[CM Story] make AJAX great again!
In late 2010, after six seasons without a league title and declining results on the European stage, Johan Cruijff decided to step up at his home club AFC Ajax. Under his influence the tide was turned almost instantly. Four consecutive league titles under manager Frank de Boer were the precursor to international success under successors Peter Bosz and Erik ten Hag. Moreover, the club returned to its core values such as a focus on youth development, typical total football style of play and key positions in the club filled by people with so-called Ajax DNA.
This period is commonly known as the Cruijff Revolution or Quiet Revolution. However while Ajax was at peak performance, around the time of the COVID pandemic directors Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars decided to step away from the vision set out by Johan Cruijff, who sadly passed away in early 2016. And while results were still fantastic and incoming transfer fees were astronomical under these directors and manager Ten Hag, the club fell into a sharp decline once the batton was passed to new managers and new directors, most notably Technical Director Sven Mislintat (ex-Dortmund, ex-Arsenal).
The dramatic fall of the powerhouse in Dutch football seemed to have stopped under Francesco Farioli. However, he decided to call it quits after just one season, as he favoured FC Porto over an extended stay in Amsterdam. And so, Ajax yet again are looking for a new manager - maybe someone dedicated to move Ajax back towards the vision of Johan Cruijff.
