Youth Academy
Ajax’s youth academy is world famous. The goal of Ajax is to form talented young players into top football players. Only the very best will reach the top after a difficult and often long road. Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Wim Kieft, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert are but a few of the international stars that have successfully completed the training at the youth academy.
At AFC Ajax, the training of top football players takes centre stage. That is why the youth academy is also known as the breeding ground of Dutch football. The further you get, the harder it becomes to maintain your place and to reach the ultimate objective - to play in the Amsterdam Arena. Only one or two players make it to the first team each year.
Ajax is partly dependant on players from its own youth academy. The youth teams are trained in exactly the same way as the first team en these boys are therefore already accustomed to Ajax’s style of play.
Central within the club is the style of play (4-3-3), training, behaviour and house rules. Ajax strives to keep the way of playing football recognisable; attractive, offensive-minded, creative, fast, fair and preferably far away from the own goal on the opponents’ half.
Ajax has developed the so-called TIPS model, which stands for Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed. For each part there are ten criteria. P and S are generally innate properties, but I and S can always be developed further. The players own a special Ajax passport, in which all achievements are noted.
Please note
Ajax’s youth academy cannot accept individual external applications. Ajax only extend invitations after a long and deliberate scouting process. Applications for the Ajax youth academy by mail and/or email will not be considered.
Camps & Clinics
Ajax Camp & Clinics gives you the opportunity to train like a real Ajax player. The youth academy is known as Europe’s best. During the Ajax Camps in the summer and the Ajax Clinics in the School Holidays, every aspect of the unique Ajax training method will be part of the program.
A1
Ajax 2
Ajax 2. Also known as Young Ajax. The stepping stone for young players to Ajax's first team. Here, new young foreign players can adjust to the playing style of Ajax. For others, it is a temporary stop between the juniors and the first team.
Visit
You can visit the home matches of Ajax 2. They usually play on Monday nights at 18:30 at the youth complex De Toekomst, which is near the stadium.
Please call the complex for the exact hours: 088 - 18 3 1900
Complex
The Toekomst can be reached via the A1, A2, A9 and A10 motorways. From the A2 (Utrecht – Amsterdam) take exit S211 (Ouderkerk a/d Amstel/Duivendrecht/Diemen). Follow the signs Amsterdam Zuidoost/Transferium at the end.
There are a total of seven parking areas offering parking space for 9,000 cars and 170 buses at walking distance. Drivers are given the ideal route to the stadium by means of a computer-controlled routing system. Parking cards cost 7 Euros (P-2 to P-10) and 14 Euros (P-1) and can be purchased in advance from the TicketBox sales outlets (national lottery sales outlets). There are bicycle sheds around the Amsterdam Arena with room for 3,000 bicycles.
Metro 54 to Gein (stopping at Strandvliet, Bijlmer and Duivendrecht) links the Amsterdam Arena directly to the centre of Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Arena is also served from outlying districts by buses 29, 59, 60, 62, 137, 158, 174 and 175, Bijlmer stop.
Ajax Coaching Academy
Known for recognising talent, our youth academy inspires you to be the best. Developing, but also nurturing your talent. We strongly believe that the youth academy should be the foundation of every club. Therefore, we have founded the Ajax Coaching Academy, to share the Ajax philosophy with you: clubs, coaches and players from all over the world.
We give talent a chance to flourish, and always strive to be the best. We partner with clubs all over the world who recognise and share our values, to do just that. Offering tailor-made programmes. Depending on your specific needs. We will share our philosophy and our expertise, implemented by our Ajax staff. They will assess on location and provide high quality feedback, as well as practical advice. Here are some of our partners.