Ten Hag Emerges as Ajax Target Following Farioli Exit

Erik ten Hag is being considered for a return to Ajax following the resignation of Francesco Farioli, technical director Alex Kroes has confirmed.

Ajax announced on Monday that Farioli had stepped down after just one season, following a stunning collapse in the Eredivisie title race that saw them relinquish their lead to PSV.

Despite finishing the campaign with a 2-0 win over Twente on Sunday, Ajax were overtaken by Peter Bosz's PSV, who sealed the title with a 3-1 victory at Sparta Rotterdam.

Farioli’s side had been in a commanding position as recently as mid-April, holding a nine-point lead with five matches to go. However, a string of poor results—including heavy defeats to Utrecht (4-0) and NEC Nijmegen (3-0), and a 2-2 draw with 10-man Groningen, where Ajax conceded a 99th-minute equaliser—led to a historic collapse. No team in any of Europe's top six leagues had previously surrendered such a lead with five games remaining.

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Paul Simonis of Go Ahead Eagles and Netherlands U21 coach Michael Reiziger have also been linked with the vacancy, but Kroes has not ruled out bringing Ten Hag back to Amsterdam.

“Erik ten Hag has been on our list for a long time,” Kroes told NOS. “He’s someone we know very well, and he did a fantastic job during his time here. I spoke with him briefly on Sunday—he was at the stadium as a spectator.”

Before joining Manchester United in 2022, Ten Hag enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Ajax, winning three Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups in just four full seasons. He boasts a win percentage of 78% in the Eredivisie with Ajax (112 wins in 143 matches)—second only to Stefan Kovacs. His side also averaged 2.95 goals per league game, a mark bettered only under Kurt Linder, Kovacs, Johan Cruyff, and Marcel Keizer.

Reflecting on Farioli’s decision to step down, Kroes added: “Francesco messaged me from the team bus that evening asking to meet the next day. When we spoke, he said he had serious doubts about whether he should continue.”