Ajax is leaning towards this other foreign trainer if Graham Potter proves unfeasible

The arrival of Graham Potter (48) to Ajax is not yet over. The English manager expects a new and official proposal from Amsterdam this week. However, it remains to be seen whether Ajax will be able to force a breakthrough. Both from the club and from the Potter camp there are reports that the difference between the wishes of the top target on the one hand and what the economizing top club can and wants to offer on the other hand is enormous. Both parties also take into account that this gap may prove unbridgeable in the coming weeks.

For that reason, Ajax is increasingly leaning towards the next name on the candidate list. That is not Erik ten Hag, whose name has almost been crossed out because it is unclear whether he will be killed at Manchester United and whether the former success coach would be open to a return to the Johan Cruijff Arena in that case. And this also increases the opportunities for Francesco Farioli, an Italian who has pushed OGC Nice back to the French sub-top this season.

An Ajax delegation also had discussions with Farioli. There are certainly differences with Potter, who already guided a Swedish fourth division player to European football, built a solid foundation at Brighton and, despite the failed adventure at Chelsea, already learned the pressure of working in the (English) top. The CV of Farioli, who has only been on his own two years in Turkey and France, is less impressive. But that also makes him much more affordable for Ajax than Potter.

Tour by Alex Kroes

Farioli, how did they end up with him? As with Potter, this is related to Alex Kroes’ tour of England. During that working visit, Kroes, who was reinstated as technical director last week, not only got to know manager Potter, but he also visited the top clubs from Manchester, for example.

At United, Kroes met people from chemical group INEOS, the company that, in addition to its interests in OGC Nice, also became a major shareholder in the English top club. The name of Farioli was also mentioned, a very young coach who did good work on the Côte d’Azur.

Kroes withheld his name. The conclusion that was drawn internally at the increasingly declining Ajax was that the club could use a trainer who not only has a very clear vision, but is also maniacally involved in it. Think of Ten Hag, who left nothing to chance at Ajax. Or how Arne Slot catapulted arch-rival Feyenoord back to prizes.

In the search for those criteria, Ajax was also helped by Farioli. After all, the club management discovered a very enthusiastic coach with a crystal-clear strategy that he works on day and night.

Potter and Farioli have more in common than they differ. Both trainers completed university studies. Partly because of this, they have a modern view of football. The personal approach is important, but they stand for tactical flexibility in the field.

Will Ajax let go of 4-3-3? No, that is not the intention. Both Potter and Farioli worked a lot in that formation, but also strived for a team that is able to effortlessly switch to other ways of playing during matches. And that can help Europe catch up more quickly, they think internally at Ajax.

While Potter, as Brighton manager, received compliments from Pep Guardiola (‘as a spectator I love watching such teams and if I were still a footballer, I would love to play in this Brighton’), Farioli was given the hands of a manager in September other Spanish success coach on each other. “I have to compliment their coach for his nice ideas,” PSG coach Luis Enrique described Farioli’s ‘fascinating playing style’.

Attention to detail

Farioli’s path to a coaching seat in a top competition was also a remarkable one. While Potter did this through university teams and the depths of Swedish professional football, Farioli has worked for the past fifteen years at small Italian clubs, trained as a goalkeeper coach, completed an internship at the Aspire Academy in Qatar and impressed Roberto De Zerbi with his eye. for detail on his football blog.

As a goalkeeper coach, Farioli accompanied De Zerbi to Benevento and Sassuolo, and three years ago, as the youngest Italian coach ever, he tried to implement De Zerbi’s combination football at the Turkish Fatih Karagumruk at the highest level. With this he immediately caused a stir at Nice and he may have to try to give Ajax the face and status back from next season.