Ajax Youth Academy

Ajax Youth Academy

Full name	AFC Ajax Youth Academy
Nickname(s)	De Toekomst
Founded	18 March 1900
Ground	De Toekomst, Amsterdam
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Hennie Henrichs
Manager	Saïd Ouaali
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

The Ajax Youth Academy is a football youth academy based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from where the organization manages a total of 13 youth teams (ages 7–18). The academy is the primary youth clinic of Dutch footballing giants Ajax Amsterdam.^[1][2]

History

The Ajax youth system is famous for having produced and still producing many great Dutch internationals like Sjaak Swart, Johan Cruijff, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank and Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, John Heitinga, Nigel de Jong, Maarten Stekelenburg, and Gregory van der Wiel.^[3][4][5][6]

Notable former players

1900-1970s Johan Cruijff Piet Keizer Ruud Krol Sjaak Swart 1980s Marco van Basten Dennis Bergkamp John Bosman Frank de Boer Ronald de Boer Frank Rijkaard Richard Witschge

1990s Edgar Davids Patrick Kluivert Andy van der Meyde Michael Reiziger Edwin van der Sar Clarence Seedorf 2000s Toby Alderweireld Ryan Babel Daley Blind Urby Emanuelson John Heitinga

Nigel de Jong Siem de Jong Hedwiges Maduro Wesley Sneijder Maarten Stekelenburg Rafael van der Vaart Thomas Vermaelen Jan Vertonghen Gregory van der Wiel 2010s Christian Eriksen Davy Klaassen

Ajax Online Academy

The inside knowledge about Ajax training is unique. Central within the club is the style of play (4-3-3, with goalkeeper^[7]), training, behavior and house rules. Ajax strives to keep the way of playing football recognizable; attractive, offensive-minded, creative, fast, fair and preferably far away from the own goal on the opponents’ half.

Ajax has developed the so-called TIPS model, which stands for Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed. For each part there are ten criteria. P and S are generally innate properties, but I and T can always be developed further. Ajax coaching sessions always consists of 8 important football ingredients. Together with TIPS, they form the core to the Ajax success philosophy.^[8]

1. Coordination training 2. Kicking, Passing and Throw-in 3. Moves to beat an opponent 4. Heading 5. Finishing 6. Position play 7. Position Game play 8. Small sided games

Teams

Youth teams Level Team Age League Cup International A-juniors A1 -19 Nike Eredivisie A-juniors Cup UEFA Youth League B-juniors B1 -17 B-juniors Eredivisie B-juniors Cup C-juniors C1 -15 C-juniors Eredivisie C-juniors Cup — C2 .C-juniors Eerste Divisie — D-pupils D1 -13 D-pupils Eredivisie D-pupils Cup — D2 .D-pupils Eerste Divisie — E-pupils E1 -11 E-pupils Eredivisie E-pupils Cup — E2 .E-pupils Eerste Divisie — F-pupils F1 -9 F-pupils Eredivisie F-pupils Cup — F2 .F-pupils Eerste Divisie —

Board and staff

Current Staff

Chairman

• Hennie Henrichs

Head coach

• Frank de Boer

Technical Director (upper-level A-C)

• Saïd Ouaali

Technical Director (mid-level A-C)

• Patrick Ladru

Technical Director (lower-level D-F)

• Michel Hordijk

List of Technical Directors

Seasons	upper-level A to C		lower-level D to F
2006–07	Maarten Stekelenburg		Patrick Ladru
2007–08	Maarten Stekelenburg		Patrick Ladru
2008–09			Patrick Ladru
2009–10			Patrick Ladru
2010–11	Edmond Claus
	upper-level A to C	mid-level A to C	lower-level D to F
2011–12	Wim Jonk	Michel Kreek	Michel Hordijk
2012–13	Wim Jonk	Michel Kreek	Michel Hordijk
2013–14	Wim Jonk	Patrick Ladru	Michel Hordijk

Players

U19/A1 squad

As of 1 August 2016.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Joe van der Sar GK Nick Plomper GK Nigel Bouman DF Darren Sidoel DF Conner Blöte DF Navajo Bakboord DF Boy Kemper DF Mitchel Bakker DF Jasper ter Heide MF Zian Flemming MF Dani de Wit

No. Position Player MF Reda Boultam MF Noa Benninga MF Noa Lang MF Francesco Antonucci FW Mees de Wit FW Kaj Sierhuis FW Ché Nunnely FW Martijn Kaars FW Justin Kluivert FW Anderson Lopez

Accommodations

Sportcomplex De Toekomst

Sportcomplex De Toekomst is the training grounds of AFC Ajax, with a capacity of 5,000 it serves as home grounds for the reserves team Jong Ajax, its women's team Ajax Vrouwen, its amateur team Ajax Zaterdag as well as for the full youth system. The entire complex consists of seven fields and a trainings center.^[9]

adidas miCoach Performance Centre

Established in 2011, the adidas MiCoach Performance Centre is situated on Sportpark De Toekomst. Built by Poly-Ned, it teaches football innovation and training methods and is used by both the first team, as well as the youth teams.^[10] Here the players are trained in a scientific manner based on motion analytics to enhance speed, distance, dribbling, heading and shooting.^[11] On 28 October 2013 the ceiling of the main hall og the facility had collapsed, which the club in turn had to have rebuilt.^[12]

Honours

National titles

• A-junioren Eredivisie : 13

1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14

• A-junioren Eerste Divisie : 4

2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

• B-junioren Eredivisie : 4

2002–03, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12

• B-junioren Eerste Divisie : 1

2006–07

• C-junioren Algeheel landskampioen : 1

2011–12

• C-junioren Eerste Divisie : 2

2008–09, 2011–12

• C 2 kampioen : 2

2009–10, 2011–12

• D-junioren Algeheel landskampioen : 1

2011–12

• D-junioren Eerste Divisie : 7

2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12

• D 2 District West 1 kampioen : 4

2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11

• D 3 kampioen : 1

2009–10

• E 1 kampioen : 1

2004–05

• E 2 kampioen : 2

2009–10, 2010–11

• E 3 kampioen : 1

2009–10

• F 1 kampioen : 2

2009–10, 2010–11

National cups

• A-junioren Cup : 1

2009–10

• B-junioren Cup : 2

2008–09, 2012–13

• D-junioren Cup : 1

2012–13

• F-pupillen District Cup : 1

2009–10

Dutch Super Cup

• A-junioren Supercup : 4

2005, 2006, 2011, 2014

• B-junioren Supercup : 2

2009, 2012

• C-junioren Supercup : 2

2012, 2014

• D-junioren Supercup : 1

2010

See also

• Ajax Hellas Youth Academy

References

1. "The Academy". Ajax.nl. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
2. "Ajax Academy". Footyscene.com. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
3. Hamilton, Chloe (1995-10-22). "Lessons of the Dutch school - Sport". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
4. "Grooming talent the Ajax way". FIFA.com. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
5. "How a Soccer Star Is Made". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
6. "Ajax Youth Academy". Premier International Tours. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
7. "AFC Ajax Playing Philosophy". The Coaching Manual. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
8. "Train de vereniging cursus | Trainer cursussen | Cursussen". Ajax Online Academy. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
9. De Toekomst, ajaxinside.nl, 28 October 2013
10. Ajax en adidas starten performance centre, Zuidoost, 17 January 2011
11. adidas miCoach Centre in beeld, ajax.nl, 29 April 2011
12. adidas-hal op de Toekomst ingezakt, ajax.nl, 28 October 2013

External links

• Official site

52°18′48″N 4°55′44″E / 52.31333°N 4.92889°ECoordinates: 52°18′48″N 4°55′44″E / 52.31333°N 4.92889°E