The Guardian is today reporting that Tottenham manager Martin Jol is on ‘red alert’ – he’s noticed that the Ajax spot is empty and he’s starting to drool over the possibilities. Henk ten Cate, left Ajax and waltzed over to the King’s Road to join Avram Grant’s ‘revolution’ at Chelsea.
What is in little doubt is that Chelsea now have a truly fearsome backroom staff, led by Avram Grant, will no european coaching qualifications and no experience outside Israel, and now Mr Henkie (no not the animated turd in South Park) has joined they will be unstoppable. Ten Cate is leaving Ajax after a glorious start to the season, overseeing ‘the double’; elimination in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and then the UEFA Cup (the first time in 10 years Ajax have failed to reach the second round in Europe). Having led the dutch team’s charge to mediocrity, Ten Cate is now ready to work his magic at Chelsea.
All of which leaves Jol to take over the reigns at Ajax, when the Spurs boss was approached by Ajax in 2005 he coqueetishly batted his eyelids and said “no”, but that was because of a ‘debt of honour’ he felt he owed Frank Arnesen , who then subsequently sashayed over to the King’s Road. Now all he has to look forward to at Spurs is the latest attempted ‘stab in the front’ attack….Ajax for Jol?