Ajax Academy System

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Lore & Background

The academy is famous for producing many great Dutch internationals. The list of notable former players includes Sjaak Swart, Johan Cruijff, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, the brothers 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. The system operates on the TIPS model: Technique, Insight, Personality, and Speed. While Personality and Speed are generally considered innate properties, Insight and Technique can always be developed further. For each part of this model, there are ten specific criteria used to evaluate progress.

In Their Own Story

Every coaching session is built around eight important football ingredients that form the core success philosophy alongside TIPS: Coordination training; Kicking, Passing and Throw-in; Moves to beat an opponent; Heading; Finishing; Position play; Position Game play; and Small sided games. The academy's home is Sportcomplex De Toekomst in Amsterdam, which has a capacity of 5,000 and serves Jong Ajax, the women's team, the amateur side Ajax Zaterdag, and the full youth system. The complex consists of seven fields and a training centre. Innovation continues at the adidas miCoach Performance Centre, established in 2011 and built by Poly-Ned on Sportpark De Toekomst. Here, players train scientifically using motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading, and shooting, though the main hall ceiling collapsed on 28 October 2013 before being rebuilt.

Reader's Guide

The academy currently operates under Chairman Frank Eijken with Head coach Frank Peereboom. Assistant managers include Yuri Rose and Urby Emanuelson. Technical direction is split by level: Saïd Ouaali oversees upper-level A-C teams, Patrick Ladru manages mid-level A-C, and Michel Hordijk leads lower-level D-F teams. The club has achieved significant national success, winning the A-junioren Eredivisie 13 times between 1992–93 and 2013–14. Other major titles include four B-junioren Eredivisie wins and seven D-junioren Eerste Divisie championships. The youth teams have also claimed the A-junioren Supercup four times (2005, 2006, 2011, 2014) and the F-pupillen District Cup in 2009–10.

Did You Know?

• The CIES ranked the Ajax Youth Academy second globally in 2020 with 77 players trained, just behind Serbia's Partizan Academy which had 85.
• The academy uses a specific TIPS model where Personality and Speed are considered innate, while Insight and Technique can be developed further.
• Sportcomplex De Toekomst has a capacity of 5,000 and houses seven fields plus a training centre for all youth levels.
• The adidas miCoach Performance Centre ceiling collapsed on 28 October 2013 and had to be rebuilt by the club.
• Ajax won the A-junioren Eredivisie title in 1995–96, the same year the senior team famously won the Champions League.