Ajax appoints Spanish coach Míchel, who led Girona for five years

Ajax has appointed Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, known as Míchel, as their new head coach, signing a two-year contract. Míchel, who led Girona FC for the past five seasons, brings a reputation for emphasizing possession-based football and patient build-up play, a style often associated with Spanish coaches.

During his tenure at Girona, Míchel achieved significant success, including promotion to Spain's top league, La Liga, in 2022. The club became known for its attractive style of play and even competed for the Spanish title in the 2023-24 season, ultimately securing a third-place finish and qualification for the Champions League. This marked a remarkable rise for a club that had primarily played in Spain's lower divisions.

However, Girona's journey under Míchel also saw a downturn. The team's performance faltered in their Champions League debut, securing only three points in the group stage. The subsequent season ended in relegation from La Liga. This decline was partly attributed to the sales of key players like Artem Dovbyk and Aleix García, and Savinho's move to Manchester City, a club also part of the City Football Group. Míchel's previous promotions with Rayo Vallecano and SD Huesca also ended in relegation after he had departed.

Míchel's arrival at Ajax is seen in conjunction with the appointment of technical director Jordi Cruijff. Cruijff had previously brought in Óscar García as coach for Jong Ajax. Míchel's preference for positional play and ball possession aligns with a philosophy that aims to develop young players, a strategy that saw success at Girona with players specifically recruited for his system.