Frank De Boer and Ajax Part Company: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Ajax have officially parted company with manager Frank de Boer, ending his six-year spell in charge of the iconic football club.

News of the 45-year-old’s departure came via an official club statement on Thursday. Dutch Football relayed the bulletin through Twitter:

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It's been confirmed. Frank de Boer has left Ajax.

— Dutch Football (@football_oranje) May 12, 2016"

De Boer, who also enjoyed 10-and-a-half memorable seasons at the club as a player, leaves Ajax having won four league titles, all coming in the first four years of his tenure.

The Dutchman saw his team surrender the Eredivisie crown on the last day of the 2015-16 season in dramatic fashion, drawing with De Graafschap to hand the championship to rivals PSV Eindhoven.

DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/Getty Images

Prior to his departure from the Amsterdam giants, there was speculation about De Boer’s future, with his agent, Guido Albers, touting a couple of possible destinations.

“He would love to join a club like Everton or Valencia,” he told NOS (h/t Kieran Gill of MailOnline). “It's all about the right philosophy and how they play football. That is what Frank is looking for.”

Incumbent Everton manager Roberto Martinez is under huge pressure, with the Toffees enduring a miserable end to a sorry campaign. Valencia, who sacked Gary Neville earlier this year, have Pako Ayestaran in temporary charge until the end of the Primera Division season and are also looking to recover after a poor term.

The man himself revealed he in unsure about what the next step in his career will be, per Dutch football writer Elko Born:

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Frank de Boer on his future: 'I don't know what I'll do next. A year without a club is an option for me too, we'll see what happens.'

— Elko Born (@Elko_B) May 12, 2016"

As a player, De Boer established himself as a great of his generation, inspiring Ajax to five league titles, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Here is a reminder of just how good the Dutchman, who also enjoyed spells with Barcelona and Galatasaray, was:

At Ajax, he provided a breath of fresh air during his first few seasons in charge, adhering to the Ajax principles by playing attractive possession football and winning titles. But the rejuvenated PSV have ousted them in the past couple of campaigns.

It seems the time is right for De Boer to take up a new challenge, and a club such as Everton would benefit from having someone of his huge pedigree at the helm. For the 45-year-old, the chance to test himself in the Premier League against the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger would also surely be appealing.