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Van Basten quits as manager of Ajax

Marco van Basten has resigned as Ajax head coach following the club's failure to qualify for next season's Champions League.

The 44-year-old took over at the Amsterdam ArenA last summer after guiding Holland to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, but has quit after less than one year of his four-year contract.

Sunday's 4-0 reverse at Sparta Rotterdam, coupled with FC Twente's 3-0 win over newly-crowned Eredivisie champions AZ Alkmaar, consigned Ajax to third spot and a place in the Europa League next term.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on a place in Europe's premier club competition once more, Van Basten had looked set to remain in the role.

'I intend to carry on,' he said after the weekend's events.

And he appeared to have the backing of club director Rik van den Boog, who insisted 'sacking Marco van Basten is not a point of discussion at the moment'.

However, after talks between the coach and the board, Van Basten decided to resign, claiming he could not see how he could improve things next term.

'I don't have the idea that I can do better in the new season,' he said today.

Van Basten's assistant John van't Schip will take charge for the final game of the season, at home to...
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