Ajax Amsterdam have confirmed the appointment of Francesco Farioli as coach, effective next month, according to a statement.
Ajax, the four-time European winners, signed the 35-year-old Italian to a three-year contract, putting an end to years of speculation that Farioli would move from French club Nice to the Dutch giants.
Farioli will take over for interim coach John van’t Schip following Ajax’s disastrous Eredivisie season, in which they finished fifth, their lowest since 1999-2000.
“I am very happy to be here in Amsterdam, and together with the other staff members we will work diligently,” Francesco Farioli said on Thursday.
“We want to get back to basics and connect with what Ajax stands for. We also want to bring new energy with a positive way of working and thinking.
“We don’t want to waste any time and get ready for the start of the season now to bring Ajax back to where it belongs.”
Francesco Farioli becomes the first foreign coach at Ajax since Dane Morten Olsen in 1997.
On Wednesday, Dutch media reported that Ajax would pay Nice 1.25 million euros in compensation.
Francesco Farioli led Nice to fifth place in Ligue 1 last season. He has coached Fatih Karagumruk and Alanyaspor before joining Nice last year.
