Ajax Appoints Oscar Garcia As Third Head Coach For The 2025-26 Season

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Ajax have appointed Oscar Garcia as their third head coach of a difficult season, with the Jong Ajax boss promoted to the senior role after a poor run under Fred Grim and a 3-1 defeat against Groningen left the club in danger of missing European football.

The loss to Groningen kept Ajax fifth in the Eredivisie, 24 points behind leaders PSV, underlining how far the team have fallen in the title race. Grim’s spell produced only nine wins from 21 matches in all competitions after replacing John Heitinga in November.

Ajax confirmed that Garcia steps up from Jong Ajax and takes over first-team duties immediately, while Grim returns to work in the academy. The change reflects a shift back towards the club’s development structure as leadership seeks to stabilise performances during the final phase of the campaign.

Technical director Jordi Cruyff explained that the decision followed internal talks about the club’s direction. Cruyff said: "Fred and I had a conversation about what is best for the club. Together, we agreed that something needs to change. He stepped in during a difficult period and has done everything he could. We are grateful to him for that."

The club also made clear that Garcia’s role is focused on the remaining fixtures. Cruyff stated: "Oscar will see out the season. The coming months are very important for the club. We still have eight matches to play and we must get the maximum out of them together."

With eight league games left, Ajax now look to Garcia to steady results, protect their European qualification hopes and restore some confidence, while Grim’s continued presence in the academy keeps continuity in the club’s player pathway despite another mid-season change in the head coach position.