Jordi Cruyff, son of Ajax legend Johan Cruyff, was quickly declared one of Ajax's top targets after Alex Kroes announced his decision to step down from his role as technical director. Cruyff reportedly had to compete with former left-back Maxwell and former Liverpool director Michael Edwards.
In a leaked photo obtained by De Telegraaf, Jordi Cruyff is shown at a table with Ajax CEO Menno Geelen, Director of Football Marijn Beuker, and Cruyff's manager Soufian Asafiati at the Torre Melina a Gran Melia Hotel in Barcelona, where Cruyff resides.
Asked about the photo by De Telegraaf, Menno Geelen confirmed that they're working on getting a new technical director: "It is true that we are working on important projects. We will comment on these when there is news to report. That is not yet the case."
Cruyff also withheld comment, stating, "This is not the time to say anything."
Jordi Cruyff played for Ajax in the youth ranks before making his professional debut at FC Barcelona in 1994. After his playing career, Cruyff became technical director at AEK Larnaca, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and FC Barcelona. He's currently a technical advisor to the Indonesian national team.
Top priority
Ajax have been looking for a new technical director since Alex Kroes announced his decision to step down. Kroes took responsibility for the current situation at Ajax, who fired manager John Heitinga after just five months in charge of the Amsterdam giants. His fellow board members convinced Kroes to stay on until the club had found a replacement.
Edwin van der Sar hired the former Go Ahead Eagles executive as Ajax's CEO, with the position set to start in March 2024. On April 2nd, however, it was announced that Kroes had been suspended with a view to dismissal after the club's Supervisory Board found that he had obtained club shares worth up to €190,000 a week before his starting date.
Ajax and Kroes reached an agreement that allowed Kroes to remain at the club, but not as the club's CEO. Instead, he'd serve as the club's technical director.
Soon after Kroes' announcement to step down, Menno Geelen confirmed at the club's annual stakeholders' meeting that the board prioritised the search for a new technical director over finding a new manager.
Ajax first attempted to bring disgraced former technical director Marc Overmars back to the club, but he rejected the move, calling his Ajax career "a closed chapter."