Van Basten to return to Ajax

Ajax on Friday named Marco van Basten as their new coach with the former AC Milan striker set to take over after Euro 2008.

Van Basten is currently in charge of the Netherlands but announced in December he would not be renewing his contract with the Dutch FA (KNVB) following the summer showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.

He has agreed a four-year deal at the Amsterdam Arena which starts on 1 July.

Van Basten's assistants John van't Schip and Rob Witschge will also move to Ajax in the summer.

The 43-year-old, who had a spell coaching Ajax's reserves in the 2003/04 season, will take over from Adrie Koster in the hot-seat.

Koster has been in caretaker charge since Henk ten Cate quit the post in October to become part of Avram Grant's backroom staff at Chelsea.

Ajax technical director Martin van Geel told the club's official website: ‘We are delighted with the news.

‘They (Van Basten, Van't Schip and Witschge) are three ambitious coaches with an Ajax pedigree and all three have had an international career as a player and now they also have enough experience as coaches.

‘It's also very good that we have clarity about the technical staff for the coming seasons.’