QPR in battle to make Erik ten Hag’s close pal new boss as host of Championship clubs circle
QUEENS PARK RANGERS are interested in replacing Gareth Ainsworth with Ajax coach Michael Reiziger, according to reports.
Reiziger, 49, worked as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at the Dutch club between 2019 and 2022.
Michael Reiziger, middle, worked with Erik ten Hag, left, at AjaxGetty
Rather than head to Manchester United with his friend Ten Hag, Reiziger opted to stay at Ajax.
But the former Barcelona, AC Milan and Middlesbrough star could be set to launch his own managerial career this summer, with a number of Championship clubs keen.
According to Football Insider, second-tier strugglers QPR want to axe club legend Ainsworth and replace him with Reiziger.
There is an understanding, however, that their target will not accept a new job until the end of the season.
Ainsworth, 49, was appointed in February and has taken charge of just eight games as R’s boss.
He has been unable to halt QPR’s fall down the table, winning just one match thus far.
The ex-Wycombe boss has presided over six defeats – including a damaging 6-1 thumping at Blackpool and a 1-0 loss at crisis club Wigan.
He bizarrely had a man perform a “haka” in front of his players in an attempt at team bonding – with footage of the incident being likened to an episode of The Office.
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QPR sit 20th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.
They began the season under Michael Beale, before the 42-year-old left them for Rangers.
The R’s responded by appointing former Blackpool boss Neil Critchley, only to win just one of his 12 matches in charge.
Should QPR go down, they would likely miss out on Reiziger.
Ten Hag’s pal is said to be “excited” by the prospect of launching his managerial career in England.
And the R’s aren’t the only Championship club whose interest he is said to have attracted,
Reiziger began his coaching career within Sparta Rotterdam’s academy in 2013, before working as a No2 with their first team.
He then moved to Ajax in 2017, managing their academy side before moving onto Ten Hag’s staff.
PAGareth Ainsworth has struggled to turn QPR’s fortunes around[/caption]
