Ajax name Farioli as new coach

Francesco Farioli is hoping to “reconnect with the DNA of the club” after being named the new Ajax coach on a three-year deal.

The Italian moves to Amsterdam from Nice, with whom he enjoyed an impressive year, guiding them to a fifth-placed finish in Ligue 1.

He takes over from interim boss John van ’t Schip, who helped the club bounce back from a woeful start to the Eredivisie campaign to finish fifth.

Farioli told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to be here in Amsterdam, and together with the other staff members, we will dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly. We want to reconnect with the DNA of the club, aiming to bring new energy with a positive way of working and thinking. 

“I’m aware that there is a lot of work to do, but we have already begun preparing. We don’t want to waste any time getting ready for the new season and bringing Ajax back to where it belongs.”

Day one in Amsterdam ❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/Aatrsg99jX

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 23, 2024

Farioli was also linked with Brighton but Ajax moved quickly to snare the 35-year-old.

The club’s technical director Alex Kroes said: “Francesco is a coach who is passionately engaged in his profession, thinks everything through to the smallest detail, and can effectively convey his thoughts to his team. 

“We became very enthusiastic through the conversations we had with him, but also through the information we had gathered about him beforehand. For example, about his working method and his way of thinking about football. You can see his way of working and thinking reflected well in his training sessions and during matches. 

“Everything indicates that Francesco is an intelligent man who can interact well with people, which is also a very important part of the job. All in all, we are convinced that he fits in well at Ajax.”