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The Ajax Files

July 14th, 2008 | By: Jan | 21 Comments »

Van Basten is back at Ajax!

Ten year of mismanagement and no international prizes to speak of formed the run up to the infamous Coronel report.

The date: May 24 1995. Every Ajax fan knows exactly where he or she was that night. It was a well-placed pointer by Patrick Kluivert that beat AC Miland and brought the European Cup to Amsterdam for the fourth time. Swinging, attractive football was the recipe and the main ingredients were the self-educated players. Europe watched with an open jaw how Van Gaal’s youngster gave football lessons to Real Madrid, AC Milan and many other teams. Ajax was top dog, the top of the food chain in international football. But like with many other aspects of life, football is determined by cycles. 13 years after the win in Vienna, Ajax is not longer predator, but prey.
Ajax thought it had the Midas’ touch for ever and mismanagement and squandered millions resulted in mediocre performances in Europe since.

The Coronel report draws a picture of worrying managers who can’t communicate or work together. We’ve seen eight head coaches in ten years. Four technical directors tried to steer the club to the top but the club turned into a snake pit. The organization consists of little islands, the warmth has gone and people avoid responsibility. Some recent examples: chairman John Jaakke didn’t see eye to eye with general manager Fonteyn, technical director Martin van Geel had public rows with coach Ten Cate. The sponsors and supporters feel neglected and the club-feeling evaporated.

Ajax’ mismanagement obviously extended to the pitch. Too many mediocre players were signed whom Ajax could have developed themselves. When Jaap Stam and Wesley Sneijder left the club, Van Geel’s alternatives where Samuel Kuffour and Albert Luque. Of some players it’s even unclear who actually sanctioned their signings.

The youth development system of Ajax is being spared a harsh analysis. The Coronel committee does say that youth trainers aren’t assessed properly and the manager’s position is used too much as a step-up to bigger, brighter things. But still, the youth system normally is the main artery of Ajax. Ajax players used to have guts, bravado, mental strength and football shrewdness. Still, the talentts that Ajax brought forward in the last couple of years seemed to miss all those qualifications. Recently, the Chinese football federation asked Ajax some questions: how do you develop a right full back… The honest answer would be: we buy them in Romania.

Ajax wants to get back to the top. But is that possible? Aren’t the expectations too high? Ajax wants to play for the title every year and win it every two years. They also want to mingle with the top of Europe every 5 years. True, Ajax has a huge fan-base, the most money in Holland and a good reputation. But that is not enough. A solid plan is needed as well. Maarten Fonteyn used to compare Ajax with FC Porto and Olympique Lyon. Both play in so-called subtop European competition. Both Lyon and Porto have a shrewd transfer policy. Lyon finds the best talents in France, while Porto is successful in South America. Both clubs are led by a strong leader, who represents the club externally and follows a strict policy. The fans respect that.

Six years ago, Ajax played Lyon twice and won twice. Today, Ajax would be happy to draw against the French top club. Ajax’ current culture is shrouded in fear, mistrust and failure. It’s no longer the popular people’s club it used to be.

Another issue is…money. Ajax budget is only 50 million euros. Manchester City, not the biggest club in the EPL, has a budget of 125 million with even more available. Real Madrid has a budget of 360 million euros per year. Due to this, Ajax won’t be able to keep their supertalents for longer than two years. A coach is not longer in the position to build a super-team.

Leo Beenhakker was successful as a technical director when he signed players like Ibrahimovic, Trabelsi and Maxwell. So, it is possible. With the right connections, some creativity and gusto. Qualification for the CL is essential though. And in the last two years, as a result of mismanagement Ajax wasn’t able to do that. It’s a so-called vicious circle, inwhich Ajax keeps bumping into themselves as a result of too high expectations and too ambitious rethoric.

Twelve years back, Ajax was the king of European football. Today, Ajax is merely an acquaintance of the reigning king. After winning the CL, Ajax traded the cozy De Meer in for the cool Arena Stadium, it acquired foreign satelite clubs and the club went for a listing on the Amsterdam stock exchange. It raised 54 million euros. But that’s all it brought the club. The Coronel committee strongly suggests the club to withdraw from the exchange, which would cost a cool 37 million euros. The chasm between the pros and the amateurs needs to be bridged, the seniors need to train at De Toekomst again and the coziness of the past needs to be restored. Fans, parents of youth players and sponsors long for that warmth again. The erosion of the “feeling” needs to be stopped. Ajax needs to purge itself and re-invent itself. Back to basics. Ajax is still a big name, with a massive tradition and a strong anchor in the international football world.

It will be a long and winding road. “We can’t guarantee prizes and titles,” the committee concluded,” but we can guarantee a road of passion leading towards it.”

Tags: Ajax, Arsenal, Background stories, Beenhakker, Cruyff, Dutch Eredivisie, Holland, Oranje, Van Basten, van Gaal

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Comments

By Michel-Olivier | July 14th, 2008 at 7:57 am

ajax players to look out for next season
-cvitanich(argentine/croat)
-van der wiel
-emanuelson
-de Jong
-suarez(had a good season last year)
-van der heijden
-sulejmani
-stekelenburg(will he be first choice gk in orange?)
-The hunter(if he stay)

Posted from United States

By Caleb | July 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am

Do you think there is any chance that the club will withdraw from the stock exchange or that it will get it’s warmth back?

Posted from Canada

By Jan | July 14th, 2008 at 9:07 am

Yeah, why not? It’s all about the people in the end. I think they drifted away but I do believe delisting the club will work out and with the right people on board, the right culture can get back. Feyenoord has managed to do so, Arsenal has (remember where they were in the late 80s?) and so have many others.

I actually believe Marco will do wonders for the club and I won’t be surprised if he pulls a Sir Alex or Uli Hoeness at Ajax…

By finnster01 | July 14th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

Delisting is very possible but only if the club gets bought by a strong consortium or individual. In its current version it is hard to see how it could happen. Just check out the ownership percentages. Shareholder approval would be next to impossible.

I could see a US Private Equity firm or Hedge Fund make a move for Ajax though. If I had the cash I certainly would. It would be an excellent investment, but not sure if I as an Ajax fan would like that any better. Just look at Liverpool.

We (Ajax fans) need a rich daddy who grew up an Ajax fan to buy the club, delist from the exchange, restore its core values and allow the old Ajax bohemians get involved at the club at all levels. For example, having an annual “old timers” day where you bring in the old legends and have a little get together before say the Feyenoord game. Fans would love it. I know I would, may even consider hopping on the plane across the pond for such an outing. Here in the US, the New York Yankees do that every year, and if you have ever been lucky enough to go to one of those, you want to come back and do it again the next year. It just brings back so many great memories of the past for a fan.

Ajax can be successful, but we need a rich Amsterdam or at least Dutch gentleman to step up to the plate with deep enough pockets to do it. An Abramovich or rich American investor with questionable second agendas won’t appeal to me as that will take the club further away from what it always meant to me. And I am not even Dutch…

Posted from United States

By Porchetta | July 15th, 2008 at 7:09 am

Credit must be given when due, Ajax is one ORIGINAL club in Europe like our Italian clubs which hone talents in galore but it gets frightening to imagine what would be the power of the club if someone rich and fi8lthy rich like Roman Abra takes over….
I mean, i am definate and certain that almost all posters will agree with me when i deride and blame and insult clubs like Chelsea, manure, Liverpoo , Real Madrid ..for their UNETHICAL, i repeat UNETHICAL ways in poaching and buying and wanting to buy talents at ALL COSTS..i man clubs like these dont boast of any files or youth systems but just use money power and clout……….
On the brighter side, iam PROUD to say that great clubs like Milan, Fiorentina, Atalanta, Juventus, AJAX, Feyenoord, Bayern Munich, Slavia Prague, Boavista, Roma boast of the prestige of producing natural talents

Posted from Spain

By Matt | July 15th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

Nice post. Solid critique and appraisal. I am hopeful for our future, but so much has changed since 1995. Still, while we can’t be ManU or Barca, OM and Porto are quite realistic goals that can be reached sooner rather than later. It will just take some swagger, a couple of breakthrough talents in this year’s academy class and transfer newbies, and a serious run at the UEFA Cup.

Posted from United States

By MAB | July 15th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

Porchetta you are quite bias. Bayern Munchen has not produced “natural talents”. After all: Luca Toni,Franck Ribery, Lucas Podolski,Sebastian Scheinsteiger,Mark Van Bommel…were all brought from other European teams. Milan, Juventus do not produce natural talents either, they just happen to be without money and Italy is struggling financially. After all Milan just bought Ronaldinho.Manchester and Arsenal produce their own talents, and create cohesive teams.
AJAX is the real European club!Go Ajax!!!

Posted from United States

By Robert | July 16th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Since the Fergies Fledglings era (Beckham, Scholes, the Neville brothers etc.) of twelve years ago how many players have Manchester United actually produced? The same goes for Arsenal. Wenger is very shrewd and finds the most talented youngsters from other clubs, often very messily, Pennant immediately springs to mind as does Fabregas.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Bob | July 16th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Jan, zit op noodzakelijk voor bemoedigen zekers bloggers wie zijn een orde van de dag niet verwantschapt voor Nederlands voetbal? Mij verrichten niet weet waarom sommige bloggers wassen voor naar de lokartikel en uitproberen voor twisten van onze Italiaans interlopers.

Posted from United States

By Jan | July 16th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

My dear Bob :-)… I am not sure I get what you mean….

By Caleb | July 17th, 2008 at 8:28 am

Jan - I don’t even understand more than a few words of Dutch but I think I have a good idea what Bob was trying to say just by the last two words

Posted from Canada

By finnster01 | July 17th, 2008 at 10:08 am

@caleb;

hahaha that is excellent. Not sure if I get anymore out of it other than it is one pissed off Dutch Oranje fan complaining about the bloggers and Dutch football. Hopefully it is not us he/she is referring to although you never know.

Posted from United States

By Jan | July 17th, 2008 at 11:02 am

MAB: Bastian Schweinsteiger comes from Bayern’s youth system,

By goose | July 17th, 2008 at 11:24 am

Bob is using some sort of internet translation programm cause his comment has little to do with dutch
better try english Bob

ok ,ill stop commenting and get back to the beach!! haha

Posted from France

By Caleb | July 17th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

goose - I just tried using an internet translation program to translate it back to English and it doesn’t do much good either. Those translation tools are next to useless unless you have some knowledge of the langauge and can use them as tools to aid you, not straight translators. I do remember making use of them in my high school French classes though

Still looks strange seeing goose with a French flag beneath his posts…

Posted from Canada

By finnster01 | July 17th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Hmmm, maybe we have our own version of the X-files…

Bob could be our first Alien Ajax supporter (although I have already met quite a few in Amsterdam that I am convinced fall into that category). There are some rather strange ones to be found, trust me.

Posted from United States

By Bob | July 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

You guys are correct, I should stick to English as my Dutch apparently stinks! Sorry to cause such a commotion. For the record, I am an Ajax fan and have been for a long time. I have enjoyed the recent articles Jan has posted and I hope van Basten can bring some order out of chaos. By the way, Finnster, I am not an alien (at least I hope not). What I am is someone who has very much enjoyed this blog and am disappointed that so many seem to rise to the bait thrown at us by some bloggers who do not exactly “share” our interest in Netherlands football.

Posted from United States

By Jan | July 18th, 2008 at 1:34 am

We - the blogkings and myself - are doing all we can to block racist stuff out. My advice: don’t lower yourself to their level and just ignore.

@Bob, don’t worry about it is was actually funny…

My crystal ball tells me that San Marco could be in for a long stint at Ajax, Wenger style.

By Caleb | July 18th, 2008 at 8:28 am

I hope Marco stays with Ajax for the long run and is able to turn the clubs fortunes around. Sounds like they could use the stability of a Wenger like regime.

Bob - are you the Bob from before or a new Bob? Either way, your right about how we should ignore the “Italiaans interlopers” If we never bother to respond directly to anything they say they’ll get tired just like a school-yard bully.

Posted from Canada

By Bob | July 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Jan, it would be great if van Basten became the Ajax Wenger. Good for Ajax, good for the Eredivisie,good for European football. A strong Netherlands club team, built with “local” talent, would be the best contribution that van Basten could make as a coach for his homeland.

Caleb, thanks for agreeing. Yes, I am the same Bob, from upstate New York in the United States. A friend of mine several days ago showed me an online translation service and thought I might like to try it. I did, as everyone now knows, and the experiment turned out to be a disaster. It just proves once again that my ancestor’s Dutch language aptitude did not get passed down to me by DNA. I once promised that I would never criticize van Basten again. I now promise that I will only submit comments in English to this blog.

Posted from United States

By finnster01 | July 18th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

@Bob,

Amen to that!! An Ajax restoration to the heights of European soccer would be fantastic. A decent run in the CL or UEFA will give me the excuse that I need to get my butt back on the plane to Amsterdam.

I might even rent a bike.

Posted from United States

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