Despite being 9 points clear with five rounds remaining in the league, Ajax’s Italian coach departs with the heartbreak of missing out on the title.
Francesco Farioli’s three-year contract ends after just one season. Even with strong title hopes, he steps down following an incredible collapse that saw Ajax fall short of winning the Dutch league.
With five matches to go, Ajax held a 9-point lead. They only needed 6 more points from those final games to reclaim the title. But they managed to collect just 5—dropping points in four consecutive matches (two losses and two draws). Even though they won in the final round on Sunday, it wasn’t enough.
PSV Eindhoven won all of their last seven matches, edging Ajax by a single point to retain the title—despite losing both head-to-head clashes with them earlier in the season.
According to ESPN Global Research, Ajax has now become the first European team ever to fail to win the title after being 9 points ahead with only five matches left to play.
Farioli was seen in tears after the final match. The very next day, Ajax announced the 36-year-old Italian was stepping down. His entire coaching staff will also be leaving with him.
Ajax, the record 36-time champions of the Dutch league, had finished fifth last season. Following that, the club appointed Farioli last summer on a three-year deal.
