Maduro on his way back to Almere City, must succeed Pastoor as head coach

• Sam Porskamp

  follows Ajax on behalf of NOS Sport

Ajax assistant Hedwiges Maduro is on his way back to Almere City. The negotiations between the 39-year-old Maduro and Almere City are now at an advanced stage, sources confirm to the NOS.

Last season, Maduro was Alex Pastoor’s assistant, when Almere was promoted to the Premier League for the first time in club history. This year the club seems to be heading for survival. Pastoor announced earlier this month that he was leaving.

Maduro left Almere last summer for a job as assistant coach at Ajax, alongside head coach Maurice Steijn. When Steijn was fired after a dramatic start to the season, Maduro briefly took over as head coach until John van ‘t Schip was brought in.

Ajax paid a large lump sum to bring Maduro to Amsterdam, but sees him return to Almere after a year. It is not clear whether Almere will now pay a lump sum to Ajax.