Ajax Amsterdam are just steps away from completing a remarkable turnaround, emerging from two turbulent seasons to stand on the cusp of a record-extending 37th Eredivisie title.
After a stretch that saw the Dutch giants flirting with relegation and enduring humiliating defeats, Ajax now hold a commanding nine-point lead over second-placed PSV Eindhoven with only five matches remaining.
Needing just seven points from their final five games, Ajax could potentially clinch the title as early as April 27, when they host Sparta Rotterdam—if they defeat fourth-placed Utrecht this weekend and other results fall in their favor.
At the heart of this resurgence is 34-year-old Italian coach Francesco Farioli, whose appointment last summer was seen as a gamble. Yet, it’s one that’s paying off handsomely. Known for his emphasis on squad rotation and defensive structure rather than Ajax's traditional free-flowing "Total Football," Farioli has guided his team to 13 wins in their last 14 league outings, propelling them past defending champions PSV.
“We have five finals left,” said Farioli after a crucial win over Willem II. “This victory was vital—not only in the title race, but because it secures us a top-three finish and Champions League qualification, which is huge for the club.”
From Collapse to Comeback
The current title charge is all the more impressive considering the chaos that followed Ajax’s 2022 league triumph. Then-coach Erik ten Hag departed for Manchester United, sparking an exodus of key players and the beginning of an unstable period.
Ten Hag’s successor, Alfred Schreuder, began with six straight wins, but a 6-1 thrashing by Napoli in the Champions League triggered a collapse. After a record seven-game winless run, Schreuder was sacked, though Ajax managed to finish third and capture the Dutch Cup.
Hopes were high again last season with a €100 million squad rebuild under Maurice Steijn. However, the gamble failed spectacularly. By October, Ajax found themselves at the bottom of the table for the first time in history. Just weeks later, they were eliminated from the Dutch Cup by amateur side USV Hercules in a shock 3-2 defeat—the biggest upset in the tournament’s 126-year history.
A 6-0 hammering by Feyenoord sealed their humiliation. They eventually crawled to a fifth-place finish, a staggering 35 points behind PSV.
That makes this season’s revival under Farioli all the more remarkable. While some critics argue that Ajax’s identity has been sacrificed in pursuit of results, the transformation has been undeniable.
“They do win,” said former Ajax legend Ronald de Boer, “but as a fan, you never quite know what to expect.”
Even so, caretaker coach-turned-admirer John van ’t Schip has no doubts. “What Farioli has achieved is special. If you can beat both Feyenoord and PSV twice in a season, then to me, you're the rightful champions.”