Serious Business

The innovative programs are at De Toekomst are designed to nurture, guide and support their young charges, but make no mistake: football is a business, and the youth academies are not charity; if a player is not good enough to make it in the next round, he will be dismissed to make room for someone else.

Consequently, there is an unmistakeable work ethic and sense of professionalism, even among the youngest players.

Disciplined behavior is emphasized at every opportunity by the club. Each player carries a rule book and knows exactly what is expected of him. The young footballers are forbidden from carrying cellphones, or from wearing earrings or baseball caps.

Anyone breaching these rules in public is deemed to be breaking the Ajax code and harming the club's image, according to Ajax. Repeated violations of even the most superficial rules of conduct will lead to dismissal.