Ajax Manager Farioli Departs Amidst Tensions

Francesco Farioli departs Ajax, citing disagreements with technical director Alex Kroes and other board members.

Ajax has confirmed that Manager Francesco Farioli will be leaving the club after just one season. Alongside Farioli, his coaching staff, including assistant coaches Daniele Cavalletto and Felipe Sanchez Mateos, as well as goalkeeping coach Jarkko Tuomisto, will also depart from the club.

One final goodbye from Francesco Farioli 🤍❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/r1BLjHyUE4

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 19, 2025

This development marks a significant change in the club's leadership, and fans will be eager to see who will take over as the new manager. Farioli's tenure at Ajax was marked by notable performances, but ultimately, the club's expectations were not fully met. The search for a new manager is expected to begin soon.

Francesco Farioli, a 36-year-old Italian manager, joined Ajax in the summer of 2023 is not mentioned but rather 2024 and had a notable impact during his one-season tenure. Despite taking over a club in turmoil after two disappointing seasons, Farioli stabilized the team and made it competitive in Europe.

A journey to remember. pic.twitter.com/rUywaFZvQ0

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 19, 2025

Under his leadership, Ajax reached the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, where they were eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt. Farioli's impressive work earned recognition, but he has now announced his departure from the club, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and determination. He had signed a three-year contract with Ajax until June 2027 after spending a season with Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.

Ajax had a promising Eredivisie campaign under Farioli, building a 9-point lead with just five games left to play, which would have secured their 37th league title. However, the team faltered down the stretch, ultimately squandering their advantage.

In a dramatic conclusion to the season, PSV Eindhoven seized the opportunity and claimed the title on the final day, winning their second consecutive championship. This disappointing finish likely weighed on Farioli's decision to leave the club.

'I'll never forget what we lived' ❌❌❌

- @France_Fario -

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 19, 2025

‘Absolute privilege’

“My journey at Ajax started almost one year ago, at De Toekomst, with the aim of bringing Ajax back to where it belongs,” Farioli says on the club website.

“And it ended at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, finally bringing Ajax back to the Champions League, the biggest stage of European football. We wanted to bring new energy to the whole Ajax community, sharing a positive way of working and thinking with the club at all levels.

“Being Ajax's first non-Dutch coach since 1998 and the club's first-ever Italian one have been an absolute privilege: together with my staff, we embraced this huge challenge with respect, responsibility, passion and determination to succeed. Earning the respect and support from Ajax fans, we felt throughout the whole season, meant a lot to me and my staff. We lived unbelievable and unforgettable moments all together: a unique, intense, emotional season in which we shared belief, fighting spirit and pride, finally achieving our goal, accomplishing our mission.”

Rumors about Francesco Farioli's future at Ajax began circulating after his noncommittal response during a post-match interview following the team's 2-0 win over FC Twente. When questioned about his future, Farioli emphasized the club's priorities, stating, “The future of Ajax is most important.”

Tensions Behind the Scenes

Tensions reportedly rose between Francesco Farioli and Ajax's executive board, comprising technical director Alex Kroes, general manager Menno Geelen, and director of football Marijn Beuker. Disagreements between Farioli and Kroes on key issues, including transfers, tactics, contract extensions, and club finances, likely contributed to Farioli's decision to leave the club. These tensions suggest underlying issues that may have impacted the team's performance and Farioli's tenure.

“The management and I have the same goals for the future of Ajax, but we have different visions and timeframes about the way we should work and operate to achieve those goals. Given these differences in the principles and foundations of the project, I feel deep in my heart that this is the best moment to part ways,” Farioli explained.

Technical director Alex Kroes expressed disappointment over Francesco Farioli's sudden departure from Ajax. Kroes mentioned that despite disagreements, including over the potential transfer of Dusan Tadic, a player Farioli reportedly didn't want in his squad, he acknowledged the Italian manager's contributions.

“It's been an intense season filled with many memorable moments, and we achieved our goal: qualifying for next season's Champions League. Francesco also played a key role in enhancing the high-performance culture at Ajax, for which we are extremely grateful. I find his departure incredibly disappointing after a surprising season.”

Francesco Farioli's departure marks another change in Ajax's turbulent recent history, where he was the fifth manager in two years following the departures of Alfred Schreuder and Maurice Steijn, as well as caretakers John Heitinga and John van 't Schip.

With Farioli's exit, the club faces an even more challenging transfer window than initially anticipated. As technical director Alex Kroes noted, “This summer was already set to be a challenging transfer window, and it has now become even more so. It is up to us to ensure that a strong new coaching team is in place when pre-season preparations begin on 26 June.”