Club Profile - Ajax
AFC Ajax, also known as Ajax Amsterdam or Ajax, are a Dutch football club based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The club is one of the three teams that dominate Dutch football, along with PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. Historically, Ajax is one of the most successful
clubs in Europe, officially declared the 7th most successful club in the 20th Century by FIFA. Ajax have been playing their home games at the Amsterdam Arena since 1996. The stadium seats just over 51,000 fans.
Ajax have been particularly successful in Europe, being the only team to win the trophy consecutively for three years straight from 1971-73. This achievement meant that they were awarded a trophy to keep at their stadium, something only four other clubs
have which are; Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, A.C. Milan and Liverpool. The club is also known for being the pioneer of Total Football, a footballing system where all players on the field are interchangeable and are equally gifted in all positions on the pitch.
The 1970’s were the most successful decade for the club as they dominated both on the domestic front and in Europe. The three European cup wins meant that they were regarded as one of the strongest teams in Europe and their five league titles, and three
Dutch Cups during that decade meant that their dominance was at an all time high, something very few clubs have managed in Europe, and indeed the world.
The club has a reputation in Europe of producing talented young players throughout its history. Much of the credit for this goes to their commendable youth policy which centres around a flourishing youth program. The program is responsible for the creation
of star players like Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Edwin van der Sar, Patrick Kluivert and one of the best forwards of all time, and former Dutch coach, Marco van Basten. These players have gone on to do exceptional things in the world of football and it
is astonishing how the club continues to produce more each year.
More recent players coming from the Ajax youth program include Nigel de Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Ryan Babel, Rafael van der Vaart, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Eljero Elia and John Heitinga. All these players are part of the Dutch squad and even made their way to
the final of the World Cup in South Africa.
Ajax have been criticized for cashing in on their talented players way too early and not retaining enough of them in order to dominate club football as they once did. Last season the club failed to lift the league title, finishing second behind Eredivisie Champions,
F.C. Twente.
The current place in the UEFA Champions league, which will bring in some much needed revenue to help finance transfers and retain some of their promising stars including the highly rated right back Gregory van der Wiel who is being linked with a move away
from the club after being impressive for the Dutch at the World Cup. Ajax will be hoping to add to their 29 league titles next season and with the talent at their disposal, they are favourties to restore some of their lost glory.
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