Ajax Youth Academy

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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. 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 second place to the 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.

In Their Own Story

Training at the academy follows a strict central style involving 4–3–3 formation with specific attention to goalkeeper roles, behavior, and house rules. The journey takes place primarily at Sportcomplex De Toekomst, the club's training grounds which feature seven fields and a training centre with a capacity of 5,000. This complex serves as home for Jong Ajax, the women's team (Ajax Vrouwen), the amateur side (Ajax Zaterdag), and the full youth system. Innovation is further driven by the adidas miCoach Performance Centre, established in 2011 and built by Poly-Ned on Sportpark De Toekomst. Here, players train using scientific motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading, and shooting. The facility faced a significant challenge when the ceiling of the main hall collapsed on 28 October 2013, forcing the club to rebuild it before resuming these high-tech training methods.

Reader's Guide

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 eight important football ingredients: 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. Central is the style of play (4–3–3, with goalkeeper), training, behavior and house rules.

Did You Know?

• The academy manages a total of 13 youth teams for ages 7–18.
• The adidas MiCoach Performance Centre, established in 2011, uses motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading and shooting.
• Sportcomplex De Toekomst serves as home grounds for the reserves team Jong Ajax, the women's team Ajax Vrouwen, the amateur team Ajax Zaterdag, and the full youth system.