Ouaali (June 9, 1969, Beni Said, Morocco) started halfway through the 2011-2012 season as coach at Ajax’s youth academy. From 2014, he was the coordinator of the highest youth teams, a function he combined with being interim head of the youth academy. In 2016, he was officially appointed as head of Ajax’s youth academy. Ouaali is the longest-sitting head of the youth academy in Ajax’s history.
Edwin van der Sar: "Saïd always put the individual development of the player first. During his time, a lot of changes have been made in order for the players to spend more designated hours at the club. All without losing the importance of school. Year after year, homegrown players have made their debuts in Ajax 1, which is mostly to the merit of Saïd and his colleagues. Coaches of both Ajax 1 and Ajax U23 could always reach him for a good talk about football, a player, or a played match."
"It’s a shame he decided to leave, we would have loved to continue working with him. I look back at a pleasant eleven-year-long collaboration in which we have been through a lot. On behalf of Ajax, I would like to thank him for everything he has done for the club and I wish him a lot of success."
Connected to Ajax forever
Saïd Ouaali: "During the last eleven years, I have worked with a lot of pleasure together with my colleagues at the youth academy, which is in my opinion still the lifeline of the club. Over the years, we have been able to guide a lot of players on their individual road to Ajax 1. That’s something I am very proud of. I have decided it’s time to hand my function over to someone else. I would like to thank the club and all my colleagues for the trust they gave me and from a distance, I will be connected to Ajax forever."
