In a surprising turn of events, Francesco Farioli has resigned as head coach of Ajax, just a day after the Dutch club finished second in the Eredivisie title race. The 36-year-old Italian tactician, who took over in May 2023, announced his departure following Ajax’s disappointing end to the season.
Ajax had been leading the league by nine points with only five matches left, but a poor run of form two losses and two draws saw them surrender the title to PSV Eindhoven.
Despite successfully steering Ajax away from early relegation fears and securing Champions League qualification. Francesco Farioli cited conflicting visions with the board as the reason for his decision.
“The board and I share the same ambitions, but we differ in how and when to achieve them,” Farioli explained in a statement on the club’s official website.
“Because of these fundamental differences, I believe now is the right time to step away.”The resignation comes as a major blow to Ajax’s technical director, Alex Kroes, who expressed disappointment over the abrupt end to Farioli’s three-year contract. “It’s incredibly disappointing.
Francesco and his staff were instrumental in reviving our season,” said Kroes. “This year brought many unforgettable moments, and we reached our goal of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.”Kroes also highlighted the challenges that lie ahead.
With a crucial summer transfer window approaching, Ajax must now scramble to appoint a new coaching team before pre-season kicks off on June 26. Farioli, who previously managed Ligue 1 side Nice, made history as the first non-Dutch Ajax coach since 1998.
As the club faces a pivotal summer, all eyes will be on how Ajax responds to this unexpected shake-up at the helm.
