Ajax manager Frank de Boer open to taking Newcastle job

Frank de Boer has opened the door to an approach from Newcastle United this summer.


The Ajax manager is understood to be on the St James’ Park shortlist to succeed Alan Pardew but has made it clear he would not countenance leaving Amsterdam before the end of the season.

De Boer has suggested he could be available come June. Asked if he would consider relocating to Tyneside the 44-year-old former Holland captain appeared to drop Mike Ashley a hint. “I have everything open,” said the Ajax head coach.

“But I will be ready that’s for sure. I only said if they asked I don’t go now because I am with Ajax and I don’t want to go halfway through a season while also stepping into a team that are already halfway too. So, for me, if there will be a chance it is always in the new season.”

Lee Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director and the man charged with leading the hunt for Pardew’s replacement, has recently indicated that the club may wait until the summer until filling their vacancy. It is thought Charnley could shortly announce that John Carver, the caretaker manager, will continue on a temporary basis.

Deferring a more permanent decision for a few months would have the added advantage of allowing Newcastle to select from a wider pool at a time when more candidates would be available. Others who could rival De Boer include Saint-Étienne’s Christophe Galtier, who remains adamant he is not prepared to quite the Ligue 1 team before May, Derby County’s Steve McClaren and Thomas Tuchel. The former Mainz coach is eight months into a year out from football.

De Boer has previously come close to managing in the Premier League. “Two years ago, I was very honoured that Liverpool asked me if I was interested in the job,” he told Sky Sports. “There was still other candidates also. But I just signed a new contract [at Ajax] and I said you are too early at this moment.

“And then Tottenham last year. I was one of the candidates and in the end they chose Pochettino and all respect to the choice. These were two clubs that I was quite interested in.

“I would like to manage in England but also Germany and the Spanish league because they are the three best leagues in the world, so I would like to get that experience.”



By Louise Taylor, Guardian