Ajax confirms arrival of new trainer Francesco Farioli in a three-year deal

Amsterdam football club Ajax has found a new manager for its men's team, Francesco Farioli. The 35-year-old Italian is coming to the capital from OGC Nice under a three-year contract, the club announced on Thursday. The move had been rumored for weeks.

Farioli is bringing along his regular assistants Daniele Cavalletto and Felipe Sanchez Mateos. Dave Vos, who is currently the trainer of Jong Ajax, will also joins the first team.

Farioli said he was happy that his switch is now official. "We want to reconnect with the DNA of the club, aiming to bring new energy with a positive way of working and thinking. I’m aware that there is a lot of work to do, but we have already begun preparing," he said in a statement. He says he wants to return Ajax to the place where the club belongs.

He officially starts on June 11, when the young coach succeeds interim coach John van 't Schip. Farioli was previously head coach of Turkish clubs Fatih Karagümrük and Alanyaspor, before signing for OGC Nice last year.

Technical director Alex Kroes is happy that Ajax is now certain of a new trainer. "Francesco is a coach who is passionately engaged in his profession, thinks everything through to the smallest detail, and can effectively convey his thoughts to his team," he said. "Everything indicates that Francesco is an intelligent man who can interact well with people, which is also a very important part of the job. All in all, we are convinced that he fits in well at Ajax," Kroes said in a press release.

Ajax had an absolutely disappointing season. The club finished fifth in the Eredivisie and was even in last place for a while. In addition, they lost 6-0 to rival Feyenoord, and the team went no further than the Round of 16 in the Conference League.