{"product_id":"9781801507059","title":"The Ajax Way : How One Football Club Defines the Modern Game by Dylan O'Connell","description":"In 1894 a group of friends had an idea and it led to the creation of Ajax, a football club for the people of Amsterdam. More than one hundred years later and that club has become an institution for youth development, a school of ideas that underpins the modern game and a club synonymous with the Total Football ideal.   The Dutch superpower created a way of playing that is now accepted as the norm by European titans AC Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United - as well as a host of national teams.   The Ajax Way tells the full history of the club while looking at the reaches of Total Football: the way of playing perfected by Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. It traces the club's rise as a social hub for the people of Amsterdam to the creation of a team that would win three consecutive European Cups in the early 1970s; and added a fourth in 1995 under Louis Van Gaal.   It reveals a host of footballing greats - players and coaches - who have been undoubtedly influenced by Ajax, from early day pioneers through to current day icons Pep Guardiola and J?rgen Klopp. Packed with tactical insight and social history, it is a story that spans three centuries and stretches across the globe, but at its core is Ajax Amsterdam and their roster of stars.\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307006931317,"sku":"9781801507059","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781801507059.jpg?v=1762802782","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781801507059","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}