Frank de Boer announced his resignation as manager of AFC Ajax this morning to the shock of the public. de Boer joined the club in 2010, and has since won the league twice, making him a fan favorite at the Amsterdam ArenA.
His exact words were:
"I have a pang of regret in me when I say that I have decided to step down as club manager here at Ajax. It has been an amazing two years and I will never forget it. I have thought about this thoroughly, but I have come to the conclusion that it is the right decision."
Fans struggled to understand why the ex-sweeper left the club after having such a good start, but several twitter users sparked a rumor that his mother had taken ill and he had left to take care of her. This rumor, however, is thought to be fake.
de Boer was later caught in the streets of Amsterdam by a Journalist, who asked if he left to join another club. de Boer's response was:
"No, by all means no. When I was offered a contract with Liverpool, a highly successful team, did I leave? No. I do not leave Ajax without a heavy heart."
For now, it seems de Boer is just taking some time out of football, but there must be more to this story than what meets the eye.
It is speculated that Ajax will announce a new manager within the week, as they were surely given notice on his resignation from de Boer himself. Sky Bet provides the odds:
Fabio Capello
7/1 | Frank Rijkaard
8/1 | Dennis Bergkamp
8/1
Roberto Di Matteo
11/1 | Guus Hiddink
12/1 | Johan Cruyff
14/1
Louis van Gaal
17/1 | Diego Simeone
20/1 | Roberto Martinez
20/1
Fabio Capello is linked with the job after he was spotted in Amsterdam last night. If Ajax had learnt of de Boer's resignation before he had officially submitted it, they may have called him in to discuss contract details. Another candidate is Frank Rijkaard, who manages Saudi Arabia- Rijkaard is an ex-Ajax player and fans have spread the rumor of him following in de Boer's footsteps.
AFC Ajax: The Golden Age 
