Amsterdam giant in shambles: What on earth is going on with Ajax? 

AFC Ajax is arguably one of the Netherlands' greatest football clubs with a jaw-dropping history and legacy. Great Ajax icons such as Cruyff, Keizer, Rijkaard, and Van Basten to name a few, shaped the way we see modern-day football. Now the club is in complete shambles, struggling to stay alive in the Eredivisie!

Ajax fans, renowned for their 'extreme' behavior, have been under the spotlight recently after declaring an open war with their own club! Scenes from 'de Klassieker' against Feyenoord on September 27 resembled something out of a low-budget apocalyptic film.

A large group of Ajax supporters were spotted vandalizing their way into the Johan Cruyff Arena before the game, voicing their frustrations with the club's current situation.

All hell broke loose after Feyenoord scored their third unanswered goal of the first half. Ajax hooligans known as the 'F-Side' launched flares that rained down on the pitch causing an abandonment. The game was a ticking time bomb.

Riot police and tear gas were deployed all around the stadium, as crowds began to violently clash with police. Eventually, the order was restored that day, but the damage had already been done.

This implosion has been on the horizon ever since the departure of Erik ten Hagg. After their legendary 2018-19 season, where Ajax reached the Champions League semifinals, the club has been on a negative downward spiral.

The Ajax board of directors felt it was time for a change, and hired Sven Mislitat as their new director of football in March 2023. Mislitat was nicknamed 'diamantenauge' for his uncanny ability to sniff out talents made him incredibly successful at Borussia Dortmund. He recruited Robert Lowandoski, Ousmane Dembele Mats Hummels and Jadon Sancho!

Mislitat's reputation nosedived after questionable moves during the 2023 summer transfer window. The sales of Jurrien Timber, Edson Alvarez, and Mohammed Kudus sure increased the club's finances but left a major talent void.

By the end of the summer transfer window, Ajax spent over $106m on new players, a remarkable amount when analyzing Eredivisie standards. (Transfermarket.com) To make matters worse, several of the incoming transfers also involved the controversial agent Vlado Lemic, who is under investigation for tax fraud.

Sport-wise, the season started off alright with a 4-1 victory over Heracles Almelo, nevertheless, it would only last a week before the team crumbled. Following a 3-3 Europa League draw against Marseille, the team has struggled to score goals. In fact, they have not won a game since!

Sven Mislitat poached Maurice Steijn from Rotterdam as the new head coach. During the first couple weeks on the job, both individuals would constantly clash over transfer strategies and squad depth. "We as staff put forward our ideas but Mislintat has made different choices", shared Steijn during an interview.

There was a clear division between the coaching staff and the board over the squad's ability to achieve their goals. The fans could sense it, and so could the players.

There is an ongoing investigation regarding Borna Sosa's transfer deal, involving Ajax, Dynamo Zagreb, and Stuttgart. The deadline-day purchase resented a serious conflict of interest on Mislintat's behalf.

Sosa is represented by an agency that operates under Mislintat's sphere of influence. The deal itself went against Ajax's own corporate governance practices. Was there any hidden motive behind the deal?

The Ajax fanbase is very irritated, head coach Steijn is caught up in sideline drama, and the board of directors has no idea of what the hell is going on!

The Ajax board of directors took the executive decision to rescind their collaboration with Mislintat. "Ajax has ended the collaboration with director of football Scen Mislintat with immediate effect. The lack of board support within the organization is the reason behind this decision," shared the club during a press statement.

While the Ajax board of directors sort out their own backyards, what matters most now is the survival of the club. The team needs a win desperately in order to climb out of 16th place, clean up the air, and rally the fans in what is shaping to be a season full of hardships.