Hamstra was employed by Ajax for about two years. After leaving Heerenveen, he began working in Amsterdam as technical director, a role created to relieve manager Marc Overmars from contract matters involving top youth teams.
When the latter left last year as a result of his trespassing behaviour, Hamstra was given more responsibility. Together with general manager Edwin van der Sar and newly appointed former striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, he was to maintain Ajax’s reigning status in the Netherlands and the team’s prowess in Europe with a successful coach change and selection change.
200 million players
For the successful Ten Hag succession, the trio ended up with Alfred Schroeder (with whom Hamstra had yet to work), only to divorce him again six months later. Van der Sar, Hamstra and Huntelaar have sold over 200 million players and spent half of that ensuring quality in selection.
Despite this significant investment, the national champions, with eight rounds to go, are six points behind leader Feyenoord. In Europe, Ajax has not survived a single round in both the Champions League and Europa League. Hamstra is also responsible for it. In addition to the botched coach change, none of the eleven purchases, whose head coach was also assisted by Schroders’ agent Milos Malinović, were a direct hit.
Permanent successor Overmars
Ajax now, after nearly fifteen months, are on the verge of appointing a permanent successor to Overmars. With Julian Ward currently serving as Director of Football at Liverpool, Ajax are currently trying to smooth out the last wrinkles. With the 41-year-old Englishman, who has previously worked in Portugal, done a lot of scouting in South America and also helped set up Liverpool’s leasing and leasing division, negotiations are in their final stages.
Hamstra gives way to Ward and, in turn, talks with Ajax to buy out his contract, which will last for another year. The Groningen native, who had previously been active in other positions at Vitesse and Emmen, had not heard from Ajax management about his future for a long time and also lacked appreciation for his work in the tumultuous 2022 calendar.
Hamstra was still active on Toekomst Tuesday. Work is expected to start elsewhere next season.
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