Touching memory at work
Ajax coach fulfills his late wife’s heartfelt wish
October 31, 2023, 12:58 p.m
John van ‘t Schip and his wife Danielle had been married for 34 years when she died in mid-October. Just two weeks later, the 1988 European champion took over the coaching job at crisis-ridden Ajax Amsterdam. Also because his late wife wanted it.
As the new coach of the crisis-ridden Dutch football record champions Ajax Amsterdam, John van ‘t Schip fulfills one of the last wishes of his late wife Danielle. “It was her heartfelt wish that I could return to Ajax as head coach,” said the 59-year-old, “unfortunately she didn’t live to see it. Maybe she played a big role in it from above. I believe that she did has.”
A picture from happy days.
(Photo: imago sports photo service)
His wife died on October 10th at the age of 55 from complications of colon cancer. The couple were married for 34 years and have two children, daughter Estelle and son Davey. Danielle met van ‘t Schip as a youth player at Ajax. Her grandfather, the popular Amsterdam singer Willy Alberti, regularly attended Ajax home games. Van ‘t Schip’s mother-in-law is the popular singer Willeke Alberti, who was married for the third time to the former Ajax and Bayern player Sören Lerby.
“Ajax is my club and I want to help them,” said the new coach of the fallen record champions, who are bottom of the Eredivisie table for the first time in the club’s history. “My wife supported me. That encouraged me and made the decision easier.”
van ‘t Schip announces a good reason for the absence
The 1988 European champion, who played for Ajax for eleven years, had already helped out as interim coach in 2009. He has now signed a contract until June 30, 2025. It was agreed that van ‘t Schip should take on a role in technical management from July 2024.
However, he will miss the home game on December 17th against his former club PEC Zwolle. “My son is getting married in Australia and I have to be there, especially after the death of my wife. That was a condition of the negotiations,” reported van ‘t Schip. His son Davey is also a professional footballer and is under contract with Pascoe Vale FC in Australia in the Victorian Premier League.
“Ajax made me great. I have a lot to thank the club for,” said van’t Schip, who is the traditional club’s fifth coach in a year. He worked for the record champions as a player and coach for a total of 24 years. He hopes to be able to lead the Eredivisie’s most expensive team from last place in the table, ideally to fifth place.