UEFA Champions League: What can one expect from
Ajax in this year’s Champions League?
Group G of this season’s edition of UEFA Champions league was billed as the group of death as soon as the draws were made. Perennial European giants AC Milan and Real Madrid were to face each other for the second season in a row.
The two clubs were joined by Ajax Amsterdam and AJ Auxerre. Whereas AJ Auxerre is relatively new to the competition, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Ajax are three of the most successful clubs in the history of the competition. This trio has won twenty European
cups amongst themselves. Real Madrid has the highest number of trophies at nine followed by Milan with seven. Ajax also has a rich history in the competition with four trophies. Milan and Real Madrid have kept the trophies coming over the decades but Ajax
has gradually fallen from grace in the last decade or so. Once called a European giant, Ajax has been struggling to make an impact in the Dutch Eredivisie in recent seasons.
The legendary Ajax team of the early seventies won consecutive trophies between 1971 and 1973. The football that the Godenzonen played was termed ‘total football.’ The legendary Johan Cruijff, flanked by likes of Sjaak Swart and
Johan Neeskens formed the foundations for one of the most successful teams in the history of club football. Most of the players were groomed in the illustrious Ajax youth academy. The only jersey number that Ajax ever retired is that of Cruijff. His number
14 at Ajax will never be donned by another player.
With the departure of Cruijff to FC Barcelona in 1973, the success dried up. Ajax failed to make a significant impact on the European stage until the late 80’s. Inspirational coach Louis Van Gaal was a major factor in the revival.
Not even Arsene Wenger comes to close to the Legendary Dutchmen when it comes to grooming youngsters. This has certainly been proven right by the way Van Gaal introduced young prodigies in to the Bayern Munich set up. Ajax finally managed a fourth trophy in
1995 when the mighty AC Milan was defeated by an Ajax team comprising of such talents such as Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert. Things were looking bright as Ajax made it to the finals again two years running only to be cruelly defeated
by Marcello Lippi’s Juventus.
With the introduction of the Bosman ruling, clubs like Ajax suffered huge setbacks as young prodigies left at will. The famed Ajax academy also stopped producing talents on a conveyor belt like it used to. The club was slowly descending
in to the abyss of mediocrity. Their domestic dominance was lost and the club hasn’t won a domestic title since 2004.
Appointing Martin Jol has so far seemed to be a good decision, as he took over in 2009 and has produced steady results since. Ajax’s greatest achievement this season was keeping hold of Gregory van der Wiel, Jan Vertonghen, Maarten
Stekelenburg, and Luis Suarez. These players form the backbone of the current Ajax team. Encouraged by the improved performances in the league, better players are sure to join. Ajax has lost its golden talents to Italian and Spanish clubs in the past, as the
likes of Wesley Sneijder, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Van der Vaart have moved on to greater things. This practice of losing such talents to bigger clubs has to stop.
This seasons Champions League edition might be a challenge too soon for the Dutch team. The star power of AC Milan and Real Madrid and their pedigree in the competition will simply be too much this year. A realistic target for
this season will be qualifying for the Europa League through a third placed finish. If they manage to keep hold of their key players for a couple of more seasons, who is to say they won’t be challenging for European Honours in coming years.
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