Brian Brobbey, the Sunderland striker named in the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup, has reflected on his sole season under Francesco Farioli at Ajax in 2024/25.
“There were not many goals, but other things went well. Holding the ball, helping the team. Farioli always told me to keep going and that I was very important in his eyes,” he said, speaking to Vi.
“I took that with me, that I always have to keep going. He kept choosing me. It was not the season I expected at Ajax, but he saw my value and what I did for the team. So I look back positively.”
Under Farioli in 2024/25, the 24-year-old recorded seven goals and seven assists in 44 appearances for Ajax, and the club ended the season without a trophy.
Brobbey left Ajax for Sunderland in the same summer Farioli departed for Porto. In his debut campaign in England he scored seven goals and supplied one assist in 32 matches, helping the newly promoted side finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League.