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Francesco Farioli stepped down as the head coach of Ajax on Monday, just a day after the disappointment of finishing second in the title race.
The club’s technical director described the resignation as "extremely disappointing." PSV Eindhoven secured the championship on Sunday, taking advantage of Ajax's poor performance, as they lost two and drew two of their last five games, despite once having a nine-point lead.
"Francesco Farioli has decided to leave Ajax after careful thought," the club released in a statement.
"The head coach has communicated his decision to the board." Although Farioli had improved the team's fortunes since taking over last May, rescuing them from relegation danger earlier in the 2023/24 season, he indicated that he and the board had different visions for Ajax's future development. "While the management and I share the same objectives for Ajax’s future, we differ in our approaches and timelines for achieving those goals," said the 36-year-old Italian in a statement on the club's website.
"Due to these differences in principles and the foundational aspects of the project, I sincerely believe this is the right time to part ways."
Ajax’s technical director, Alex Kroes, expressed dissatisfaction with Farioli's departure only a year into the three-year contract he signed after leaving Ligue 1's Nice last year. "I find this incredibly disappointing," he remarked.
"Francesco and his staff have greatly assisted us. This has been an intense season with many memorable moments, and we accomplished our goal: securing qualification for next season’s Champions League."
Kroes noted that Farioli's sudden exit, the first non-Dutch coach at Ajax since Dane Morten Olsen in 1998 , created various challenges. "This summer was already expected to be a difficult transfer window, and it's become even more so," he stated.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that a strong new coaching staff is in place when pre-season training begins on June 26."
