Jordi Cruyff officially appoints new Ajax head coach

Amsterdam – The Cruyff name is once again steering the future of Ajax, this time from the boardroom. Jordi Cruyff, the former Manchester United midfielder and newly installed technical director at Ajax, has confirmed the appointment of Oscar Garcia as head coach of Jong Ajax, the club’s U23 side, with immediate effect.

Garcia, 50, has signed a contract through 30 June 2027 and arrives with a résumé that spans Europe’s top tiers. After cutting his coaching teeth in Barcelona’s academy, the Spaniard went on to lead Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford, RB Salzburg, Celta de Vigo and Stade Reims. His most recent post was with Mexican giants Chivas, where he was contracted until March 2025.

“Oscar and I know each other well,” Cruyff said in the club’s official statement. “More importantly, I know his football vision and understand his mentality. Ajax U23 will benefit greatly from that.”

For United supporters, Cruyff’s involvement adds a familiar thread. The Dutch-Spanish hybrid spent four seasons at Old Trafford after arriving from Barcelona in 1996, forming part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s historic 1998-99 Treble-winning squad. While injuries restricted his pitch time, his legacy remains woven into the club’s modern European narrative.

Now, decades on, Cruyff’s decisions continue to ripple across the continent. By strengthening the technical staff of Jong Ajax – a traditional talent factory for Europe’s elite – he reinforces the pathway that has previously funneled players such as Donny van de Beek to Manchester United. Van de Beek completed his own move from Ajax to Old Trafford in 2020 before departing for Girona in 2024.

With Garcia at the helm, Ajax’s famed development model receives an experienced navigator tasked with maintaining the conveyor belt of talent that has long defined the Dutch giants.