Adrie Koster...a job well done?

Before he was appointed interim manager back in October of last year, Adrie Koster was best known for managing RKC when they were relegated last season. Obviously that's not exactly the way you want to be remembered. After Henk ten Cate's departure, few people knew what to expect from him and an Ajax team that had just stunk up the Champions League and made an even worse impression when dumped into the UEFA cup. These were by far the darkest days I can remember in my 7 or so years of being an Ajax fan. As welcome as Henk ten Cate's departure may have been, Koster's appointment didn't exactly inspire thoughts of winning the Eredivise this year or even qualifying for a spot in next year's Champions League. Ajax escaped with a lucky draw in Nijmegen in Koster's first game, and it looked like the misery was going to continue with Koster at the helm. Eight days later, a loss at Utrecht could have turned Ajax's downward spiral into a free fall, but a 68th minute goal from Huntelaar held up and the new coach had his first win with Ajax. Over the next few months of the season, there were a few questionable losses/draws (1-2 at a Excelsior and 2-2 at Venlo come to mind), but for the most part, Ajax seemed to be playing well, or at least better than they were under ten Cate. A crushing 3-0 win at home over Feyenoord highlighted a season that, for all its ups and downs, could end up with a spot in the Champions League next year after all. In my opinion, not a bad job by Mr. Koster, and I'm glad to see that he is going back to coach at de Toekomst next year.