Koster: the right man for Ajax

There is one thing Ajax doesn’t need to fear: Adrie Koster will never spill the internal beans to the outside world. What belongs internally, stays internally is his philosophy.

“Adrie is a very correct human being,” says RKC technical director Van der Vegt, who sacked Koster as a coach last winter. “Everything that happened stayed within the club. Adrie is a decent person, with a lot of football know-how. Sometimes people say he is too nice and decent for the football world. I am eager to learn how he will handle things at Ajax.”

Koster had to leave RKC because he didn’t rule with an iron fist. He gives his players trust and responsibility. At RKC, the opposite was needed. Chairman Berden of VVV: “Adrie doesn’t handle the conflict model too well. And maybe this makes him perfect for Ajax. He can create harmony in difficult times. They need that now in Amsterdam. He is very focused but will always have time for other people’s opinions and is a real teambuilder.”

Koster defnitely had quite some high points in his career, like the promotion to the Eredivisie with Excelsior. He is credited as the “developer” of later Feyenoord and Glasgow Rangers star Thomas Buffel.

RODA JC’s Nol Hendriks worked with Koster in the season Koster managed to reach the cup final. A year later, Koster was sacked and Hendriks still regrets that decision. “He is one of the strongest tactical thinkers I know. I really wanted to keep him for the club, he is exceptional with young players, who still can be developed. But, he is also ambitious and wanted to move on. His weaker points? For the love of God, I wouldn’t know…”