Ajax try to lure Olsen as Van Basten replacement: report

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THE HAGUE, May 14, 2009 (AFP) - Dutch league giants Ajax are hoping to lure Denmark coach Morten Olsen back to the club following the resignation last week of Marco Van Basten, according to reports Thursday.

De Telegraaf newspaper said the Amsterdam club has decided to sound out Olsen following successive refusals from Co Adriaanse, Frank Rijkaard and Michael Laudrup.

The 59-year-old Olsen, a former coach of Ajax from 1997 to 1999, confirmed in the report he had beeb contacted "by a club" but refused to say which "out of respect for the Danish federation".

The Dane then evoked the possibility of combining his job with the national team with that of a club-level coach but admitted such a deal would "need the agreement of all three parties concerned".

Denmark are currently well positioned to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They sit top of Europe zone qualifying group 1 ahead of Hungary and Portugal.

Also in the running to succeed Van Basten, according to reports, are Ronald Koeman, Gertjan Verbeek and Danny Blind, the club's current sports director.

Van Basten stood down last week after failing to guide the Dutch giants into next year's Champions League.

Despite his legendary status at the club where he made his name, Van Basten was forced to admit he "was partly responsible" for the team's results and on Sunday asked for "a second chance" to remain at the helm.

Days later, in the face of continued criticism from both supporters and the media, he chose to walk away from a contract that still had three years left to run.