Ajax's Struggles: A Look at Their Recent Performance and Future Prospects
Six years ago, Ajax was on the brink of reaching the Champions League final, but a stunning hat-trick from Lucas Moura allowed Tottenham to advance instead.
This loss denied the Dutch giants a chance to become European champions for the first time since the 1994-95 season, after previously finishing as runners-up the following year.
Currently, Ajax is facing the prospect of finishing their fourth consecutive season without a Dutch title and another disappointing campaign in Europe.
What has transpired for the four-time European champions since their brief resurgence under Erik ten Hag?
Ajax's Current Season and Recent Campaigns
Ajax's 2-0 defeat at home to Benfica in November marked their fifth consecutive loss in this season's Champions League, leaving them at the bottom of their group.
The club parted ways with manager John Heitinga in early November, less than six months after he was appointed from his position as Liverpool's assistant coach.
In domestic competition, interim head coach Fred Grim's team currently sits fourth in the Eredivisie standings, trailing the high-flying PSV Eindhoven by 14 points after 15 matches.
This continues a challenging period for Ajax since their three consecutive titles from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Since their last championship, Ajax has finished third, fifth, and second in the following Eredivisie seasons. Last season, their second-place finish was determined by a single point, after conceding a dramatic last-minute equalizer to Groningen, which ultimately cost them the title.
In European competitions, Ajax has struggled since their four consecutive league titles, failing to progress beyond the last 16 in any of the three major European tournaments.
Key Departures at Ajax
In July 2012, former Ajax player Marc Overmars was appointed as the club's director of football, following a renaissance sparked by Johan Cruyff's critical column in De Telegraaf titled 'This isn't Ajax anymore' in September 2010.
Cruyff's frustration over the club's perceived loss of identity and mediocrity coincided with Ajax winning seven of the eleven Eredivisie titles between 2010 and 2022.
During this successful period, Overmars and his former teammate Edwin van der Sar, who served as CEO, led the club to remarkable achievements both on and off the pitch.
However, the decline began in February 2022 when Overmars was dismissed due to inappropriate behavior towards female colleagues, for which he later apologized, calling his actions "unacceptable."
Van der Sar resigned in May 2023, 15 months after Overmars' departure. Marcel van der Kraan, a journalist with De Telegraaf, remarked, "The loss of these two giants, both former players imbued with Ajax's DNA, has had significant repercussions on the club's culture and operations."
Player Exits and Their Impact
The squad that faced Tottenham in that fateful Champions League exit has largely moved on, marking the beginning of Ajax's struggles in recent years.
Key players such as Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Hakim Ziyech, and Sven Botman left shortly after that semi-final defeat, and the trend has continued with significant departures in recent years.
Since 2022, Ajax has seen the exits of Ryan Gravenberch, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Noussair Mazraoui, Andre Onana, Jurrien Timber, Calvin Bassey, Edson Alvarez, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Henderson, Jorrel Hato, Brian Brobbey, and Bertrand Traore, many of whom have moved to Premier League clubs.
The absence of star players and the failure to adequately replace them, combined with the quick departures of emerging talents, have contributed to Ajax's difficulties on the field. Van der Kraan noted that Ajax has become too much of a 'selling' club, with inadequate replacements hindering the development of youth players, which is central to the club's identity.
"While selling players has historically been both a challenge and a benefit for clubs in the Dutch league, the constant turnover makes it difficult for players to turn down lucrative offers. However, the club must uphold its cultural values," he stated.
Future Prospects for Ajax
The departure of Erik Ten Hag for Manchester United in 2022 marked a turning point for Ajax in their quest for success.
Van der Kraan pointed out that the club has seen eight managerial changes in the last two and a half years, indicating instability. Ten Hag has reportedly declined offers to return to the club multiple times.
Since 2022, the club has been led by managers including Alfred Schuester, Maurice Steijn, Hedwiges Maduro, Johan van’t Schip, and Michael Valkanis. Last season was the most promising for Ajax in the post-Ten Hag era under Francesco Farioli, who led the team to the top of the Eredivisie before finishing the season poorly and losing the title by a single point, resulting in his departure.
In a significant development, De Telegraaf recently republished Cruyff's critical column, likely in connection with reports that his son, Jordi, a former midfielder for Manchester United and Barcelona, is poised to become the club's next sporting director. Jordi had previously spent seven years in Ajax's academy before moving to Barcelona as a teenager.
Van der Kraan views the potential return of a Cruyff to the club as a positive step, stating, "Johan Cruyff contributed immensely to the club in the past. His strong influence could help restore the club's management and culture, pushing against negative elements within the organization."