Ajax announced this Sunday that it reached a verbal agreement with Jordi Cruyff so that the son of the legendary Johan Cruyff becomes the new Sports Director of the Dutch club.
The statement published on the social networks of the Amsterdam team, which is third in the Eredivisie, reads as follows: “Ajax and Jordi Cruyff have reached a verbal agreement on the position of technical director. The process to reach a definitive appointment is in its final phase although There are still some steps to take. Ajax’s objective is for Jordi Cruyff to join the position at the beginning of February 2026“.
After a meeting in Barcelona, where the principle of agreement was reached, it was determined that Cruyff will take the place of Alex Kroesin a role that can lead to confusion due to translation: although the position is called technical director, it is a function similar to that of a sports director, being part of the board of directors.
“The Ajax Supervisory Board (CSR) also intends to appoint him statutory advisor. This, subject to the applicable procedure, will last until June 30, 2028 inclusive. For this reason, an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGG) will be called, in which Ajax shareholders will be formally informed about this appointment,” concludes the text published by the institution.
51 years old and born in Amsterdam, Jordi Cruyff He spent his formative years with Ajax, but made his debut in Barcelonaanother club in which his father is a legend, later passing through Manchester United, Celta de Vigo, Alavés, Espanyol and clubs from Ukraine and Malta.
As a coach, he directed Maccabi Tel Aviv and two clubs in China, Chongqing and Shenzhen, while he also has experience as a sports director, having served in that position at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, the aforementioned Maccabi Tel Aviv and Barcelona, between 2021 and 2023 (the first season as a sports advisor and the second, as sports director).
Recently, Cruyff, who would sign a contract until 2028, was technical advisor to the Indonesian Football Federationa role he assumed in February 2025, working for several months alongside Patrick Kluivert, now former coach of the national team, and sports commentator in UEFA Champions League matches.
Thus, after beating two other candidates, including former footballer Maxwell, Jordi Cruyff is one step away from returning to the club where he His father left an immense legacywearing the number 14 shirt and winning 15 titlesincluding three European Cups, today the UEFA Champions League, and an Intercontinental Cup, as well as six Eredivisies.
Then, as manager, the legendary Dutch footballer lifted three more trophies at the club, before leaving for Barcelona to make history, similar to what happened in his career as a footballer.
Currently, Ajax, the most successful club in the Netherlands, both nationally and internationally, is going through a weak present: its last title is the 2021/22 Eredivisie, dominating the last three years PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.
One of Jordi Cruyff’s first tasks will be to name the team’s technical director: he currently occupies that position, on an interim basis, Fred Grimafter the dismissal of John Heitinga. After a difficult start, with three defeats, Grim guided the course of Ajax, which is now undefeated in six games, with five wins and one draw.
During the club’s contemporary successes, in which it reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, the role of sporting director was filled by Marc Overmars.
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