Behind The Scenes At The Famous Ajax Youth Academy

Take a look behind the scenes at the highly-praised youth academy of Ajax, and delve deeper into the club's ethos with comments from players past and present.
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[@Iwanek02]

This amazing. No wonder why they developed so many stars. Love Ajax from Poland

[@pradnyeshaglawe351]

And now they are in the UCL semis

[@95tillinfinity23]

Donic?

[@charliedontsurf9155]

@@95tillinfinity23 Dirk ?

[@Harlock2day]

I would imagine Poland would be a great place to copy Ajax model. Right now there’s lots of talent, especially strikers and goalkeepers, in Serie A.

[@widialkmaarzaanstreek7291]

Setuju . . .nice good vision 🧠👍 ☺️🥰✌️🇮🇩 Indonesia

[@bas7467]

Funny to see my old classmate who also came up through Ajax at 2.24. My school was nearby the Johan Cruijff Arena and a lot of kids who played at Ajax studied there.

[@dpeboy3634]

Love ajax from India❤️

[@alexanderferguson7319]

Amazing how they promote great young players and sell them on for big money 💰 amazing youth set up .

[@yogatanaya6833]

I am The big fans of this club. I dont really like to watch football. But i love Ajax team. They are unique. Every big name player in europe nowadays most of them start their career from amsterdam (ajax) just name it ;)!

[@MuhammadJammeh-db5fd]

I like the academy

[@idkjustchangingmyname7343]

Ajax I feel is most football fans second favorite team. True football. I love Wolves but cheer for Ajax in the European competitions (unless they are playing us haha!)

[@llleniii]

does someone know how much would it cost to get into academy?

[@zaz3824]

It doesnt cost. If u get scouted u get in

[@kkrule6423]

How to produce real talented youngsters Play them simple

[@Grunn007]

Great academy which educated some of the best players in the world. Only, Suarez, he's not one of them. He never played in the youth of Ajax. He's discovered by FC Groningen, played there and then sold to Ajax. So why is he mentioned?

[@arh6708]

Try this method in highly competetive league like EPL. Im sure ajax will be none other than watford

[@mmartijn78]

Make new one about AZ Alkmaar, there youth accademy is now even better as Ajax.

[@situationsixtynine8743]

Grapjas 🥱

[@kokiomufc]

Funny how half of Tottenham's team came through Ajax...I hope they win it all this year, Good Luck Ajax from California✌

[@pritapp788]

Yes, Tottenham are one of the teams that plunder Ajax while pretending they cannot compete financially... Imagine Ajax with Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Eriksen and Davinson Sanchez.

[@s0me1i62]

@@pritapp788 a few year's ago I would have sayed true, and begin of the year also. But this team now has just such a good chemistry right now(sadly we can't keep them for long) . It's only how sad the offers on Christian and Jan where. Sanchez was way more worth as well... But it's hard to tell how Ajax would be playing with them. They are different players comparing that are standing now. Eriksen still would have be a great addition to the midfield

[@tsardzhek9166]

Yeah about that

[@PotentialGaming]

💀ajax should have won but ggs

[@sebastianomariuzzo1398]

Here from ITALY, you deserve anything you achieved

[@01jvsvijay]

Ajax fan since 2014, from Nepal. Huge respect to the Club and the Academy. Lots of love!

[@Hallo-ex8nk]

Vijay Chaulagain nice 👍

[@fernadobp5576]

Europe needs more teams like AJAX and less teams like PSG and Manchester City.

[@bullbeestrog5349]

Fernado BP tbf City actually have established a pretty good academy, with the likes of Phil Foden and Jaden Sancho (among many others) moving up the ranks to become potential international stars. I do agree with you on PSG though

[@Yourosking]

Foden is a benchwarmer and Sancho became big in Germany... name some other Man City talents?

[@bullbeestrog5349]

@@Yourosking Sturridge, Iheanacho, Trippier, Danayer, Ben Mee, etc. and those some who have relatively worked out so far. To say they don't make smart moves and take chances on youngsters is a bit daft.

[@nobertamanze]

@@Yourosking david brooks

[@m4lmg-playmaker154]

@@Yourosking Foden is a star

[@berendt87]

Matthijs de Ligt... Still not 20 years old and he is 1 of the best players in de CL this season.

[@random_dude6395]

the next Maldini?

[@nickburkhardt8553]

Ryan Gravenberch, Brian Brobbey and Naci Unuvar. Remember their names.

[@cf6282]

Really hope these young players will show up in the next couple of years. I can hardly blame current players to transfer to Barcelona and such. Similar to what happened after Ajax made it to the EuroLeague two years ago. AJAX management and training have their act together. That will surely attract more talent and players from abroad.

[@laszlohuiber5558]

And Xavi Simons for the future of Dutch football

[@dkcn5735]

I’m so glad Ajax is doing well again and still emphasizing and believing in their philosophy... football needs Ajax to be top top

[@alexandermoonen6170]

Ajax is and Ajax will always be one of the best academics,I’ve been so impressed how they develop,to give young players a chance to improve and to become world class.What important is never chance they need to keep this why should they change? They need to be pleased themselves it’s an incredible academy we can talk regarding to Barcelona,any other clubs but this club. Ajax is definitely up there that’s a big credit to them.

[@__dane__]

I really hope they win the Champions League this year. I can see them beating Tottenham and getting to the final

[@Roscododger]

Theyll get to the final but bottle it vs Liverpool. (This comment is before the semi finals) Edit: Guys.... they done it. Theyve only gone and done it. I'm actually speechless

[@DMDTagz]

@@ezraprzytyk there is no second leg in the final lol

[@01jvsvijay]

Ajax will beat Liverpool to win the Treble once again and bring the glory back to Amsterdam.

[@DMDTagz]

@@01jvsvijay i hope so

[@joselukas24]

@@Roscododger Ajax losing to Liverpool is not bottling. Not every loss is because someone bottled it. Liverpool will win because they are a more talented and mature team.

[@adamreilly1156]

I love ajax always been a big fan.its amazing how they keep producing world class talent season after season. Well done to the youth coaches and scout's at ajax. Adam Manchester UK

[@mjt9236]

all clubs should take a page out of there book. especially they are supportive when it comes to youth and don't overspend and try to buy there way into winning the league

[@reddevilshub1436]

Man city

[@Arctic-X]

yeah but without those teams...teams like ajax would not exist

[@Dutch-bi1wf]

Russian and Arab Oligarchs don’t have this kind of patience

[@corimwouters7978]

@@Arctic-X without those teams ajax would be back on the top like in the 70s

[@Arctic-X]

@@corimwouters7978 that has nothing to do with it...its just buisness model that ajax have implemented..they have become the nr1 talent developers/sellers in the world and are making good money on it...the old days are gone when all the talent you had stayed and was loyal(comming from a liverpool fan) clubs like ayax just dont have the ability to keep top class players because they cant pay their wages or sell them on a hope that they will be global superstars and win trophies..and the dutch league is not that atractive...but i love and respect ajax for their history...but they will not be on top for long unless they change their buisnis plan from a selling club to a club that is there for conquest

[@TheDen334]

Really proud to be a Ajax fan

[@DMDTagz]

You and me both brother!

[@marcovanwetering341]

Count me in:)

[@berendt87]

Who is not proud to be a Ajaxfan?

[@waveymane]

My son: Dad, dad! I got offers from Barcelona, Madrid and City Me as a father: join Ajax!

[@edwardhalim6967]

you must be mad to deny the barcelona offer after ajax La masia is the best in the world

[@zephr0x]

@@edwardhalim6967 Maybe, but the chances of actually debuting for the first team are so small at Barca that it's better to go to the smaller league to get some minutes in and make a name for yourself. For example Onana came from barca.

[@waveymane]

Jack Barani what Zephrox said, and I am a Barca fan ✌️

[@DMDTagz]

@@edwardhalim6967 lol Ajax has a better academy than Barcelona. We're the originators, Barcelona the copycats.

[@edwardhalim6967]

@@zephr0x agree ajax is big but their league is small and unpopular. Meanwhile barca at the top of the world with the best league in the world. So yeah if im a kid I and be smarter with my future ajax would be a choice but if we are really good as a kid and get scouted by barca academy I wouldnt say no to the offer, right ?

[@AuRennes.z2]

This years CL with Ajax reminds me of Chelsea's "never say die" attitude when they beat Bayern, AT the Allianz Arena no less.. most incredibly was their tough path they took to even get to those finals.. look at the similarities in this Ajax team , they also have faced such tough opposition just getting to where they are at.. no they aren't in the finals just yet they still have to get through a red hot Spurs team in the 2nd leg. But just like Chelsea in 2012 it almost seems written in the stars... Good luck Ajax from USA

[@telephonic]

The world's best academy of football in the last 60 years.

[@janveraart307]

telephonic sooo... ever?

[@DMDTagz]

@@janveraart307 yes. Ever.

[@David-lq6oq]

Dortmund's bettet

[@Arcaviiouse]

David Murai okay come with a list which is close to Cruyff Van Basten, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Piet Keizer, Jaak Swart, Davids, Seedort, Sneijder, Van Der Vaart, Vertongen, Alderweireld, De Ligt, Vanenburg and many more 4 cl s

[@bigceazer21]

@@David-lq6oq no it aint . look at all the great players ajax academy has produced throughout the years. you ain't got a clue about football.

[@RonD84]

Exactly how it should be not all about money but education in how to play and attitude all equals to a top player, I know they have been in the wilderness for a while but Ajax are actually a huge club bigger than most of the top 6 teams in the EPL fair play to them hope they win the European cup

[@wh7824]

Ajax die hard fan here since 2001 from Indonesia, i have seen players come and go, and believe me, this is probably the best year of Ajax that i have seen in my 18 years supporting Ajax, i just wish that Van Der Sar and Marc Overmars as the Ajax board of directors, that maybe, just maybe, if we do make it to the Champions League final for the first time in 24 years, they should consider to keep players and hold on to them, Imagine if we would have kept Justin, Frenkie, Matthis and maybe in the future, Van De Beek, Dolberg, Ziyech, and keep playing them together for 5 years, we would be a force in Europe and actually can compete with clubs like Barcelona, Madrid, Juve, City, Liverpool etc... Please change the way we sell our players, don't just sell, we must be back to the European Level and not by selling players!

[@thomaswilliam4015]

Twe Foju it’s impossible mate. Ajax can’t just keep players like de ligt, de jong etc. These players would just force their way out and it would just be a negative influence. Reinvesting that money wisely is way more realistic and that way you can also stay on top.

[@thevdende]

The players will want to leave because Ajax can't match the salary of those top teams. So if Ajax doesn't sell them they will serve out their contract and leave as free agents which is even worse for Ajax.

[@wh7824]

@@thevdende i wish there would be a good player that would let go of a big paycheck to play for the club they love until they retire, its impossible in today's football. fame and money is everything.

[@ajax4eversuperjoden]

@@wh7824 would be great. Like Sjaak Swart, all time mister Ajax! 🙌🏽

[@maartensayshello5075]

thevdende it’s not just the paycheck. The Dutch league just has less interesting opponents. If you are playing at Barcelona for instance you play several top matches in the national league like Barca vs Real. For a top player at Ajax the main challenge is Champions League.

[@_Snapper]

for me as an irish football fan ,This club is total perfection

[@SwankSinatra007]

Love how the core values incorporate life lessons and development. Lotta quality players out of Ajax

[@TheCaptainKim]

We are AJAX, we are the best. This is how.

[@animeuncaged3553]

Ajax literally serving the world with football players, thank you for your service

[@CytusXO]

prob one of the best youth academies if not the best academy in the world

[@ivanaguilar5627]

De Ligt speaks better english than Harry Kane

[@bigceazer21]

a great club that has produced great great players . this club is legendary one of the all time great football clubs. i hope they win the UCL this year to make it 5 European cup wins.

[@abnerortiz6027]

Win the champions rooting for AJAX 🙌🏼

[@Log1cTech]

This is amazing. It’s more a university than a football club.

[@jeanclouivil7893]

My ❤️ is there.

[@nutri-gains6535]

Zoveel respect voor Ajax van een Anderlecht fan.

[@martinjansen3834]

Ik ben trouwens ook onder de indruk van de Anderlecht opleiding. Alleen op 1 of andere manier is bij jullie de doorstroming gewoon een stuk minder goed.

[@nutri-gains6535]

@@martinjansen3834 Helemaal correct, gelukkig is er sinds kort een nieuwe aanpak waarbij jeugd wel meer kansen krijgt.

[@andybaughman3719]

Pure Class. Best of luck in the Champions League

[@duffbeer23]

I love it when the Dutch speak English

[@DMDTagz]

It's embarrassing really

[@stijnhintzen]

DMDTagz why? All three people in this video spoke fluent English without too much of an accent

[@rutger7452]

I´m so fucking proud of my club its unreal

[@STallday2321]

Watching their run in the UCL this year has been amazing, makes me wish Ajax had the money to compete with the top tier clubs every year. Imagine if they kept the studs they develop and then could afford to buy an elite team around them

[@VDMOOLN]

our leage is way to small for such a club.

[@craziewill]

Best and proper football club in Europe, if not the world...

[@TariqAmazin]

brilliant!

[@itsjjx_]

Best youth academy

[@jjjjo13]

Very important history and 100% future .

[@elcochiloco1456]

As a chivas fan I feel like this is the approach we need to make.

[@prateeksahoo10]

Wow I wish I could go to the ajax academy

[@ek7407]

Greatest academy of all time

[@KipGuitar1]

My son will be in Ajax youth system he’s 4

[@iTydaa]

well anything can happen goodluck !

[@loner_wolf6614]

Is it true that all young players in ajax experience playing at all positions before settling down on one??

[@kennethspoolder8214]

Yep!

[@elzwino]

No, that's not true. What they sometimes do, is that they put defenders in a position of the midfield, so they need to speed up their moving / decision making speed. For example Matthijs de Ligt had to play as a midfielder to develop at this point. But it's not like attacking players also need to play as a defender... What also happens is that wingers sometimes successfully are transformed to wingbacks, like Michael Reiziger in the past. That was an invention of Louis Van Gaal. Ultimately, they try to put the best players one or sometimes even 2 categories higher, like Matthijs de Ligt points out. Currently they are doing this with Naci Unuvar and Ryan Gravenberch, but also with a player like Victor Jensen. This all assists them to become better, faster.

[@loner_wolf6614]

@@elzwino so they have a fixed formation in mind? like cryuffs diamond?

[@elzwino]

@@loner_wolf6614 The classical formation of Ajax is 4-3-3. So that's how they play in every youth team, up to the first squad. But the higher you get, the more they try to vary within this formation. So people think there isn't really a plan B, but the trick is that the same players are position more high or low on the pitch or pressing differently.

[@robertovalero8334]

@@loner_wolf6614 Yep and that 4-3-3 is the way that Barca and Man-City also play now.

[@nathanhill4992]

De ligt has very good English

[@amosamwig8394]

because in the Netherlands....ah you know

[@telephonic]

All Dutch have excellent English skills, it's taught in their education system over there.

[@kingkongaintgotshitonme3455]

Yes he has it..he keeps it in his locker. 🙈

[@richvela706]

Second favorite club ✊🏽

[@berendt87]

My first favorite club (I am a Dutchman)

[@TheMarinho1]

what is the song name at 1:00?

[@sj.studygroup]

Support from India

[@attilaezsias2464]

The best thing that could happen and had to happen to football in the 21st century.

[@ecdctech]

Cruyff , the great one

[@samirahimi2231]

Hello How to join a player in Your academy

[@lars3136]

Trots op Ajax !

[@kennethwyh]

wij zijn ajax.. wij zijn de beste

[@Jaisiyaram88]

Problem is ,predators are always looking for their prey and few of them are already trapped...Sad...Hope these players evolve successfully in their new home.

[@rabijj8719]

i want to join....but how?

[@trini13archer]

2:18 with that expression I can't help but feel Vesterveld doesn't know what having fun means. Could be wrong...

[@IVMTAB]

Ajax have eliminated some really tough opponents in the UCL this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if they win the UCL trophy; although, Barca is an opponent like no other they’ve faced with a GOAT determined to win it all.

[@kroonprinscees1822]

Funny if you turn on the English subtitles 00:10 "for us it's all about the individual plan like YOU WIFE once said"

[@jubasalossi3062]

Most beautiful club of the world ❌❌❌

[@thewolverine1913]

Unfortunately the money in todays game stops a lot of teams from promoting their youth players to the first team. Look at City as an example.. Jadon Sancho left them for Dortmund as he knew he'd get more first team action and now he's being touted as a £100 million player. Seems as though in Holland and Germany (apart from Bayern) there is more of an emphasis to promote youth

[@hoggybhoy1967]

A lot of teams don't deserve their fans, in this case, the hooligans don't deserve the team

[@felixlieter1429]

The prototype of what every football club should aspire to be. No billionaire owners need apply.

[@mikhaelagacud4256]

Hope Ajax wins the champions league

[@DutchNewbJr]

Semi final CL ❌❌❌

[@Sverrewegge87]

Ajaxscccchhhhh....

[@alainbut]

Van Der Sar has aged

[@Unknownpersonsx]

I thought Van der Sar could speak better English than the bald guy duo to his time in Manchester, but the bald guy has overtaken him.

[@aarond9563]

2:08 - Core failures?

[@sharkyh7327]

Core values

[@aarond9563]

@@sharkyh7327 Thanks. I hear it now!

[@atlewinther7839]

Youth players needs to go to Holland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark or Norway. But money talks...

[@mmartijn78]

Denmark, Norway, Belgium? No

[@armandatiboy]

Dont F with AJAX!!

[@chiho8119]

Cruyff said, at the end it is still a game of two teams with eleven humans.

[@martinrosario4018]

ajax is such a blue blood club yet they dont get the respect nor do they have the money like other blue bloods lol its mind boggling, this team is contending to try to win its 5th cup hell the treble is in play yet ppl dont put them up there with the Madrids the Barca the united of the worlds lol

[@tiberio1352]

No new players come out of Barcelona, La Masia,.......that is a Shame. And they spend ABSURD money on players like Dembele, Coutinho....so ridiculous.

[@iTydaa]

well they didnt do that with abdelhak nouri sadly :(

[@amosamwig8394]

wwawzdb am I right?

[@KingJamesXXX]

WZAWZDB

[@amosamwig8394]

@@KingJamesXXX you had one job amosa...

[@greysonwayne1741]

They just find good players ..good scouting . Not like they develop awful players into great ones

[@markvroomen]

Can you imagine that the Feyenoord youth mutch better is than Amsterdam more prices and more players to topclubs

[@jeroen4329]

More player to topclubs?

[@mre3140]

Hahahah good joke

[@thredos7362]

Don’t you mean Barcelona’s youth academy?

[@Hallo-ex8nk]

Thredos no Barcelona is literally based on Ajax. Cruijff made Barca the big club it is today. Before Cruijff Barca was nothing.

[@thredos7362]

Hoi no I’m referencing to the deal they have with Ajax where Barcelona can take precedent over the young players but Ajax can get Barcelona’s young players on loan

[@Hallo-ex8nk]

Thredos Nah it’s normal they pay good money for our players. De Ligt will probably go there for around 70 which I think is definitely not enough but they paid an ok price for De Jong

[@benh3443]

One of many clubs which develop top class players. Top class club but they are not special.

[@yaseh9162]

If you think the youth academy of ajax isn't special you know nothing about this subject.

[@benh3443]

Yassine eh they aren’t special.... as I said plenty of clubs do the same... unless you mean they are all special well then I agree but they aren’t special in terms of they are the best at producing players because that is rubbish... la masia fo instance

[@edbackhuis5306]

@@benh3443 Yes they are. There is no club on the earth that produced as many talents as Ajax. Auxerre in France was a distant second. Ajax has been doing this structurally since the 80's. That's the only reason why such a small club has been able to go far in the Champions League since big money took over soccer. This year is not the first time they are able to do this you know.

[@benh3443]

Justin Case as I keep saying I agree they are a great club with a great philosophy but they are one of many. This is the first time they have made the semi’s in the CL for as long as I can remember so everyone is pumping their tyres up. FC Porto has been in the CL and played in the quarters onwards quite regularly as have Atlético. Are they bigger than Ajax? Nope. Did Griezmann come from Ajax youth? The point is more top players come from many different youth systems than Ajax. Ajax wouldn’t even be .01 % of players playing at the top level.

[@edbackhuis5306]

@@benh3443 You are clearly not well informed. Ajax won the CL in '95 with a team largely out of their own academy. And they have been producing top players for 5 decades. Ever since Johan Cruyff went to Barcelona in '73 clubs have bought many of the best players in Amsterdam. Every big team in Europe has had players in their lineups that came from Ajax. That you might only know Cruyff, Van Basten, Rijkaard, Bergkamp, F. De Boer, R. De Boer, Boskamp, Kieft, Reiziger, Bogarde, Seedorf, Davids, Vanenburg, Overmars, Jonk, Van der Meyde, Huntelaar, Van der Vaart, Sneyder, Van der Wiel, De Zeeuw, De Jong, De Jong, Reiziger, Van der Sar, Stekelenburg, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertongen, Kluivert, Babel, Blind, Klaassen, Eriksen, Cilissen, Heitinga, De Mul, Witsche and Winter is your shortcoming, not theirs. There's a lot more then just those.