Football : Olsen confirmed at Ajax

Football

Ajax Amsterdam have signed the former Danish international Morten Olsen to replace Louis van Gaal as their coach for the next two seasons. Yesterday's official announcement of Olsen's appointment, which takes effect from the start of next season, confirmed media reports that last week tipped the Dane for the job. Ajax, European champions in 1995 and beaten finalists last season, are at present languishing in seventh place in the league. Olsen, 47, who played a record 102 games for Denmark, has had a brief and largely undistinguished managerial career. He coached the Danish club Brondby for two seasons before joining the German first division side Cologne in 1992 - the club where he had earlier ended his playing career aged almost 40. After four seasons in charge and without a single trophy to his name, Olsen was sacked in 1995.