Between 2010 and 2016, we worked alongside Johan Cruyff to fundamentally reform Ajax and rebuild its famed but ailing academy. Plan Cruyff was a strategy focused on long-term value creation. It sparked a seismic shift for the club and positively changed Dutch football. In 2017, Ajax reached the Europa League final with the youngest team ever. Two years later, an impressive Champions League stint ended in the semifinals. Ajax's equity more than quadrupled and homegrown talent accounted for an explosion in transfer revenues. A source of multiple innovations, Plan Cruyff set a benchmark in club reform and inspired many.
In 2000, Belgium introduced a national youth football plan inspired by and partly modelled after Johan Cruyff's vision. One of its visionary leaders was Bob Browaeys, one of our experts who has managed and implemented the national reforms ever since. Ten years later, the country began to reap the fruits with a surge in world-class talent that ultimately transpired into the Nr 1 position on the FIFA ranking. An icon of national football reform, the Belgian story showcases how fundamental changes in talent identification, development philosophies and match formats can transform a nation's football fortunes.
From 2019 to 2023, we transformed FC Volendam from a small Dutch village club into a successful international talent hub producing world-class talent. After fundamental reforms in all departments, the club rose from 16th position in the second league to 14th in Eredivisie whilst boasting the lowest average age in both divisions. Operational revenue tripled, both club league transfer records were shattered and international elite clubs lined up to partner in talent development. Deemed impossible by many at the start, this project demonstrates that club size is irrelevant if the formula is right.
After the surprise 2004 European Championship victory, Greek football stagnated for over a decade: an ageing talent pool, fragmented youth development and a steady slide down the FIFA ranking. OneForTheGame collaborated with the Hellenic Football Federation and Super League clubs to design Project Rebirth, a national youth plan reforming the ecosystem from grassroots to elite level. The plan defines a clear Greek football identity and development methodology, and modernises match formats, talent identification and coach development. The first reforms have been introduced and implementation is ongoing across clubs and regions. Early indicators are encouraging — including a Nations League promotion with one of Europe's youngest squads — while the plan's full impact on Greece's talent pipeline remains a long-term ambition that will unfold over the coming years.
Olympiacos engaged OneForTheGame to conduct an extensive, independent audit of its complete talent development ecosystem — from the academy and B team to the pathways into the first team. The audit covered talent development, talent identification, governance and football strategy. We assessed the full technical organisation, including its key roles, responsibilities, functions, structures and decision-making processes. By examining how these elements worked together across the entire player pathway, we identified strengths, development opportunities and potential sources of value leakage. We translated our findings into clear strategic recommendations for the board, providing an evidence-based foundation for strengthening the club's talent pipeline and long-term football strategy.