Spanish Coach Michel Takes Over Ajax After Disappointing Season

Michel Appointed Ajax Head Coach

According to Главком: Ajax Amsterdam has brought in Spanish manager Michel as their new head coach, replacing Oscar Garcia, who had been in charge since March. During the interim period, Fred Grim served as the club's temporary coach. Ajax finished the 2025/26 season without any silverware, placing fifth in the Eredivisie and suffering early exits from both the KNVB Cup and the Champions League.

Who Is Michel?

Born in Madrid, Michel is a product of Rayo Vallecano's youth system and is considered a club legend there. He began his coaching career at Rayo Vallecano in 2012 and took over the first team in February 2017. Under his leadership, Rayo Vallecano won the Segunda Division in the 2017/18 season. In 2019, Michel moved to Huesca, where he also secured a Segunda Division title. Before the 2021/22 campaign, he joined Girona, guiding them to La Liga promotion in his first season and finishing third in La Liga with the club in his third season. However, Girona was relegated from La Liga in the 2025/26 season.

Ajax's 2025/26 campaign was marked by poor results. The team ended up fifth in the domestic league and missed out on Champions League playoff contention, managing just two wins against six losses in the group stage. In the KNVB Cup, Ajax was eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 6-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar. As a result, Ajax will compete in the Conference League next season.

This appointment underscores Ajax's ambition to bounce back after four consecutive trophy-less seasons. Michel brings a track record of revitalizing struggling teams, and his mission will be to restore Ajax's competitiveness both domestically and in Europe. The move signals a fresh chapter for a club eager to reclaim its status among Europe's elite.