Francesco Farioli has stepped down as the head coach of Ajax football club.

In addition to Farioli, both Daniele Cavalletto and Felipe Sanchez Mateos, the assistant coaches, along with goalkeeping coach Jarko Tuomisto, are leaving the coaching team, as stated on the Dutch club’s official website.

“This is a major disappointment. Francesco and his team have been invaluable to us. This season has been intense, filled with numerous unforgettable moments, and we achieved our aim of qualifying for the Champions League. Francesco was instrumental in cultivating a high-performance culture at Ajax, and we are truly thankful for that. While the upcoming summer transfer window was already set to be challenging, it has now become even more so. We must ensure that we have a robust new coaching team in place when pre-season training commences on June 26,” mentioned Ajax’s technical director Alex Kroes, as reported by the club’s website.

Ajax secured their spot in next season’s Champions League after finishing as runners-up in the Dutch league.

The Amsterdam club was at the top of the table with a nine-point advantage over PSV with seven matches remaining in the season. However, PSV managed to cap off the season with seven straight victories, while Ajax suffered two losses and a draw, enabling PSV to surpass them and clinch the Dutch championship by a single point.

Farioli joined Ajax in May of the previous year, signing a deal until June 2027.

“My journey with Ajax commenced nearly a year ago at De Toekomst, aiming to restore Ajax to its rightful place. It culminated at the Johan Cruyff Arena, as we successfully returned Ajax to the Champions League, the pinnacle of European football. We aspired to infuse new energy throughout the Ajax community, promoting a positive approach at every level,” Farioli stated.

The Italian coach, who has previously led teams like Nice, Alanyaspor, and Fatih Karagumruk, oversaw Ajax in a total of 54 matches, achieving 35 victories, eight draws, and 11 losses.

“Being the first non-Dutch coach at Ajax since 1998 and the inaugural Italian coach at the club has been an immense honor. Together with my team, we embraced this significant challenge with respect, responsibility, passion, and determination. Gaining the respect and support of Ajax fans throughout the season has meant a great deal to me and my staff. We have shared remarkable and unforgettable experiences during what has been a unique, intense, and emotional season, filled with faith, determination, and pride, ultimately achieving our goal and fulfilling our mission,” Farioli added.

Ajax also advanced to the round of 16 in the Europa League this season, where they were eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt, while facing defeat by AZ Alkmaar in the round of 16 of the Dutch Cup.

“While management and I share the same objectives for Ajax’s future, we have differing visions and timelines regarding how to achieve those goals. Given these differences in principles and project fundamentals, I believe that parting ways is the right decision at this moment,” concluded Farioli.

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