Explore Ajax’s dramatic fall from European elite to Eredivisie rebuild in 2025. Discover the causes and what lies ahead for the legendary club.
Ajax’s Identity Crisis: From European Giant to Rebuild Mode
For decades, Ajax Amsterdam has stood tall as a symbol of Dutch football excellence. The club’s reputation was built on Johan Cruyff’s “Total Football,” a golden youth academy, and breathtaking runs in Europe. Ajax wasn’t just a team—it was a philosophy. But in 2025, that identity is under threat. From boardroom instability to tactical confusion, Ajax now finds itself in unfamiliar territory: rebuild mode.
As rivals like Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven evolve and rise, Ajax is caught between nostalgia and necessity. This article delves into how the once-proud titan of the BP9 league lost its way—and what it must do to find itself again.
The Decline: From UCL Semifinalists to Eredivisie Strugglers
Ajax’s 2018–19 Champions League campaign, where they defeated Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the semifinals, felt like the beginning of a new golden era. But that magic proved fleeting. In just a few seasons, the club regressed significantly—both domestically and in Europe.
Inconsistency on the pitch, questionable transfers, and managerial instability have left Ajax trailing behind in the league. No longer feared across the continent, Ajax is now struggling to stay competitive even within Eredivisie.
An Identity Built on Youth, Now Diluted
Ajax’s identity has always centered around its youth academy—De Toekomst (The Future). This legendary system produced talents like Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Clarence Seedorf, Wesley Sneijder, and more recently, Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
But in the rush for short-term results and European relevance, the club began leaning too heavily on external signings. Players were brought in for immediate impact, often disrupting the balance of a squad traditionally built on chemistry and development.
By 2025, Ajax’s starting XI often features more foreign imports than academy products—a startling contrast to the very principles that made the club special.
Transfer Misfires and Poor Squad Planning
The decline of Ajax can be directly tied to its transfer strategy post-2020. After cashing in on stars like Ziyech, De Jong, De Ligt, and Van de Beek, Ajax had significant resources—but lacked a clear vision.
The club made numerous high-fee signings who failed to adapt to the Eredivisie or Ajax’s tactical demands. The recruitment lacked cohesion: young stars were sold, while average replacements arrived at inflated prices. It was a far cry from the data-driven, philosophy-first recruitment that brought them back to prominence in the late 2010s.
This mismanagement created an unbalanced squad—top-heavy in attack, fragile in defense, and lacking leadership in midfield.
Managerial Carousel and Tactical Instability
From Erik ten Hag’s disciplined, high-pressing system to short-lived experiments under Alfred Schreuder and others, Ajax has lacked managerial continuity. Each new coach brought different ideas, often clashing with the club’s ingrained playing style.
In 2025, the team lacks a tactical identity. There’s no clear structure, and matches often descend into chaos—unthinkable for a club once hailed as Europe’s most tactically advanced. This inconsistency has seen Ajax drop vital points in the league, further widening the gap between themselves and title contenders like Feyenoord.
Off-Field Chaos: Boardroom Tensions and Vision Gaps
The problems at Ajax aren’t limited to the pitch. Tensions in the boardroom have spilled into the public eye. Multiple sporting directors have come and gone in recent seasons, each with conflicting ideas about the club’s direction.
What Ajax lacks most in 2025 is alignment—from the board to the scouting department to the technical staff. Without a unified philosophy, even the best youth academy and a rich budget can’t build success. For a club that once set the standard in the league, this leadership vacuum is a glaring weakness.
Eredivisie Landscape Has Shifted
While Ajax battles internal issues, the rest of the league has evolved. Feyenoord has become a tactically complete and financially stable powerhouse. PSV continues to produce elite attacking talent and is now a consistent European presence.
Meanwhile, mid-table clubs like AZ Alkmaar, FC Twente, and Sparta Rotterdam are becoming tactically sophisticated and are no longer pushovers. The gap that once separated Ajax from the rest of the league has not only closed—it has reversed.
Glimmers of Hope: Youth Returns, Fans Demand Reform
Despite the gloom, there are signs of a potential turnaround. Talents like Silvano Vos, Jorrel Hato, and Amourricho van Axel Dongen are emerging from the academy. If Ajax can resist the temptation to sell too early and instead build around them, the next core may already be in place.
Fans are also playing their part. Stadium banners, protests, and social media campaigns have pushed for a return to values: youth, vision, and total football. The Ajax faithful aren’t content with mediocrity—they demand a return to purpose.
What’s Next: The Blueprint for a New Era
If Ajax wants to reclaim its place at the top of the league and in Europe, it must go back to its roots:
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Rebuild from the Academy: Prioritize homegrown players and give them minutes, even in tough games.
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Create a Tactical Identity: Appoint a manager who understands Ajax’s DNA and give him time to implement it.
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Align the Boardroom: Build a unified vision that connects all levels of the club, from scouting to first-team decisions.
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Intelligent Recruitment: Buy players who complement the system, not disrupt it. Focus on undervalued markets, not big-name gambles.
Only by embracing long-term thinking can Ajax rise again—not just as a contender in the league, but as a respected European force.
Final Thoughts
Ajax’s fall from grace is a cautionary tale for clubs that abandon identity in pursuit of quick success. The foundations—world-class academy, passionate fanbase, rich history—are still in place. But without bold reform and clear vision, Ajax risks becoming a footnote in the history of the league rather than its defining chapter.
Keep Supporting the League’s Legacy
Clubs like Ajax have shaped football history—not just in the Netherlands, but globally. As they seek to rebuild, fans across the world should continue supporting the league, its youth, and its future. Because when Ajax thrives, the league shines brighter for all of us.