuna.
Koeman, 38, had a contract until the end of the season with
Vitesse but was released after the clubs agreed terms of the
move. They did not give any details of the deal.
Ajax general manager Arie van Eijden said the club contacted
Koeman on Thursday and came to an agreement on Sunday. Ajax and
Vitesse finalised terms on the same day.
As a player Koeman started his professional career with
Groningen in 1980 and moved to Ajax three years later. After
Ajax he played for PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, finishing his
professional carreer with Feyenoord.
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