Only Johan Cruyff can save Ajax - Johan Derksen

Johan Derksen’s column in VI:

“Almost four years ago, Johan Cruyff told everyone who wanted to listen that Marco van Basten was an absolute top coach. I trusted JC’s football vision and I was very pleased to hear that. We would enter a wonderful era, with practice guys in charge. But, it became a huge disappointment. Van Basten made a lot of amateuristic mistakes. He failed as a people manager and sanctified the system which hurt the players and the effectiveness. The presence of Cruyff with Ajax and in particular Barca resulted in awe inspiring football, but the games Oranje played were most of the times painful to the eyes.

All these things were somewhat hidden by the ok results. But I wasn’t just disappointed in Marco, I was also disappointed in Cruyff. And in particular with the way he kept on defending his apprentice. It was the top of loyalty, but also unbelievable and it hurt Van Basten more than it helped him. It’s typical Cruyff though, you never let your mates down.

Van Basten has never convinced as team manager. Headstrong, unfathomable, inconsistent, unpredictable and arrogant. And at long last, he did listen to his players who complained about the system. The impressive victory over Croatia was basically the manifestation of all their complaints against Van Basten’s policies. Oranje has great players and if Van Basten uses the well and choses a system that fits the players’ skills we might get an unforgettable summer.

Ajax’ management witnessed the former super player mature as a coach. Cruyff was immediately after his active career a highly talented manager. It will take some time with Basten. Still, the club has the guts to go with him, after ten years of Morten Olsen, Jan Wouters, Hans Westerhof, Co Adriaanse, Ronald Koeman, Danny Blind, Henk ten Cate and Adrie Koster. Without any experience as club coach, Van Basten received a four year deal. Cruyff is again ecstatic and sees this signing as the start of something great.

I hope Marco does well, because on paper the combination Ajax - Van Basten is perfect. But, there are no guarantees. It’s - again - a leap of faith.

The Ajax Coronel committee came with a devastating report and everyone was knock-out. But the streetfight never came, because honorary member Johan Cruyff wrote a column saying he had the solution. Then he ambushed the member-council meeting and got all the power at the club. The next day, the Coronel report was put through the shredder.

If indeed JC grabs the power, everyone - from management to board to member council to technical staff - will have to shut up. But Cruyff paints a simplistic picture. He sums ten years mismanagement up as a formality. By appointing some of his pupils, he thinks he has solved the issues. But it doesn’t work like that. But, if JC takes over the day to day operations, he will change things for the better. The eye of the master. But the chaos is too big in Amsterdam to run the club from the recliner in Barcelona.

With chairman Jaakke and general manager Fontein gone, who will be the figure head of Ajax? Coach Van Basten? And what will Martin van Geel’s role be? He clashed with coaches, didn’t get the scouting going and signed mediocre players. Van Basten’s status and ego will become a problem for Van Geel. Because when the technical director and the coach have a conflict, one phone call to Barcelona by Marco will solve it. Van Geel also has a difficult relationship with Piet Keizer, the technical advisor and JC’s long time friend. Van Geel should just throw the towel and surrender. There is no spot for him left. Make Keizer the technical director and you have the trinity of Keizer, Cruyff and Van Basten. A wealth of connections, football know how and loyalty across the board.

Former Ajax and Feyenoord player Keje Molenaar would be the perfect general manager. He thinks like Cruyff, is at home in the boardroom and presents himself civilized, being a professional lawyer.

Ajax’ future is in Cruyff’s hands. He raised his hand and now has to finish the job. JC will take care of it. He will make the youth development important again, he will sign preferably Dutch players, but it doesn’t matter… Everyone within Ajax thinks, let JC take care of it.

He did it all before, as a player, as a manager and as the power behind the screens. Cruyff isn’t looking for power, he let his supporter’s heart speak. He saw it all deteriorate and couldn’t face it any longer. It’s Barca and Ajax for Cruyffie, there are no other clubs.

In Barcelona he helped his friend Joan Laporta. Begiristain became technical director, Rijkaard coach. Alexanco is manager youth development and Pep Guardialo is Barca B manager. And it works!

Cruyff doesn’t always formulate his thoughts well. The fans at home can’t follow him. I know him for 40 years and I have never met anyone with his intelligence and creativity. Johan is indeed the only man who can save Ajax.

We should all be happy that he takes on this challenge. But, it will be according to JC’s rules. Although, also JC will have to abide to the stock market’s rules with regards to running Ajax. And he is taking a huge risk. If he fails, he will need to shut up. It will be his last hurrah and the next years will tell how we will look back at JC’s last stint. But mark my words…he won’t fail.