Ajax Amsterdam is close to winning the Dutch league title, putting behind two bad years that saw the club struggle. They have a nine-point lead over second-placed PSV Eindhoven with only five games left to play. Ajax needs just seven more points to secure their record 37th championship.
The team could win the title as early as April 27 when they play Sparta Rotterdam at home. But first, they must beat fourth-placed Utrecht on Sunday and hope for good results from other matches.
Ajax’s return to the top comes after two tough seasons. The famous Dutch soccer club found itself at the bottom of the league for the first time in its history last season. They also lost to amateur team USV Hercules 3-2 in the Dutch Cup, one of the biggest upsets in the cup’s 126-year history.
The choice to hire 34-year-old Italian coach Farioli at the start of this season has worked out well. Under him, Ajax has won 13 of their last 14 league matches. Farioli has used 39 different players this season, which has helped make the team fitter and better at defense.
“We have five finals left,” Farioli said after their recent win against Willem II. “This was a key win. With it, we secure at least a top-three finish. That gives us a spot in the early rounds of the Champions League, which is important for the club.”
Ajax last won the title in 2022, after which coach Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United. Many top players also left, starting a time of big changes for the club that once won many European titles.
Their next coach, Alfred Schreuder, started well with six straight league wins, but things got bad fast. A 6-1 home loss to Napoli in the Champions League began a slide that saw the team go seven matches without a win – their worst run ever.
Last season started with hopes of doing better after the club spent around 100 million euros on new players. But after three months, coach Maurice Steijn was fired as Ajax sat at the bottom of the league.
Former star Ronald de Boer said about the current team: “They do win, but as an Ajax fan, you can never be sure of the result.”
John Van ‘t Schip, who was stand-in coach last season, thinks Ajax should win this season’s title: “It’s amazing what Farioli has done. If you can beat Feyenoord and PSV, then I think you are the right champion.”
Ajax’s bounce back to the top of Dutch soccer shows how fast things can change in sports. From almost being sent to a lower league to now being close to a championship, their story gives hope to any team with a proud past that’s going through hard times.
This Sunday’s game against Utrecht will be an important test as they try to keep winning and get closer to being crowned the best team in Dutch soccer once again.
