Ajax dismissed manager Marcel Keizer and assistant coaches Hennie Spijkerman and Dennis Bergkamp on Thursday, not 24 hours after crashing out of the KNVB Cup on penalties.

The Amsterdam outfit made the decision despite sitting in second place in the Eredivisie standings.

Ajax said a "difference of opinion" with Bergkamp led to his firing, according to the Guardian.

The club began the season on the wrong foot, losing in the preliminary stages of both the Champions League and Europa League. A 3-1 win over league leader PSV Eindhoven earlier in December restored some confidence, but Wednesday's defeat to Twente in the Netherlands' top domestic cup competition was the final straw.

"We had a bad summer and a messy start to the season. From a sporting point of view, European elimination was the low point," general manager and former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar said. "In particular, (director of football) Marc Overmars and I have frequently spoken (in) the months afterwards about the permanent volatility of the first team."

Bergkamp - revered during his playing days with Arsenal as one of the most gifted players of his generation - worked with Ajax for the past six years.

Keizer replaced Peter Bosz on the bench last summer.