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'It keeps me awake at night!' - Francesco Farioli opens up on surprise Ajax departure and discusses his playing style as Porto swoop to hire young coach

Club Friendlies

Ajax

Farioli was close to guiding Ajax to the Eredivisie title last season, but a dramatic collapse towards the fag end of the season saw them concede a precious lead at the top of the table, with rivals <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/title-agony-jordan-henderson-ex-liverpool-star-goal-psv-confirm-ajax-historic-eredivisie-bottle-job/blt37f4339fcc60fc71" target="_blank">PSV Eindhoven eventually edging Ajax by just one point to lift the league title</a>. Over a month after he stepped down from the role, Farioli has now opened up on his exit from the Amsterdam Arena and shed light on how he'll choose his next destination.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Farioli spoke about his future. He said: “What I hope to do is to remain open and curious as I have been up until now. I want to find a context that is willing to work with the same principles and the same intensity that I have always tried to put into practice. This is a criterion that I consider fundamental when evaluating new opportunities. In recent years, I have accumulated a lot of life and work experience, so now I am in no rush. I want to choose my next step carefully, regardless of the prestige of the club or the championship. “For me, it is important to work in an environment where you can operate according to a certain way of doing things, which is clear and shared. It is important to clarify from the outset what you like and what could instead create conflict: confrontation is normal in any relationship, but it must be managed and oriented towards the final result. It is precisely these small details, these small points that often decide the success of a season or, on the contrary, lead to less positive situations."

WHAT FRANCESCO FARIOLI SAID

Farioli went on to explain his philosophy as a head coach and reflected on his unexpected departure from Ajax. He said: “It is essential to have a solid, cohesive team with a shared vision. In recent years, I have always worked with a group of six key staff members, each with a clear role: two assistants, a fitness coach, a recovery manager for injured players [added during the job], a fitness coach and a video analyst. However, we cannot ignore the people who are already present at the club. Our task, as a team integrating into a new reality, is to immediately put in place what we need, but also to listen to those who know the club, the league and the context. We did this in Nice and also in Amsterdam. In the end, the coaching staff consisted of 14 people: six with me and the others already working at Ajax. The common desire to work and put our enthusiasm and skills at the service of the team was one of the key factors of the season. “One of the reasons that led me to leave Ajax was also linked to a deeper reflection: at a high level, nowadays, extremely specific skills are required. It is no longer enough to have a generic squad or a structure that only works ‘when everything goes well’. You need a system ready to deal with the worst possible scenario – from a tactical, physical, emotional and managerial point of view. In all situations, you need to have the right tools and resources. From the most predictable to the most unexpected cases. And that is precisely what often keeps me awake at night: the idea of what could happen, the responsibility of being ready for anything.“I am not an Italian defensive coach , but someone who is able to free up players and get them to create a lot of chances in the final third of the pitch. I think that is what I really try to do every day on the bench."

WHY DID FARIOLI LEAVE AJAX?

Farioli was appointed as the new Ajax manager in May 2024 on a three-year contract. After a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, the Italian aimed to stabilise the squad by opting for a disciplined defensive setup. The Godenzonen were impressive throughout the league campaign and had a sizeable nine-point lead heading into the final stretch of the season. However, a string of poor results saw PSV overtake Ajax on the penultimate matchday and ultimately clinch the Eredivisie title. According to Farioli, there were internal disagreements on tactics, transfer policy, and budget constraints, which led <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/ajax-manager-francesco-farioli-quits-eredivisie-title-race-collapse-erik-ten-hag-candidate-to-return/blte320f7a0eed27ec5#cs039fae5ccd737db7" target="_blank">Farioli to mutually part ways with Ajax</a> on May 19, 2025. "The management and I have the same goals for the future of Ajax, but we have different visions and timeframes about the way we should work and operate to achieve those goals," the 36-year-old Italian said in a statement published on the club website. "Given these differences in the principles and foundations of the project, I feel deep in my heart that this is the best moment to part ways."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Portuguese outlet <a href="https://www.abola.pt/futebol/noticias/farioli-quero-escolher-cuidadosamente-o-meu-proximo-passo-2025070108515962293" target="_blank">A Bola</a>, Farioli is linked with the Porto head coach role, with club president Andre Villas-Boas in particular determined to appoint the 36-year-old as Martin Anselmi's successor. The Portuguese giants experienced a troublesome 2024-25 season, during which they changed managers mid-season for the first time since the 2015-16 season. There has been a lot of unrest among the Porto faithful, too, who <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/porto-attack-police-fire-rubber-bullets-fans-team-bus-airport-president-andre-villas-boas-quit-club-world-cup-campaign/blt32287b76c04a3154#csd8ce54b5fcd3e955" target="_blank">protested for the resignation of Villas-Boas following the club's shock group stage exit from the Club World Cup</a>.

WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCESCO FARIOLI?

'It keeps me awake at night!' - Francesco Farioli opens up on surprise Ajax departure and discusses his playing style as Porto swoop to hire young coach | Goal.com

Former Ajax coach Francesco Farioli opened up on his surprise departure from the club in May and also shed light on his plans for the future.

&apos;It keeps me awake at night!&apos; - Francesco Farioli opens up on surprise Ajax departure and discusses his playing style as Porto swoop to hire young coach

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