If you love football, you love Ajax. It's a well known fact.
The Dutch side used to be one of Europe's powerhouses, winning the Champions League four times - the last in 1995. The first three, in 1971, 1972 and 1973, were all achieved with one player - Johan Cruyff. A legend of the game, and a key asset in totaalvoetbal, the Ajax of the 1970s played some of the greatest football ever.
The Ajax style was the making of Rinus Michels, who would go on to inspire Cruyff's philosophy. Total Football flourished under Michels but before the 1970s, when Total Football reached its peak, it can be accredited to many other sides. Austria of the 1930s, River Plate's La Maquina of the 1940s and Hungary of the 1950s all had their own version of Total Football but none as perfect as Michels.
Cruyff was undoubtedly the key part of Michels' tactic. Cruyff would roam around the pitch freely while his teammates would fill in positions to make sure all spaces were covered. Spatial awareness was also integral in pressing, with which Ajax closed down their opposition quickly and high up the pitch to win the ball back in attacking areas.
Michels was recently voted the greatest manager of all time by FranceFootball due to Total Football. He has inspired so many managers - Ronald Koeman and Louis van Gaal, for example - but his main follower was Johan Cruyff.
Cruyff also instilled hard pressing into his sides but adapted his tactic slightly away from Total Football, as the need for possession to control the opponent was more apparent. He played 3-1-2-1-3 at Ajax and Barcelona. The three defenders had to be quick and in front of them was the midfielder at the base, a deep-lying playmaker, someone like Jorginho today. His job was to keep passing the ball, to start attacks and move play along. The two in front had to supply the forward players whilst controlling the game. The attacking midfielder, the player able to free roam, like Cruyff under Michels, had to create chances and score goals. The wingers had to hug the touchline and make the pitch as wide as possible, just like what Sterling and Sane do for Manchester City. The striker then had to score but also hold up play.
It's a system that brought so much success to Ajax and Barcelona. In an 11 year coaching career, Cruyff won 14 titles (3 at Ajax, 11 at Barcelona). Cruyff never reached a European Cup final as Ajax manager. Their last appearance in the final came in 1996, losing to Juventus. That was over 20 years ago.
Why have one of Europe's greatest clubs not reached its greatest competition's final for so long?
Well, the idea is that Ajax lost its identity. They effectively abandoned Cruyffian principles. The growth of other leagues in Europe did not help too, as the financial disparity between the Eredivisie and the 'top 5' European leagues became wider and wider as the years went on. Cruyff had had enough.
He recognised that Ajax needed a massive overhaul from top to bottom, from the first team right through to the youth set-up. Cruyff wanted every single Ajax side, including under 9's, to play the same way - his way. It was similar to Barcelona's La Masia, the cantera (literally 'quarry'), it effectively means the continuous production of youth talent from the academy. Cruyff needed to reinstate the old philosophy of Ajax and he did that by employing former players, notably Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars.
In a piece for the New York Times, Rory Smith visited Ajax and spoke to Said Ouaali spoke of the Ajax process, how the youth academy produce players for "Ajax, then the Dutch national team, the the top international level." The ways of Michels and Cruyff of promoting youth talent have been reinstalled into Ajax. Frenkie de Jong's transfer to Barcelona has already been announced but that is not a problem to Ajax, it is simply proof that their system is working.
Ajax's results in the Champions League this season are only further proof of the system's success. Of the 11 players that started in Turin last night, 6 players came directly through the academy. In a world where football is dominated by money, Ajax are what everybody wants to be - a club where youth is not only given a chance, but where is thrives and has natural ability.
Ajax, though, do know that come the summer, Europe's elite will be trying to prize away their best assets. With de Jong already at Barcelona, van de Beek and de Ligt could also be on their way out. Matthijs de Ligt is perhaps their best academy product for some time. At 19 years old, he is already captain and linked with Juventus, Manchester City and Liverpool. Ajax do not have the financial power of other clubs, which is a shame but an indictment of modern football.
The link between Barcelona and Ajax because of Cruyff and Michels continues to do this day. Both clubs' philosophies have originated from the pair and there was a great applause around the Nou Camp last night as the Barcelona fans learnt that Ajax had gone 2-1 up. There were also talks of an affiliation between Barcelona and Ajax, such is the connection between the clubs but would also be hugely advantageous for Barcelona, to have first option on some of Europe's top young talent.
A Champions League semi-final now awaits for Ajax. Real Madrid and Juventus were meant to be too good for the Dutchmen, so Manchester City or Tottenham will not be a daunting task for Ajax. We could possibly see Ajax in a Champions League final and if you said that at the start of the season, you'd have been laughed at.
Ajax are no longer a sleeping giant, they are right back at the top of European football. A place where they belong.
The Dutch side used to be one of Europe's powerhouses, winning the Champions League four times - the last in 1995. The first three, in 1971, 1972 and 1973, were all achieved with one player - Johan Cruyff. A legend of the game, and a key asset in totaalvoetbal, the Ajax of the 1970s played some of the greatest football ever.
The Ajax style was the making of Rinus Michels, who would go on to inspire Cruyff's philosophy. Total Football flourished under Michels but before the 1970s, when Total Football reached its peak, it can be accredited to many other sides. Austria of the 1930s, River Plate's La Maquina of the 1940s and Hungary of the 1950s all had their own version of Total Football but none as perfect as Michels.
Cruyff was undoubtedly the key part of Michels' tactic. Cruyff would roam around the pitch freely while his teammates would fill in positions to make sure all spaces were covered. Spatial awareness was also integral in pressing, with which Ajax closed down their opposition quickly and high up the pitch to win the ball back in attacking areas.
Michels was recently voted the greatest manager of all time by FranceFootball due to Total Football. He has inspired so many managers - Ronald Koeman and Louis van Gaal, for example - but his main follower was Johan Cruyff.
Cruyff also instilled hard pressing into his sides but adapted his tactic slightly away from Total Football, as the need for possession to control the opponent was more apparent. He played 3-1-2-1-3 at Ajax and Barcelona. The three defenders had to be quick and in front of them was the midfielder at the base, a deep-lying playmaker, someone like Jorginho today. His job was to keep passing the ball, to start attacks and move play along. The two in front had to supply the forward players whilst controlling the game. The attacking midfielder, the player able to free roam, like Cruyff under Michels, had to create chances and score goals. The wingers had to hug the touchline and make the pitch as wide as possible, just like what Sterling and Sane do for Manchester City. The striker then had to score but also hold up play.
It's a system that brought so much success to Ajax and Barcelona. In an 11 year coaching career, Cruyff won 14 titles (3 at Ajax, 11 at Barcelona). Cruyff never reached a European Cup final as Ajax manager. Their last appearance in the final came in 1996, losing to Juventus. That was over 20 years ago.
Why have one of Europe's greatest clubs not reached its greatest competition's final for so long?
Well, the idea is that Ajax lost its identity. They effectively abandoned Cruyffian principles. The growth of other leagues in Europe did not help too, as the financial disparity between the Eredivisie and the 'top 5' European leagues became wider and wider as the years went on. Cruyff had had enough.
He recognised that Ajax needed a massive overhaul from top to bottom, from the first team right through to the youth set-up. Cruyff wanted every single Ajax side, including under 9's, to play the same way - his way. It was similar to Barcelona's La Masia, the cantera (literally 'quarry'), it effectively means the continuous production of youth talent from the academy. Cruyff needed to reinstate the old philosophy of Ajax and he did that by employing former players, notably Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars.
In a piece for the New York Times, Rory Smith visited Ajax and spoke to Said Ouaali spoke of the Ajax process, how the youth academy produce players for "Ajax, then the Dutch national team, the the top international level." The ways of Michels and Cruyff of promoting youth talent have been reinstalled into Ajax. Frenkie de Jong's transfer to Barcelona has already been announced but that is not a problem to Ajax, it is simply proof that their system is working.
Ajax's results in the Champions League this season are only further proof of the system's success. Of the 11 players that started in Turin last night, 6 players came directly through the academy. In a world where football is dominated by money, Ajax are what everybody wants to be - a club where youth is not only given a chance, but where is thrives and has natural ability.
Ajax, though, do know that come the summer, Europe's elite will be trying to prize away their best assets. With de Jong already at Barcelona, van de Beek and de Ligt could also be on their way out. Matthijs de Ligt is perhaps their best academy product for some time. At 19 years old, he is already captain and linked with Juventus, Manchester City and Liverpool. Ajax do not have the financial power of other clubs, which is a shame but an indictment of modern football.
The link between Barcelona and Ajax because of Cruyff and Michels continues to do this day. Both clubs' philosophies have originated from the pair and there was a great applause around the Nou Camp last night as the Barcelona fans learnt that Ajax had gone 2-1 up. There were also talks of an affiliation between Barcelona and Ajax, such is the connection between the clubs but would also be hugely advantageous for Barcelona, to have first option on some of Europe's top young talent.
A Champions League semi-final now awaits for Ajax. Real Madrid and Juventus were meant to be too good for the Dutchmen, so Manchester City or Tottenham will not be a daunting task for Ajax. We could possibly see Ajax in a Champions League final and if you said that at the start of the season, you'd have been laughed at.
Ajax are no longer a sleeping giant, they are right back at the top of European football. A place where they belong.
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