Ajax: Van Gaal wanted after coach Adriaanse is sacked

Ajax Amsterdam fired coach Co Adriaanse after an 86th minute winner gave them a home win over FC Twente with former coach Louis Van Gaal the favourite to take charge again at the Dutch club.

54 year old Adriaanse was sacked on Monday during a board meeting but Ajax will make the news official later today where speculation that Van Gaal is returning to his former club will be growing.

A home hammering by champions PSV Eindhoven at the weekend sealed Adriaanse's fate after nearly two years in charge at the Amsterdam club.

Van Gaal left Ajax four years ago to take charge at FC Barcelona where he was sacked last year. He quit the Dutch national team job two days ago and has been looking to return to club management.

Van Gaal spent his entire career with Ajax until his decision to leave for Barca where he installed former playing stars and coaching staff from the Amsterdam outfit at the Camp Nou and won the Spanish championship.

His Ajax system produced a crop of young stars and he won the 1995 European Cup to seal his reputation as one of the top coaches in the game and Ajax are keen to revive those memories with his return.