Candid Van Basten quits as Ajax coach

AMSTERDAM: Marco Van Basten has resigned as Ajax Amsterdam coach after failing to achieve the goals he set himself on joining the club last year, he said on Wednesday.

"It was a tough decision which had a lot to do with the results of the last matches but also the whole season," the 44-year-old former Netherlands striker told a news conference.

Ajax missed out on a Champions League qualifying place for next term after losing 4-0 at Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday and will have to make do with a Europa League playoff spot.