Amsterdam's Ajax has officially announced the conclusion of its search for a head coach. The new manager of the legendary Dutch club is Spanish specialist Michel Sanchez. The contract with the coach has been signed for two seasons, running until 2028.
Sanchez arrives at Ajax immediately after his tenure at Girona, which he left following the team's relegation from La Liga. Despite this result, the Spaniard's reputation in European football remains extremely high. He will replace his compatriot Oscar Garcia in the role of head coach, who had been leading the team since March. Before him, Fred Grim and John Heitinga had managed the club during this turbulent season.
The task of saving the club
The new coach faces an extremely difficult task: to revive Ajax, which is currently going through a deep crisis. Last season was a true catastrophe for the Amsterdam-based team: the club finished the fourth consecutive year without a single trophy, taking only fifth place in the Eredivisie and qualifying for the Conference League.
In addition to failures in the championship, the club crashed out of the Dutch Cup, losing 0:6 to AZ, and completely failed in the Champions League group stage. There, Ajax secured only two wins out of six losses and failed to advance to the knockout rounds.
The fate of Oleksandr Zinchenko
The appointment of Michel Sanchez directly affects the prospects of Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko. The player's contract with Ajax is valid until June 30, 2026, but his future at the club remains uncertain.
Currently, Zinchenko is recovering from a serious injury and surgery, so the club's management is not rushing to make a decision on extending the agreement. Now, it is up to the new head coach to personally assess the Ukrainian's prospects after his return to full fitness. Michel will have to decide whether to build the defensive line with Zinchenko in mind or look for other options.
Transfer intrigue surrounding Viktor Tsygankov
Parallel to the coach's appointment, a serious transfer story is unfolding around the Ukrainian national team winger Viktor Tsygankov. Girona's relegation triggered a mass sale of the team's leaders, and the Ukrainian midfielder became one of the main targets on the market.
The situation for Tsygankov has developed interestingly. On one hand, serious competition from the Amsterdam side comes from Turkish Trabzonspor, which is demonstrating financial activity and persistence. The total deal amount, including bonuses, could reach 10 million euros.
On the other hand, the Michel Sanchez factor significantly increases the chances of a move to Ajax. The Dutch giant had previously shown interest in Tsygankov, and now that the team is led by a familiar specialist, the likelihood of a deal grows. Michel knows Viktor's capabilities well and has successfully built the Catalans' attacking schemes around him for several years. The player himself has not yet decided on the final option, but the possibility of working under Michel again in Amsterdam could outweigh the Turkish offers.