Michael van Praag will almost certainly return to Ajax, he confirmed in conversation with NOS. The 76-year-old club icon is in his second term as chairman of the supervisory board. A supervisory board member must still give her blessing for this, according to Van Praag. “We live in a democracy and we also have rules.”
It emerged on Thursday afternoon that Van Praag is set to return to the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The Ajax player must succeed the controversial Pier Eringa, who resigned from his duties as supervisory board chairman a day earlier. Van Praag previously held that position from 1989 to 2003. He did not have to think long when he was offered a second employment contract.
“Ajax is my club and I can see that things are in full swing here,” says Van Praag. The fact that Leo van Wijk – honorary member of the Amsterdam team – is also coming along only strengthens the sports director’s decision. However, the duo still has to be nominated. “At the time of discussion, this is not yet the case. We are still waiting for one supervisory board member, who is still on the plane. She must also give her blessing. That should then lead to a nomination for the General Meeting of Shareholders and I believe that is on November 17 (November 10, ed.).”
If Van Praag gets the green light, he knows what he has to do. “I want to talk to the hard core and the supporters’ associations,” said the Amsterdammer. “I want to listen to how they view the club. And also just ask: please give us the chance. And I want to talk to the labor organization. But I will be a supervisor, not a director. In principle I will not come or hardly in the news and we will support the management.”
Background Of Prague And Van Wijk
Van Praag was active as chairman of Ajax for fourteen years between 1989 and 2003. He is the son of the legendary sports director Jaap van Praag, who has meant a lot in the history of the Dutch record champion. Van Praag himself was involved in several successes of the Amsterdam team. In his previous term at the club, Ajax won, among others, the UEFA Cup (1992), Champions League (1995), the World Cup for Club Teams (1995) and the European Super Cup (1995). During that period, Ajax also won the national title six times, the cup four times and the Johan Cruijff Shield four times. Van Praag is also in the picture to become chairman of the Dutch Basketball Association, it was announced NOS announced on Thursday.
Van Wijk is a childhood friend of Johan Cruijff and former CEO of KLM airline. As a football player, he made it to the second team of Ajax and joined the supervisory board in 2012, of which he eventually became chairman.