Ajax are confident new boss Maurice Steijn can guide them to Eredivisie glory next season.
The Dutch giants finished a staggering 13 points behind champions Feyenoord as they limped home in third place last term.
But director of football Sven Mislintat believes Steijn, whose three-year deal kicks in on July 1, is the right man to put the club back on top.
Mislintat said: "Maurice is now roughly 20 years active as a trainer in professional football, of which 10 years [have been] as head coach.
"With all the clubs he worked for, the results exceeded expectations. He has shown multiple times with his teams that he is a real overperformer.
"He is ready for a step up, I'm sure of that.
"Furthermore, we are carefully composing the technical staff surrounding Maurice to a complementary whole.
"At the end of June, the first players will report at Sportpark de Toekomst and the preparation for the new season will begin.
"I'm happy that the most important trainer position is now filled."
Stein, 49, will leave his job as Sparta Rotterdam's head coach at the end of the month.
He will be joined at Ajax by Said Bakkati, who previously worked with the club's second string in 2015-16.
