Cruijff returns to Ajax 20/02/2008 00:00

Johan Cruijff has put his money where his mouth is.

20 February 2008

AMSTERDAM - Johan Cruijff has put his money where his mouth is. The legendary number 14 is returning to Ajax. The club icon is going to "flesh out Ajax's technical policy," as the Amsterdam club announced at about midnight last night.

The management led by John Jaakke will resign at the end of the season at the latest.

On Monday Cruijff announced in his weekly column in De Telegraaf that he was prepared to sort out the situation at Ajax. A day later, to everyone's surprise, he attended the members' council meeting at which the Coronel report was discussed.

"The members' council asked Johan Cruijff to flesh out Ajax's technical policy. Cruijff has said he is prepared to do so. Talks will now be held to work out the details," the press release read.

With the re-entry of Cruijff at Ajax, Marco van Basten's appointment as the new trainer for the coming season is almost certain, the two are good friends.

The management and the members' council took on board the first recommendations from the Coronel report on Tuesday evening. The report levelled harsh criticism at Ajax's technical policy over the past years.

The Amsterdam club will adopt a new management model on the basis of the report, making the club's management responsible for the policy and how it is carried out.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2008]

Subject: Dutch news