Soccer:Ajax manager Frank de Boer has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Liverpool job as he wishes to remain loyal to the Dutch club.
The 42 year-old former international has won back-to-back Eredivisie titles in the Netherlands since taking over from Martin Jol in 2010.
It is reported Liverpool, who are working their way through a short-list of candidates they would like to speak to about replacing Kenny Dalglish at Anfield, made a request to approach the Dutchman over the weekend.
Ajax have refused to comment on the situation but De Boer has given an interview to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in which he pledged his commitment to the club.
“I am honoured by the request but I have only just started with Ajax,” he said. “In Amsterdam, we are on a new path and I, along with Wim Jonk and Dennis Bergkamp, my colleagues on the technical side, want to bring success. That’s why I will stay loyal to Ajax in the coming years.”
De Boer is the second manager to turn down the chance to speak to Liverpool after Swansea’s Brendan Rodgers did similar on Friday.
Former Porto and Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas remains one of the favourites while Wigan’s Roberto Martinez has also been given permission to speak with Liverpool’s principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner.
