Team Focus: History Maker De Boer Going Nowhere for Now

Béla Guttmann, the legendary Hungarian manager, hypothesised the third year for a successful coach would be "fatal". Not for Frank de Boer, who is closing in on securing Ajax their 33rd Eredivisie title and the fourth in a row under his tenure.
 
"The standard-bearer of Dutch football" according to De Telegraaf, a large part is due to Ajax’s unwavering commitment to progressive football and development. 13 of the 25 players De Boer has used this season have come through their academy – having promoted 10 of them himself. As many as 9 of those have made 15 or more appearances, with six self-trained players featuring in Ajax's strongest XI according to WhoScored ratings.

"They no longer depend on one player," says former player turned analyst Jan van Halst, which is very much the case. They're not built around one or two individuals and goals – of which there have been 66 to now - are shared around. Ajax have had 20 different scorers (their highest individual scorer has 10) equalling an Eredivisie record. "Anyone can make the difference," in De Boer's own words.
 
This slick collective spirit, central to his coaching philosophy, is why they're once again first among equals. His approach, seen in some quarters as mundane, enables them to control games – they’ve lost only five of their last 80 league games – creating numerous scoring opportunities (16 per game).

The "house style", as he calls it, essentially follows the principle ideas behind totaalvoetbal; namely exploiting space, players interchanging positions, and dominating the ball (averaging 530 short passes per game). It allows Ajax to pass the opposition into submission whilst conserving energy. "I know [the traditional approach] like the back of my hand. This is my club." No team averages more possession (62.3%) in the Eredivisie.

Going into the penultimate weekend Ajax, currently on the fourth longest unbeaten top flight run (20 games) in Europe, have only suffered three defeats in the Eredivisie. The last came in November and while one was a comprehensive loss the other two were by a single goal.

Since taking charge, in December 2010, they've played 37 matches in the Eredivisie between the months of March and May winning 32 and losing just once. This is largely down to a training program designed to have them at their optimum best in the final months. The difference this season, unlike the last three, is that they haven't been chasing, sitting top since game week 18.

If we break it down there's been two sides to Ajax. There are the entertainers: with half of their victories coming by three or more goals, and the well-oiled machine: winning nine games (45%) by just one goal. Nevertheless, they're averaging 2.06 league goals per game, which is their lowest under De Boer (2.12 in 2010-11, 2.73 in 2011-12 and 2.44 in 2012-13).
 
Ultimately De Boer has found equilibrium between defence and attack. However the foundation behind their success this season is the former – "defence wins championships" as famed basketball coach Dave Thorson once said. Ajax have the league's meanest (25 conceded), keeping a clean sheet in 15 of their 32 games.

14 of those clean sheets have come with Jasper Cillessen (7.14) between the posts. He does more than just keep the ball out, playing a pivotal role as their 'sweeper-keeper'. Cillessen acts like an extra outfield player: recycling possession, keeping circulation of the ball flowing (31 passes per game), and re-launching attacks.

 
De Boer’s unprecedented success – on the brink of becoming the first Eredivisie manager, and only the fifth in Europe's historic top seven leagues to achieve a four-peat – in such a short span of time hasn't gone unnoticed outside the Netherlands. He's still developing – feeling now is not the time for a foreign adventure – and sees plenty of challenges still to tackle.

Ajax’s 5-1 mauling at the hands of PEC Zwolle in this year's KNVB Beker final over the weekend served as a reminder that their game is far from complete. It shouldn't, though, overshadow nor define what has been another progressive season, considering many in De Boer's squad are playing 20 plus games at the highest level for the first time: 15 (of the 25) are 22 or under. "Hopefully in two years' time we'll see them really move forward and then this team may well be the best I've led".

Ronald Koeman, the second longest serving Eredivisie manager, on the other hand will step down at season's end but not before leaving Feyenoord in a healthier position than he inherited in 2011. Finishes of second, third and second again put 'the club on the Meuse' on a good footing to win a first championship since 1999. But it won't be this year. They've left it too late; winning their last six games on the bounce – scoring 15 goals and conceding in one – has felt bittersweet. Their win tally (19) is just one less than that of Ajax but they've lost four games more, including twice against the champions.
 
It's a matter of whether the championship is clinched in Almelo on Sunday or at home to NEC the following week. De Boer then has a shot at immortality. Only one manager in Europe's top seven divisions has achieved a five-peat, Miguel Muñoz, who Guttmann defeated in the 1962 European Cup final in Amsterdam.

On the back of outlining his ambition to be the "Ferguson of Ajax" De Boer's employers wanted to hand him a lifetime contract. It's unlikely he'll remain for a quarter of a century, but he will for the next two years at least. "If I'm still having fun in 2016 then I sign for another three years. I'll then be on my way to those ten years I spoke about."

Is Frank De Boer right to stay on at Ajax? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below