Ajax will hope to put the turbulence of recent years behind them after confirming the signing of Jordi Cruyff as director of football.

The 51-year-old Cruyff signed a contract tying him to the club until June 2028 after last Saturday’s home match against Go Ahead Eagles in the Johan Cruyff Arena, the stadium named after his father.

He will formally take up his new role on February 1, succeeding Alex Kroes, who said in November he would step down as soon as a successor was found. Kroes had been due to leave the club at the end of the season.

“Ajax is a unique club with a rich history,” he told the club’s official website. “I will do everything I can to add a new successful chapter.”

The arrival of Cruyff immediately fuelled speculation about contenders for a new permanent coach. Former goalkeeper Fred Grim agreed last week to stay on until the end of the season after taking over from John Heitinga in November.

Xavi “clear option”

Spanish journalist Javier Miguel said on social media site X that former World Cup winner and ex-Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was “clearly an option” following Cruyff’s appointment.

Cruyff was sporting director at Barcelona between 2021 and 2023, when Xavi was the team’s head coach.

Heitinga was sacked after just five months in charge following a disastrous start to the season, including five straight defeats in the Champions League, the club’s worst run in Europe’s premier club competition.

His appointment followed the departure of Italian coach Francesco Farioli, who appeared to have steadied the ship in his first season at Amsterdam, but narrowly missed out on the league title after a late-season slump.

Farioli moved to Portuguese club Porto, who have won 16 out of 17 league matches under his guidance and are on course to win their first league title since 2022.