Francesco Farioli Confirms Departure from Ajax After Just One Season

Ajax has confirmed the departure of manager Francesco Farioli, as announced on Monday.

Farioli’s exit will also see assistant coaches Daniele Cavalletto and Felipe Sanchez Mateos, along with goalkeeping coach Jarkko Tuomisto, leave the club.

The 36-year-old Italian took charge of Ajax in the summer of 2024, following a season at Ligue 1’s OGC Nice. He was brought in on a three-year deal set to run until June 2027, tasked with revitalising a club that had endured two turbulent seasons.

During his tenure in Amsterdam, Farioli managed to stabilise the club and make it competitive on the European stage, leading Ajax to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League before being eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt.

In the Eredivisie, Ajax was in pursuit of an unlikely 37th league title, boasting a 9-point advantage with just five games remaining. Unfortunately, Farioli’s team squandered that lead, allowing PSV to clinch a second consecutive title on the final matchday.

‘An Absolute Privilege’

“My journey at Ajax began nearly a year ago at De Toekomst, with the goal of restoring Ajax to its rightful place,” Farioli remarked on the club’s website.

“It culminated at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, bringing Ajax back to the Champions League, the pinnacle of European football. We aimed to inject new energy into the entire Ajax community, sharing a constructive approach and mindset across all levels of the club.”

“Being the first non-Dutch manager since 1998 and the first-ever Italian in this role has been an incredible honour. Along with my staff, we took on this massive challenge with respect, responsibility, passion, and a determination to succeed. Gaining the esteem and backing of Ajax’s fans throughout the season meant a great deal to my team and me. We experienced extraordinary and unforgettable moments together during a unique and intense season, marked by belief, resilience, and pride, ultimately achieving our objective and fulfilling our mission.”

Speculation surrounding Farioli’s future at Ajax began after a 2-0 win over FC Twente on Sunday, when he provided a vague response during a post-match interview with ESPN: “The future of Ajax is what’s most important,” he stated.

Rising Tensions

Reports from ESPN suggest that tensions had escalated between Farioli and the executive board, which includes technical director Alex Kroes, general manager Menno Geelen, and director of football Marijn Beuker. It is said that Farioli and Kroes were at odds over several key matters, including transfer strategies, tactical approaches, contract extensions, and club finances.

“While the management and I share the same goals for Ajax’s future, we hold differing visions and timelines on how to achieve those objectives. Given these fundamental disagreements, I believe it is best for both parties to part ways,” Farioli explained.

Technical director Alex Kroes, who also had disagreements with Farioli regarding a transfer for club legend Dusan Tadic—a player Farioli preferred not to include in his squad—expressed that he found Farioli’s abrupt exit “incredibly disappointing” following a surprising season.

“This season has been filled with intensity and many memorable moments, and we achieved our main goal: qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Francesco contributed significantly to elevating Ajax’s high-performance culture, for which we are profoundly thankful.”

Farioli marked Ajax’s fifth managerial change in two years, following dismissals of Alfred Schreuder and Maurice Steijn in 2024, along with caretaker managers John Heitinga and John van ‘t Schip who also left the club.

“This summer was already slated to be a challenging transfer window, and with this news, it has only become more complex. We must ensure a strong new coaching team is in place by the time pre-season training commences on 26 June.”