Frank De Boer: Re-Embracing The Ajax Tradition
December 6th, 2010 could be a date Ajax fans will look back with fondness. It was the day Martin Jol unexpectedly resigned as coach. Not that I have anything against Jol, who came a whisker away from winning Ajax’s 31st league title, last season, with a goal difference of +86 and 106 goals, to boot. But it was also the date Frank de Boer was installed as coach, albeit as caretaker. With the start he’s had, however, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was given the role on a long-term basis.
Even before taking the job, De Boer like many ex-Ajax players, was critical of the path the club was taking, although he wasn’t as strident as some of his predecessors. The most damning voice against the Jol program came from the club’s greatest player and icon, Johan Cruyff. Cruyff’s disapproval, in part, was Jol’s reason for resigning. The outgoing manager attributed his unsettled side to the critiques and claimed that he couldn’t handle such pressure and expectations anymore.
Step forward De Boer.
Even before taking the reins, he spoke to Ajax TV on what he felt had gone wrong.
From where I’m standing, the players at Ajax don’t look as if they are enjoying the game. They look whipped. That can’t happen to a top club. When I see NEC (Nijmegen) play one touch football without any opposition whatsoever from Ajax I think to myself: this can’t be happening. The players are to blame but we’ll have to find a solution together.–soon-to-be caretaker boss, Frank De Boer.
From the get go, it was clear that De Boer’s intentions were to return Ajax to the football it was acclaimed for (4-3-3), and what better way to start his tenure than a match at the San Siro against AC Milan? A win would at least guarantee Ajax Europa League football, after the winter break, even though their Champions League campaign was all but over.
When it comes to playing football, movement on the field and attacking, I am close to Johan Cruyff’s philosophy. I like the 4-3-3 formation; I know you need the right players for that, but if you want to find them, then you will.– De Boer ushers in the Ajax renaissance.
Two spectacular goals from Demy de Zeeuw and Toby Alderweireld sealed a shock win, the first time Ajax had triumphed in Milan in their history (their 2-0 group win in 1994 was played at the Stadio Nereo Rocco).
After the game De Boer commented on his philosophy of “simple” football and noted that the players had followed his game plan very well. and then echoed the Master.
Simple football is the most beautiful. But playing simple football is the hardest thing.– De Boer quotes Cruyff.
Frank De Boer is serious.
Before the game, the interim coach sounded confident of a more permanent position, speaking of bringing the joy and prestige of playing for the club back to Ajax. He followed up on the pitch, returning to the ‘Ajax way of playing.’
We played following the Ajax philosophy. With wingers (Miralem Sulejmani & Luis Suárez) and a real number ten (Christian Eriksen) and everyone did well at the job they were assigned beforehand. The wingers kept the field broad, and came in at the right times. And that’s only possible if the backs come up on time. For example, I saw (Gregory) van der Wiel come up at least twenty times tonight. I hadn’t seen him do that in a long time. But he did it tonight. That’s the Greg we want to see. I think he was symbolic of the whole team tonight.– De Boer wastes no time putting his plan into action.
The selection was also interesting: dropping top scorer Mounir El Hamdaoui to the bench and playing midfielder Siem de Jong as the ‘number 9.’ The reason for such a radical change could very well be that De Boer wanted a forward who could hold the ball up and link with the wide players and the attacking midfielder. De Jong did this exquisitely. In fact, he and Eriksen were doing no more than what was expected of the pairings of Dan Petersen and Dennis Bergkamp or Patrick Kluivert and Jari Litmanen, in days gone by.
Harshly, some have questioned if El Hamdaoui is a team-player. Under De Boer, he will need to be.
Another important facet of De Boer’s approach was his encouragement of the players to not fear making mistakes.
We showed guts tonight. Dare to play. It’s OK to make mistakes, but show some guts (at) all positions.–De Boer expects adherence to the system but permits the freedom to create within it.
Ajax might not play like this every week, no one’s expecting that, but De Boer challenged them anyway, making his intent clear.
I know what they can do and they now need to keep showing it. I just hope the lads believe in what they can do. They can all play fantastic football.– Carrot and Stick
Top scorer or not, El Hamdaoui will sit if he does not buy into De Boer's program.
The win over Milan was followed up with victory away to Vitesse, Ajax’s second league win in their last five played. De Boer’s first league game at home will be against Feyenoord in De Klassieker.
Another aspect of this new administration is a core belief in the academy and following the Ajax tradition of promoting and playing the talents that have come through it. Against Vitesse: no fewer than 11 of the 18 man squad have, like their new boss, graduated from the Ajax academy. That included Lorenzo Ebecilio who alongside Rodney Sneijder (Wesley’s brother) trained with the first team, under De Boer’s watchful gaze. Could this be a sign of things to come?
If they’re good enough, they are ready to train with the senior team.–Asked and answered
De Boer’s previous role with the academy, coaching Ajax A1 shouldn’t be underestimated. His knowledge and sharp eye for talent who will be very important, next summer, if some of the stellar names in the squad decide to leave for pastures new.
His early work hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Mr. Ajax, Sjaak Swart himself, praising his work and complimenting his stick-to-it-iveness in reviving the Ajax model and style of play.
Ebecilio’s inclusion as well as two others, Aras Özbiliz (who, to be fair, did make his debut under Jol) and Jody Lukoki, is not only evident of the faith in youth but in the 4-3-3 formation, Ajax’s traditional formation of choice. All three are wingers and their roles are key, so there is no better time to bed them in. Tellingly, one of the last such wingers at the club was his teammate Marc Overmars, who was critical of Jol for not playing anyone in that role.
From both his words and actions, De Boer’s intentions are clear. He will restore the ‘Ajax philosophy’ and accepts that he is the guardian of it. The glory days may not return quite yet but no doubt De Boer is travelling on the path which his predecessors, Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff, took.
No comments yet.