Ajax Youth Academy

The Ajax Youth Academy 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 footballing giants 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]

Ajax Youth Academy

Full name	AFC Ajax Youth Academy
Nickname(s)	De Toekomst
Founded	18 March 1900
Ground	De Toekomst, Amsterdam
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Hennie Henrichs
Head coach	Saïd Ouaali
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

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. [3][4][5][6]

Notable former players

1900-1970s Johan Cruijff Piet Keizer Ruud Krol Wim Suurbier Sjaak Swart 1980s Marco van Basten John Bosman Frank de Boer Ronald de Boer Frank Rijkaard John van 't Schip Richard Witschge

1990s Dennis Bergkamp Edgar Davids Patrick Kluivert Andy van der Meyde Michael Reiziger Edwin van der Sar Clarence Seedorf 2000s Toby Alderweireld Daley Blind John Heitinga Nigel de Jong Wesley Sneijder Rafael van der Vaart Thomas Vermaelen Jan Vertonghen

2010s Donny van de Beek Christian Eriksen Frenkie de Jong Davy Klaassen Justin Kluivert Matthijs de Ligt Abdelhak Nouri

Ajax Online Academy

Central is the style of play (4-3-3, with goalkeeper[7]), 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.[8]

1. Coordination training 2. Kicking, Passing and Throw-in 3. Moves to beat an opponent 4. Heading 5. Finishing 6. Position play 7. Position Game play 8. Small sided games

Teams

Youth teams Level Team Age League Cup International A-juniors A1 -19 Nike Eredivisie A-juniors Cup UEFA Youth League B-juniors B1 -17 B-juniors Eredivisie B-juniors Cup C-juniors C1 -15 C-juniors Eredivisie C-juniors Cup — C2 .C-juniors Eerste Divisie — D-pupils D1 -13 D-pupils Eredivisie D-pupils Cup — D2 .D-pupils Eerste Divisie — E-pupils E1 -11 E-pupils Eredivisie E-pupils Cup — E2 .E-pupils Eerste Divisie — F-pupils F1 -9 F-pupils Eredivisie F-pupils Cup — F2 .F-pupils Eerste Divisie —

Board and staff

Current Staff

Chairman

• Hennie Henrichs

Head coach

• Erik ten Hag

Technical Director (upper-level A-C)

• Saïd Ouaali

Technical Director (mid-level A-C)

• Patrick Ladru

Technical Director (lower-level D-F)

• Michel Hordijk

List of Technical Directors

Seasons	upper-level A to C		lower-level D to F
2006–07	Maarten Stekelenburg		Patrick Ladru
2007–08	Maarten Stekelenburg		Patrick Ladru
2008–09			Patrick Ladru
2009–10			Patrick Ladru
2010–11	Edmond Claus
	upper-level A to C	mid-level A to C	lower-level D to F
2011–12	Wim Jonk	Michel Kreek	Michel Hordijk
2012–13	Wim Jonk	Michel Kreek	Michel Hordijk
2013–14	Wim Jonk	Patrick Ladru	Michel Hordijk

Accommodations

Sportcomplex De Toekomst

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.[9]

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.[10] Here the players are trained in a scientific manner based on motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading and shooting.[11] On 28 October 2013 the ceiling of the main hall of the facility had collapsed, which the club in turn had to have rebuilt.[12]

Honours

Main article: List of AFC Ajax honours

National titles

• A-junioren Eredivisie : 13

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

• A-junioren Eerste Divisie : 4

2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

• B-junioren Eredivisie : 4

2002–03, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12

• B-junioren Eerste Divisie : 1

2006–07

• C-junioren Algeheel landskampioen : 1

2011–12

• C-junioren Eerste Divisie : 2

2008–09, 2011–12

• C 2 kampioen : 2

2009–10, 2011–12

• D-junioren Algeheel landskampioen : 1

2011–12

• D-junioren Eerste Divisie : 7

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

• D 2 District West 1 kampioen : 4

2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11

• D 3 kampioen : 1

2009–10

• E 1 kampioen : 1

2004–05

• E 2 kampioen : 2

2009–10, 2010–11

• E 3 kampioen : 1

2009–10

• F 1 kampioen : 2

2009–10, 2010–11

National cups

• A-junioren Cup : 1

2009–10

• B-junioren Cup : 2

2008–09, 2012–13

• D-junioren Cup : 1

2012–13

• F-pupillen District Cup : 1

2009–10

Dutch Super Cup

• A-junioren Supercup : 4

2005, 2006, 2011, 2014

• B-junioren Supercup : 2

2009, 2012

• C-junioren Supercup : 2

2012, 2014

• D-junioren Supercup : 1

2010

See also

• Ajax Hellas Youth Academy

References

1. "The Academy". Ajax.nl. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
2. "Ajax Academy". Footyscene.com. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
3. Hamilton, Chloe (1995-10-22). "Lessons of the Dutch school - Sport". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
4. "Grooming talent the Ajax way". FIFA.com. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
5. "How a Soccer Star Is Made". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
6. "Ajax Youth Academy". Premier International Tours. Archived from the original on 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
7. "AFC Ajax Playing Philosophy". The Coaching Manual. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
8. "Train de vereniging cursus | Trainer cursussen | Cursussen". Ajax Online Academy. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
9. De Toekomst, ajaxinside.nl, 28 October 2013
10. Ajax en adidas starten performance centre Archived 2015-01-24 at the Wayback Machine, Zuidoost, 17 January 2011
11. adidas miCoach Centre in beeld, ajax.nl, 29 April 2011
12. adidas-hal op de Toekomst ingezakt, ajax.nl, 28 October 2013

External links

• Official site
• The academy spotlight: Ajax and Barcelona – These Football Times (2015)

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