Ajax Youth Academy Explained

Clubname:Ajax Youth Academy
Fullname:AFC Ajax Youth Academy
Nickname:De Toekomst
Founded:18 March 1900
Ground:De Toekomst
Capacity:5,000
Chairman: Frank Eijken
Manager: Saïd Ouaali
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Website:https://www.ajaxonlineacademy.com/
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The Ajax Youth Academy (Dutch: Ajax Jeugdopleiding) is a football youth academy based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from where the organization manages a total of 13 youth teams (ages 7–18). The academy is the primary youth clinic of Dutch football team Ajax Amsterdam. The club depends heavily on the youth academy as they move promising youngsters from the youth teams to the senior team where they can showcase their talent and develop into stars. [1] [2]

On 11 September 2020, the CIES released their annual rankings of the clubs having trained the most players active in 31 top divisions of UEFA member associations. The Ajax Youth Academy came in 2nd place to the FK Partizan Academy from Serbia with 77 players footballers trained, while the Serbian side topped the list with 85 footballers trained. In accordance with the UEFA definition, players who were considered have been playing for the club for at least three seasons between 15 and 21 years of age.[3]

History

The Ajax youth system is famous for having produced and still producing many great Dutch internationals like Sjaak Swart, Johan Cruijff, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank and Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, John Heitinga, Nigel de Jong, Maarten Stekelenburg, and Gregory van der Wiel. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Notable former players

1900-1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Ajax Online Academy

Central is the style of play (4-3-3, with goalkeeper[8]), training, behavior and house rules.

Ajax has developed the so-called TIPS model, which stands for Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed. For each part there are ten criteria. P and S are generally innate properties, but I and T can always be developed further. Ajax coaching sessions always consists of 8 important football ingredients. Together with TIPS, they form the core to the Ajax success philosophy.[9]

1. Coordination training2. Kicking, Passing and Throw-in3. Moves to beat an opponent4. Heading5. Finishing6. Position play7. Position Game play8. Small sided games

Teams

width=48% align=left valign=top Youth teams
width=15% align=center Levelwidth=7% align=center Teamwidth=8% align=center Agewidth=25% align=center Leaguewidth=20% align=center Cupwidth=25% align=center International
A-juniorsA1-19Nike EredivisieA-juniors CupUEFA Youth League
B-juniorsB1-17B-juniors EredivisieB-juniors Cup
C-juniorsC1-15C-juniors EredivisieC-juniors Cup
C2.C-juniors Eerste Divisie
D-pupilsD1-13D-pupils EredivisieD-pupils Cup
D2.D-pupils Eerste Divisie
E-pupilsE1-11E-pupils EredivisieE-pupils Cup
E2.E-pupils Eerste Divisie
F-pupilsF1-9F-pupils EredivisieF-pupils Cup
F2.F-pupils Eerste Divisie

Board and staff

Current staff

Chairman

Head coach

Technical director (upper-level A-C)

Technical director (mid-level A-C)

Technical director (lower-level D-F)

List of technical directors

Seasons upper-level
A to C
lower-level
D to F
2006–07Maarten StekelenburgPatrick Ladru
2007–08Maarten StekelenburgPatrick Ladru
2008–09Patrick Ladru
2009–10Patrick Ladru
2010–11Edmond Claus
upper-level
A to C
mid-level
A to C
lower-level
D to F
2011–12Wim JonkMichel KreekMichel Hordijk
2012–13Wim JonkMichel KreekMichel Hordijk
2013–14Wim JonkPatrick LadruMichel Hordijk

Facilities

Sportcomplex De Toekomst

See main article: Sportpark De Toekomst. Sportcomplex De Toekomst is the training grounds of AFC Ajax, with a capacity of 5,000 it serves as home grounds for the reserves team Jong Ajax, its women's team Ajax Vrouwen, its amateur team Ajax Zaterdag as well as for the full youth system. The entire complex consists of seven fields and a trainings center.[10]

adidas miCoach Performance Centre

Established in 2011, the adidas MiCoach Performance Centre is situated on Sportpark De Toekomst. Built by Poly-Ned, it teaches football innovation and training methods and is used by both the first team, as well as the youth teams.[11] Here the players are trained in a scientific manner based on motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading and shooting.[12] On 28 October 2013 the ceiling of the main hall of the facility had collapsed, which the club in turn had to have rebuilt.[13]

Honours

See main article: List of AFC Ajax honours.

National titles

1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14

2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

2002–03, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12

2006–07

2011–12

2008–09, 2011–12

2009–10, 2011–12

2011–12

2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12

2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11

2009–10

2004–05

2009–10, 2010–11

2009–10

2009–10, 2010–11

National cups

2009–10

2008–09, 2012–13

2012–13

2009–10

Dutch Super Cup

2005, 2006, 2011, 2014

2009, 2012

2012, 2014

2010

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Academy . Ajax.nl. 15 March 2011 . 2013-08-07.
  2. Web site: Ajax Academy . Footyscene.com. 1 January 2012 . 2013-08-07.
  3. Web site: Exclusive training club rankings: Partizan ahead of Ajax . CIES. 11 September 2020 . 2020-11-09.
  4. Web site: Hamilton . Chloe . Lessons of the Dutch school - Sport . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714233245/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/lessons-of-the-dutch-school-1578912.html . 2014-07-14 . limited . live . The Independent . 1995-10-22 . 2012-08-03.
  5. Web site: Grooming talent the Ajax way . https://web.archive.org/web/20071102232111/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=627320.html . dead . November 2, 2007 . FIFA.com . 2007-11-02 . 2012-08-03.
  6. News: How a Soccer Star Is Made. The New York Times. 2012-08-01.
  7. Web site: Ajax Youth Academy . Premier International Tours . 2013-08-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130712061918/http://www.premierinternationaltours.com/soccer/schools-a-clinics-2012/ajax-youth-academy . 2013-07-12 . dead .
  8. Web site: AFC Ajax Playing Philosophy . The Coaching Manual . 27 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141204194527/http://www.thecoachingmanual.com/soccer/guides/afc-ajax-playing-philosophy-3044 . 4 December 2014 .
  9. Web site: Train de vereniging cursus | Trainer cursussen | Cursussen . Ajax Online Academy . 2012-08-03.
  10. http://www.ajaxinside.nl/pagina/toekomst De Toekomst
  11. http://www.zuidoost.nl/artikelen/sporten/ajax-en-adidas-starten-performance-centre Ajax en adidas starten performance centre
  12. http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-Nieuws/Ajax-nieuwsarchief/Ajax-nieuwsartikel/180617/adidas-miCoach-Centre-in-beeld.htm adidas miCoach Centre in beeld
  13. http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-Nieuws/Ajax-Nieuws/Ajax-nieuws-artikel/193537/adidashal-op-de-Toekomst-ingezakt.htm adidas-hal op de Toekomst ingezakt