Ajax to target Arsenal's Albert Stuivenberg as next manager?

Eredivisie giants Ajax are reportedly considering Arsenal assistant Albert Stuivenberg as their new head coach.

Following a disastrous start to the new Dutch top flight campaign, in which they have only won one of their first seven league games, Ajax gave Maurice Steijn the boot on Monday.

Steijn departed on the back of a 4-3 loss to Utrecht on Sunday, which condemned Ajax to an eight-game winless run for the first time since the Netherlands adopted professional football in 1954.

With just 0.9 points per game during his ill-fated tenure — including opening Europa League draws with AEK Athens and Marseille — Steijn also boasts the unwanted record of the worst points-per-game tally out of all Ajax head coaches in history.

The Dutch powerhouses have appointed former assistant Hedwiges Maduro as Steijn's interim successor, and the 38-year-old's first game in charge comes against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Europa League on Thursday.

While Maduro seeks an immediate revival to his side's on-field fortunes, the Ajax board are busy scoping out potential replacements for Steijn, with the help of former manager and current advisor Louis van Gaal.

According to Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad — via The Mirror — Van Gaal has recommended the appointment of Stuivenberg, who has impressed as Mikel Arteta's right-hand man at Arsenal.

The 53-year-old previously served as Van Gaal's lieutenant during the latter's stint at Manchester United between 2014 and 2016, prior to which he also took charge of the Netherlands at Under-17 and Under-21 level.

After leaving Man United, Stuivenberg just under a year in charge of Belgian giants Genk in 2017, winning 24 of his 50 games in charge of the club before being appointed to work under Rob Page and