While the entire world was still basking in the atmosphere of Real Madrid's fourth consecutive Champions League title, an insignificant piece of news emerged simultaneously from the Netherlands and Germany. Yet it gave Yang Yang, far away in Madrid on the Iberian Peninsula, a massive headache.
Ajax head coach Piet de Boer was finally gone!
At Yang Yang's urging, Van der Sar and Van Gaal had reached a consensus. Ajax had done everything possible to keep Piet de Boer, even producing a contract and forcibly demanding that he stay, but in the end, it had all been futile.
Dortmund had paid his five-million-euro contractual buyout and forcibly poached Piet de Boer from Ajax.
The Dutch coach who had risen to fame by leading Ajax into the Europa League Final had finally left.
Dortmund's official announcement broke the news first. Piet de Boer then accepted an interview with Dortmund's official media and said he was delighted to join the club.
"Dortmund is one of the biggest clubs in Europe. I'm deeply honored to coach this club. I'm certain this is absolutely the right choice. I sat down with the management, talked for three hours, and we decided everything."
"We discussed a great deal, from tactics for the new season and squad-building strategy to summer transfers. I believe we can do an excellent job together and lead the team to good results."
Piet de Boer had not only switched clubs himself; he had also taken his coaching staff with him, leaving Ajax thoroughly helpless.
After Dortmund's official announcement, Ajax soon announced the news on its own website as well.
Van der Sar stated on the official website, "The management has very mixed feelings about De Boer's departure. When we signed him last year, we never imagined this partnership would last only one