| Full name | Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax Academy | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | De Toekomst | |||
| Founded | 18 March 1900 | |||
| Ground | De Toekomst | |||
| Capacity | 5,000 | |||
| Chairman | Frank Eijken | |||
| Head coach | Saïd Ouaali | |||
| Website | www | |||
TheAjax Youth Academy (Dutch:Ajax Jeugdopleiding) is afootball youth academy based inAmsterdam,Netherlands, from where the organisation manages a total of 13 youth teams (ages 7–18). The academy is the primary youth clinic of Dutch football teamAjax 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, theCIES released their annual rankings of the clubs having trained the most players active in 31 top divisions ofUEFA member associations. The Ajax Youth Academy came in 2nd place to theFK 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]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(August 2013) |
The Ajax youth system is famous for having produced and still producing many great Dutch internationals likeSjaak Swart,Johan Cruijff,Frank Rijkaard,Dennis Bergkamp,Frank andRonald de Boer,Edgar Davids,Clarence Seedorf,Patrick Kluivert,Rafael van der Vaart,Wesley Sneijder,John Heitinga,Nigel de Jong,Maarten Stekelenburg, andGregory van der Wiel.[4][5][6][7]
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
Youth teams
|
Chairman
Frank EijkenHead coach
Assistant managers
Technical director (upper-level A-C)
Saïd OuaaliTechnical director (mid-level A-C)
Patrick LadruTechnical director (lower-level D-F)
Michel Hordijk| 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 |
Sportcomplex De Toekomst is the training grounds ofAFC Ajax, with a capacity of 5,000 it serves as home grounds for the reserves teamJong Ajax, its women's teamAjax Vrouwen, its amateur teamAjax Zaterdag as well as for the full youth system. The entire complex consists of seven fields and a trainings center.[11]
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.[12] Here the players are trained in a scientific manner based on motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading and shooting.[13] On 28 October 2013 the ceiling of the main hall of the facility had collapsed, which the club in turn had to have rebuilt.[14]
