Ajax chief Marc Overmars sacks former Arsenal team-mate Dennis Bergkamp over poor results and difference of opinion
Dutch giants have confirmed that the legendary former Gunners star, who was part of the coaching team, manager Marcel Keizer and assistant Hennie Spijkerman have all been axed
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DENNIS BERGKAMP and his manager Marcel Keizer have been sacked by Ajax... by his former Arsenal team-mate Marc Overmars.
The Dutch legend was part of Keizer's coaching staff at the famous Eredivisie side.
However, a poor start to the season and cost the duo, plus assistant boss Hennie Spijkerman, their jobs.
The decision was made by Ajax director of football Overmars and CEO Edwin van der Sar - a Manchester United legend.
The news was confirmed on Thursday afternoon following their KNVB Cup defeat at Twente the previous night.
Bergkamp, Keizer and Spijkerman are all now discussing the settlements of their contracts after Ajax's chiefs decided they no longer had enough confidence in their leadership.
And in Bergkamp's case, it is also stated a difference of opinion with Overmars over the technical policy being implemented led to his downfall.
In a statement released by Ajax, Van der Sar said: "We had a bad summer and a messy start of the season. That's what everyone got.
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"From a sporting point of view, European elimination was the low point.
"In particular Marc Overmars and I have frequently spoken the months afterwards about the permanent volatility of the first team.
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"We are not confident that we will achieve the level that we are striving for with Ajax in this way. I regret this.
"We, as the management board, did not go on board overnight with the Supervisory Board and are grateful to Marcel, Dennis and Hennie for their efforts for the club."
Bergkamp returned to his boyhood club back in 2011 to begin his coaching career and has remained in that role as assistant until today.
The 48-year-old, who spent a season alongside Overmars in Amsterdam back in the 1992/93 campaign, was later reunited with the ex-winger in North London.
The pair helped Arsenal to the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998 and had remained friends since.
Ajax are currently second in the Eredivisie table and trail leaders PSV Eindhoven by six points.