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Ajax Youth Academy

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Ajax Youth Academy
Full nameAFC Ajax Youth Academy
Nickname(s)De Toekomst
Founded18 March 1900
GroundDe Toekomst
Capacity5,000
ChairmanNetherlands Frank Eijken
Head coachNetherlands Saïd Ouaali
Websitehttps://www.ajaxonlineacademy.com/

The Ajax Youth Academy (Dutch: Ajax Jeugdopleiding) 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 football team 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]

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 2nd place to the FK 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]

History

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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. [4][5][6][7]

Notable former players

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Ajax Online Academy

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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 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

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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

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Current staff

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Chairman

  • Netherlands Frank Eijken

Head coach

Technical director (upper-level A-C)

  • Netherlands Saïd Ouaali

Technical director (mid-level A-C)

  • Netherlands Patrick Ladru

Technical director (lower-level D-F)

  • Netherlands Michel Hordijk

List of technical directors

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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

Facilities

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Sportcomplex De Toekomst

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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.[10]

adidas miCoach Performance Centre

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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.[11] Here the players are trained in a scientific manner based on motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading and shooting.[12] On 28 October 2013 the ceiling of the main hall of the facility had collapsed, which the club in turn had to have rebuilt.[13]

Honours

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Main article: List of AFC Ajax honours

National titles

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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References

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  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. ^ "Exclusive training club rankings: Partizan ahead of Ajax". CIES. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  4. ^ Hamilton, Chloe (1995-10-22). "Lessons of the Dutch school - Sport". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  5. ^ "Grooming talent the Ajax way". FIFA.com. 2007-11-02. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  6. ^ "How a Soccer Star Is Made". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  7. ^ "Ajax Youth Academy". Premier International Tours. Archived from the original on 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  8. ^ "AFC Ajax Playing Philosophy". The Coaching Manual. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Train de vereniging cursus | Trainer cursussen | Cursussen". Ajax Online Academy. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  10. ^ De Toekomst, ajaxinside.nl, 28 October 2013
  11. ^ Ajax en adidas starten performance centre Archived 2015-01-24 at the Wayback Machine, Zuidoost, 17 January 2011
  12. ^ adidas miCoach Centre in beeld, ajax.nl, 29 April 2011
  13. ^ adidas-hal op de Toekomst ingezakt, ajax.nl, 28 October 2013
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