Van Basten agrees Ajax extension

Marco van Basten has extended his contract as youth coach at AFC Ajax. The legendary former Dutch international striker will now stay with the Amsterdam club until 1 July 2005. Van Basten, who started in his current position last summer, will continue to coach in partnership with his former team-mate and Dutch international Johnny van't Schip.

Looking to develop
The 39-year old Van Basten has previously rejected coaching jobs with PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch Football Association. "After this year I want to look further into what I am going to do next," he said. "I have always said I wanted to continue for another year at Ajax to explore things and to develop myself. I really like working with the players and also enjoy working in an environment close to my home."

Jansen extension
SBV Vitesse have taken up their option to extend the contract of promising young defender Michael Jansen by two years. The 19-year-old Dutch youth international's current deal was set to expire at the end of this season, but will now stay with the club until June 2006. Jansen has made 24 appearances for the first team this season, scoring twice.

Hutton deal
Highly-rated young Rangers FC defender Alan Hutton has signed a new three-year deal after impressing the club since breaking into the first team. The 19-year-old, who recently scored his first goal for the club against Dundee FC, said: "It's great to know I'm tied to the club for the next three years. I'm so happy, it's been a fantastic week."

Baxter on the move
Well-travelled British coach Stuart Baxter, who has coached in Sweden and Japan, has been named as the new coach of the South African national team. Baxter will leave his job as coach of the England Under-19 side to take Bafana Bafana through to the 2006 World Cup finals. "We are satisfied with our choice for the job. He has impeccable references and impressed us very much when we met with him," said South African Football Association official Veli Mahlangu.

Split surprise
The biggest surprise of the Croatian Cup quarter-finals came as HNK Cibalia knocked-out holders HNK Hajduk Split, after Mladen Krizanovic's second-leg goal gave them a 1-0 aggregate victory. In the other quarter-finals, second division NK Pula 1856 were beaten 5-0 by NK Varteks to lose 5-2 on aggregate, HNK Rijeka beat NK Kamen Ingrad Velika 2-0 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate while NK Dinamo Zagreb completed the semi-final contingent with a 3-1 win against NK Osijek, 5-1 on aggregate.