Intended Ajax coach Graham Potter links tactical ingenuity to dynamic and attacking football: ‘His players always know exactly what to do’

If Ajax manages to close the large gap between supply and demand with Potter (48) in the coming weeks, it will at least bring in a colorful trainer. It is one of the reasons why the club opts for a foreigner. Available Dutch candidates such as Frank de Boer and Pascal Jansen are seen as ‘too blue’.

A return of Erik ten Hag, who is under fire in Manchester, was seen as the dream scenario, but the question remains whether the former successful coach of Ajax will die at United. And whether he would like to take a step back in that case. And so Potter, former director of the Ghanaian women’s team and ex-coach of a university team in Leeds, has the best credentials at Ajax.

After a modest career as a player – Potter was briefly active in the Premier League, then mainly at lower levels – he went back to school to study Emotional Intelligence. He had already trained a university team when he wanted to become a master in ‘Leadership and Professional Development’ at Leeds. There he also took charge of the footballing students at the eighth level in England.

Understand what leadership is

“I had to discover how to communicate, how to lead people. And because I was in college, it was immediately helpful to take advantage of those classes,” Potter previously explained. “Through this master’s degree, I also spent time with surgeons and soldiers. Then you will understand what leadership means.”

After that study, Potter moved to Swedish side Östersunds FK, where he was recommended by former Liverpool player and coach Graeme Souness. Lasse Landin, one of the co-founders of that club, was deeply impressed by the English trainer, he told the English newspaper The Independent. “Most coaches only talk about formations, but Graham talked about how to build a person. He was completely different. For me, as a former teacher, it was great. He understands that players and staff members are people, he knows how to get the most out of each individual without taking away the group feeling.”

“I think you have to first understand that they are human beings,” Potter said. “And tries to understand what motivates them to find common ground from there. Trying to build relationships and communicate effectively on a daily basis.”

Psychology of players and selections

Potter thinks he can get at least as much out of the psychology of players and selections as from tactics and technique. That must have appealed to technical advisor Louis van Gaal during their recent interview. Alex Kroes, reinstated as technical director, had already been impressed by Potter during a tour of English clubs. At Ajax they have come to the conclusion that the club could use a maniacal trainer again. Not one who bounces obsessively along the sidelines, but one who is obsessed with football and does everything he can to get better.

He easily achieved this at Östersunds FK, which he managed for seven years. Potter took the club from the fourth to the top level in Sweden. He gave Östersunds the first prize in club history and surprised with a Europa League victory at Arsenal.

Potter then went to work for Swansea City. He was able to sign a significantly improved contract there after one season, but the former defender opted for Premier League club Brighton. And there he did the trick again. Brighton was a relegation candidate, but became a sub-topper under Potter.

“We faced the best English manager today,” said Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola after one of their meetings. “As a spectator I love watching teams like that. Brighton is such a team, I recognize it. If I were still a football player myself, I would love to play in that team.”

The tactical flexibility and dynamism

What was so special about it? The tactical flexibility and dynamism. It is not that Ajax falls for Potter because he has elevated the Amsterdam house style to an art, but rather because he always wants to attack. For Potter, 4-3-3 is not sacred, but only one of the many systems he can use.

For example, Brighton sometimes started in 4-4-2, played 4-2-3-1 halfway through and ended up with three defenders. Whichever battle plan he chose: there was almost always momentum due to the many position changes. It is also the reason why he likes to work with players who can play in different positions. For example, he transformed a left winger into a right back at Brighton. “The style of play doesn’t win games, the challenge is having players who believe it works,” Potter said.

Former Feyenoord player Henrik Larsson experienced as a trainer in Sweden how difficult it was to adapt to Potter’s team. “Whatever tactics he uses, the players know exactly what to do.”

Out for revenge

That is not a guarantee for success: Potter could not get Chelsea going. The timing of that switch wasn’t great either; Potter succeeded Thomas Tuchel after the club won the Champions League. The fact that he initially had little time to train and build bothered him. Just like the fact that it lacked an accurate attacker. Chelsea attracted players for hundreds of millions of euros, but a goal getter was not among them.

He didn’t survive. At Stamford Bridge he was not only criticized for the poor results: was the eloquent Potter strict enough for his players? In terms of character, he has something of the current Ajax coach John van ‘t Schip. At Chelsea, Potter was also open about the downside of being a trainer: it was a war of attrition for him. Mainly because of the pressure, which was increased by the millions spent on the transfer market.

A forced sabbatical did not suit him badly, but Potter is now itching again. Just like Ajax, which wants to sign him for several years, he is looking for revenge.