Erik ten Gag Getty Images November 12, 2025, 1:40 p.m

Ajax have failed in their bid to bring back the architects of their 2019 success.

Erik ten Gag has turned down an offer to lead the team again, while former sporting director Marc Overmars has also ruled out a return amid the crisis at the Amsterdam club.

According to NOS, Ten Gag, who managed Ajax from 2017 to 2022, held talks with sporting director Alex Kroes. However, the 55-year-old specialist concluded that the conditions were not favorable for a successful partnership and refused to return. ​

Ajax, who are actively looking for a replacement following the sacking of John Heytinga last week. He saw the former mentor as an ideal candidate.

Eric is currently a free agent after being released by Bayer Leverkusen in September after just three games in charge. It is reported that the Dutchman also turned down an offer from English side Wolverhampton. ​

Almost at the same time as Ten Gag, Mark Overmars refused to return. The former Ajax director, who resigned in February 2022 amid a misconduct scandal, confirmed this in an interview with De Telegraaf.

Mark was categorical: “It’s over for me.”

It was the tandem of Overmars and Ten Gaag that created the team that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019. Overmars, 52, admitted that it pains him to see the club’s current problems. ​

“It’s heartbreaking to see how things are going now, that everyone is just killing each other,” Overmars emphasized.