Jordi Cruijff’s Bold Changes at Ajax Criticized by Former Players

omidbasir- Jordi Cruijff made a significant impact shortly after his official appointment as the technical director at Ajax. He notably overhauled the coaching staff at Jong Ajax, which has drawn criticism from former players Theo Janssen and Rafael van der Vaart regarding the abruptness of the changes.

In a recent shakeup, Cruijff replaced Willem Weijs and his assistants with an entirely Spanish coaching staff led by Óscar García. Janssen, speaking on Studio Voetbal, expressed his disapproval, stating, “It’s a lost cause; I truly think this is a poor decision. I understand the need to prepare for the next season and implement changes, but sacking the trainer of the second team without prior discussions or observation of a few training sessions is premature. He should be given at least a month.”

In an interview with Voetbal International, Cruijff justified his actions, asserting, “If you have a direction you want to pursue, sometimes difficult decisions must be made. With all due respect to the trainer, this is never an easy or pleasant task. My first meeting centers around the need for change.”

Cruijff explained to Weijs the rationale behind his decision, stating, “I communicated that this is not the fault of any one individual; it’s a convergence of circumstances that has led to dysfunction. Although it was challenging and perhaps unfair to him, it is necessary to consider where I want the club to go. The stark contrast in points between Ajax and PSV—44 points—indicates that action is required. I must initiate change and observe how people respond. It’s time to be proactive and demonstrate the identity of Ajax, which I believe is crucial.”