From Champions League surprise to relegation: Why Ajax chose Míchel as new manager
Ajax have reached an agreement with 50-year-old Spaniard Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, better known as Míchel, to become the club's new head coach. The former Girona coach, who was born in Madrid, has committed himself to the Amsterdam club until mid-2028. By landing Míchel, technical director Jordi Cruyff has succeeded in bringing in the coach he wanted most, even though the Spaniard arrives on the back of Girona's relegation from La Liga, Parool reports.
Míchel will arrive in Amsterdam without a transfer fee being required, as his deal with Girona runs out at the end of June. The Spanish coach is expected to bring several trusted assistants with him, following a pattern seen with previous Ajax managers. The club will complete the coaching team by appointing an additional Dutch assistant coach.
With his appointment, Míchel takes over permanently following John Heitinga's exit and succeeds caretaker coach Óscar García. The Spaniard becomes Ajax's ninth managerial appointment, including interim coaches, since Erik ten Hag left the club in 2022.
During his time at Girona FC, Míchel oversaw both the club's greatest successes and its toughest setbacks. His standout achievement came in 2024, when he led Girona to an unexpected third-place finish in La Liga, earning a place in the UEFA Champions League while winning praise for the team's entertaining football.
The departure of several key players from Girona's breakthrough side was followed by a challenging campaign. The club's struggles ultimately ended in relegation from La Liga last week, but Míchel's reputation has largely remained intact. The Spanish coach is still widely respected for his attacking and progressive approach to the game, having previously been honoured by the Cruyff Foundation for promoting football in the spirit of Johan Cruyff.
Former Ajax and current Girona player Daley Blind has also praised his work in the past. A detailed discussion about football was enough to win over Blind when he considered a move to Girona. Reflecting on his decision three years ago, Blind said Míchel's vision immediately appealed to him.
“I was impressed by it,” Blind recalled. “He made me feel valued and showed great faith in my abilities. His ambition is to play attacking football and control games through possession, which aligns perfectly with my own preferences. The way he views the game is very close to how I believe football should be played.” There are rumors that Blind may follow Michel to Amsterdam for his third spell at Ajax, ESPN reports.
Míchel is widely regarded as a traditional Spanish-style coach whose philosophy revolves around controlling matches through possession. His teams typically favour structured build-up play, relying on quick, short passing combinations to progress the ball.
Defensively, he emphasises collective responsibility, with every player expected to contribute when out of possession. Another hallmark of his coaching is tactical versatility, as he regularly adapts between systems such as 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, and 3-2-4-1 depending on the opponent and match situation. Players under Míchel are also expected to meet high physical and mental standards, with training sessions often described as intense and demanding.
Míchel will have little time to settle into his new role. Ajax's preparations for the upcoming season get underway on June 22 with the squad's first training sessions. Just over a month later, on July 23, the Spaniard is set to take charge of his first competitive match when Ajax begins its Conference League campaign in the second qualifying round.
