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Ajax announced a verbal agreement with Jordi Cruyff on December 29, 2025. The son of legendary Johan Cruyff commits to the club until mid-2028. He steps in as technical director and replaces Alex Kroes.
The 51-year-old brings deep ties to Ajax. He trained in the youth academy from 1981 to 1988 before his family moved to Barcelona. Johan Cruyff shaped modern football at Ajax with Total Football and multiple European triumphs. Fans now hope Jordi revives that philosophy.
Jordi played professionally for clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, and others. He earned caps for the Netherlands national team. After retiring, he shifted to management. He served as sports director at Maccabi Tel Aviv and helped win titles there. He also held roles at AEK Larnaca and briefly coached Shenzhen in China. He managed Ecuador’s national team for a short time without leading a match.
His standout executive work came at FC Barcelona in 2022. He aided signings of stars like Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He supported Xavi’s appointment as manager. Barcelona clinched La Liga that season despite financial struggles post-Lionel Messi.
Ajax faces tough times now. The team sits third in the Eredivisie and trails leaders PSV Eindhoven by 16 points. European results disappoint with few points in the Champions League group stage. The club recently fired manager John Heitinga after only five months.
Board members seek stability through this appointment. They prioritize restoring Ajax’s identity of youth development and attacking play. Jordi competed against candidates like Maxwell and Michael Edwards for the role.
