Zeeman will continue creating social media and video content for the club’s various media channels as part of Ajax Media. Van Rhijn has taken responsibility for several accounts within the partnerships department and will also continue supporting various colleagues within the commercial division.
De Jong and De Ridder will take on roles as technical managers, working closely with Jordi Cruijff. With their expertise and experience from professional football as a foundation, their responsibilities will each have their own focus. De Jong will provide internal technical support to Cruijff for the various teams and football departments. For the time being, he will also oversee scouting for professional football.
De Ridder will take on a role in the preparation and execution of transfers with both internal and external stakeholders. In addition, both will act as sounding boards for Cruijff, the coaching staff, and the players. The positions of the two former internationals mark the next phase in their development within the organisation, with room for adjustments in line with the club’s objectives.
Cruijff Pleased with reinforcement
Technical director Jordi Cruijff is pleased to welcome De Jong and De Ridder into his close working environment. "Siem and Daniel know the football world from the inside and, since joining, have also become familiar with the organisational side of Ajax. That is a valuable combination for the club and for me. They understand what happens on the pitch and what is needed off it. I'm happy to work with them and to draw on their knowledge in the steps we will take with Ajax."
Geelen: 'Former Ajax players are not only our past, but also our future'
The traineeship is an initiative of general director Menno Geelen, who deliberately chose at the time to involve former players more closely in the organization. "We set up this program because we are convinced that practical experience and a top-level sports mentality add extra value to the club, on top of the expertise we already have. Knowledge from the dressing room and the pitch cannot be learned from a book."
"This quartet is therefore a valuable addition to our organization. I’m pleased that all four have found roles that suit them, because these Ajax players are not only our past but also our future. And as far as I’m concerned, this is not the end point. We will explore whether we can expand this program further in the future."
