AMSTERDAM – Troubled Eredivisie champions Ajax Amsterdam have sacked coach Maurice Stein after just seven league matches. In this way, the Europa League participant reacted to the recent decline, as Ajax dropped in the honorary division to second-to-bottom place after a 3-4 defeat to bottom club FC Utrecht. The 49-year-old Stegen took over from John Heitinga at the beginning of the season only and signed a contract until 2026.