The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Jul 3, 2025
Join Jacob Whitehead, a writer for The Athletic, as he shares insights from interviews with key figures in Ajax's reformation. Discover how Johan Cruyff's philosophy of creativity and total football sparked Ajax's revival post-2010. Whitehead discusses the club's innovative youth development strategies and their commitment to sustainability. The podcast also explores the tension between idealism and pragmatism in strategy, highlighting how Cruyff's legacy continues to influence Ajax's tactics and shape the identities of their homegrown talents.
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Cruyff's Wake-up Call to Ajax
- Johan Cruyff was frustrated with Ajax's decline in style and youth development by 2010.
- His famous column "Ajax is not Ajax anymore" sparked a major club rebuilding debate.
Wallpaper Plan Sparks Rebirth
- Ruben Jonkind and Wim Jonk secretly drafted Ajax's new academy plan on wallpaper in an Airbnb.
- Johan Cruyff personally approved and pushed for this rebuilding strategy.
Smart Academy Management
- Pay academy coaches equally to prevent win-at-all-costs attitudes at younger levels.
- Adjust player age groups to counteract relative age effect and foster development.