Netherlands

Danny Blind returns to Ajax

Blind won the national cup and secured CL football, but was still sacked…

Marco van Basten has spent quite some time with Arsene Wenger and Arsenal lately. Of course, they did discuss Van Persie’s fitness, but mostly it was Marco, new manager of Ajax talking. Van Basten has always been a fan of the French football professor and likes to model his Ajax orgnization like Wenger’s in London. Also, Ajax and Arsenal are in indepth talks about working together on youth development.

In Marco’s Ajac Vision, he would become the all mighty technical boss, a la Sir Alex and Wenger, and he’d be assisted by a technical manager who will take care of signing, contracts, scouting and related “TD” tasks. When Danny Blind received a phone call from his old buddy San Marco he didn’t have to think long to return to Amsterdam

“But it does hurt to leave Sparta. I left Ajax two years ago and I am on the job here for one. I had a great time in Rotterdam and I love this club. But obviously, when Ajax and Van Basten call, your heart makes the decisions.”

As it did in the 80s when left full back Blind was lured from Sparta to Ajax by one Johan Cruyff. The very young Marco van Basten was angry then, that Cruyff signed a full back from Sparta instead of signing big name players. Danny Blind would move on to center back and captain of the team to win the Champions League with Van Gaal.

Blind put a clause in his contract with Sparta, that if the club from Amsterdam would want him back, he could go without a problem. Blind spent 20 years with the Sons of Gods: first as a player, then director player-management, director youth development and lastly as head coach. “The contract clause was specifically for Ajax. That goes to show how I feel about the club.”

The managers who pushed Blind aside - John Jaakke and Martin van Geel - are both gone. “That made my decision very easy, but in all honesty, if they were still there I probably would have done it as well.”

Martin van Geel couldn’t work in the new Van Basten model. Blind doesn’t see a problem. “I don’t mind working in the background. I even regretted my decision to become head coach at Ajax. I know how fickle that life is.”

Blind reports into Van Basten: “Marco is the end responsible person. But on fields where he can’t focus, like scouting or youth development, I will support him.”

Ajax chairman Uri Coronel. “With Danny Blind, the model is finished. Danny will become Marco’s right hand man. This was Marco’s choice. And I support it fully. I am very happy that Danny is back at Ajax.”