Totaalvoetbal – The Ajax Story – Part 1.

A New Chapter.

So, I have decided to begin a new save. This one will be very different for me. I usually do a playthrough as a manager and swap through different teams until I find one which I enjoy enough to stay for more than two seasons. This save will be very much based on the team, and building for the future. I have decided to manage Ajax.

Ajax were a massive side in the late 60s and early 70s. Under Rinus Michels, they developed a style of play known as Totaalvoetball (Total Football). The general idea being that any player on the pitch should be able to play in any position, and that pressing the opposition high and winning the ball back quickly would mean they could not build an attack. The style was used to great effect by the Dutch national team at the 1974 World Cup. They were ultimately beaten in the final by West Germany, however, many say they were the best international side of all time. Total Football was further developed by Cruyff at Barcelona, where his possession based style of play led Barcelona to four european finals and four straight La Liga titles in five years. Arrigo Sacchi developed a more defensive style of Total Football at Milan, where he won back to back European cups, mainly due to the defensive solidity and the effective use of the offside trap. Pep Guariola’s tactical approach is heavily influenced by Cruyff ideologies he instilled in his time as Barcelona manager.

So, the idea for this save is to bring Totaalvoetball home, to Ajax, and to have them become the best team in the world by winning the champions league. I have also created a character to take my place in charge of the club. Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing the new manager of Ajax:

 

Rinus van den Berg.

Born in Amsterdam in 1980, van den Berg was named after Rinus Michels, arguably the Netherlands greatest ever manager. van den Berg took after his namesake, showing class from a very young age. So much so, he was scouted by Barcelona’s manager Johan Cruyff, whilst he was visiting his home nation. van den Berg quickly progressed through the ranks at Barcelona, performing well at youth level, and got his debut at 16, in Cruyff’s final season in charge.

van den Berg on the bench for Barcelona in 1996.

After Cruyff left in 1996, van den Berg rarely featured in the team under Bobby Robson, mainly due to injury. A reccuring knee injury kept meant he was in and out of the squad for 18 months, and after Robson left, an argument with van Gaal spelled the end of his Barcelona career.

He moved to his boyhood club Ajax in January 1999, where he played 207 games in 6 seasons, winning two league titles. Unfortuanely his career would come to an early halt at the end of the 2005-06 season, his knee injury meaning he could no longer play. Generally regarded as a wasted talent, van den Berg dissapeared from the footballing world. Many thought he would never return.

AC Milan 3-2 Ajax. Champions League semi-final second leg. 23rd April 2003.

van den Berg took a few years out of football, before returning to Ajax to join the coaching staff. He moved from attacking coach, to head of youth development and finally assistant manager to Peter Bosz in the 2016/17 season. With Bosz moving to Dortmund in the summer, it’s now up to Rinus van den Berg to take the reigns and lead Ajax back to European glory.

Bosz and van den Berg celebrate.

 

Aims.

My aims for this save are as follows

• Play Total Football – Fluid, Hard Pressing and Attacking football
• Become the dominant force in the Eredivisie
• Win the Champions League within 3-5 years
• Use our Youth Facilities to develop Dutch stars
• Get the National Job and win the World Cup with the Netherland

I am really excited about this save. It is something I’ve never done before and I can’t wait to get started. I’ll be back with a tactical post in a few days, showcasing the tactic I’ll be using throughout the season.

Until next time, Thank you for reading.

P.S. Sorry for the terrible photoshopping but I have too much time on my hands and I thought it would be funny.