AFC Ajax
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Ajax Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, or simply Ajax) is a football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands. They play in the Eredivisie, which is the highest football competition in The Netherlands. Players like Johan Cruyff, Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jari Litmanen played for this club.
| Full name | Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax NV | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | March 18, 1900 | ||
| Ground | Johan Cruyff Arena Amsterdam (capacity: 52,960[1]) | ||
| Chairman | Frank Eijken | ||
| League | Eredivisie | ||
| 2024-2025 | Eredivisie, 2nd | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| |||
History
The club was founded on March 18, 1900. The founders were Floris Stempel, Carel Reeser and Johan Dade. It was the second attempt to found Ajax. In 1894 they tried it too. Ajax is named after the mythological hero Ajax the Great.
Ajax promoted to the highest level in 1911. Their coach was Jack Kirwan. Because Sparta Rotterdam had almost the same kit (clothes), they had to change it.
Stadium
The name of the stadium is Amsterdam ArenA and has an attendance (which means the number of seats) of about 52.000. The Amsterdam ArenA was opened on 14 August 1996 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Their previous stadium was named De Meer.
League position
| Season | League | Position |
| 2000/01 | Eredivisie | 3rd |
| 2001/02 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2002/03 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2003/04 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2004/05 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2005/06 | Eredivisie | 4th |
| 2006/07 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2007/08 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2008/09 | Eredivisie | 3rd |
| 2009/10 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2010/11 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2011/12 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2012/13 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2013/14 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2014/15 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2015/16 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2016/17 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2017/18 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
| 2018/19 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2019/20 | Eredivisie | Champions (Season Abandoned) |
| 2020/21 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2021/22 | Eredivisie | Champions |
| 2022/23 | Eredivisie | 3rd |
| 2023/24 | Eredivisie | 5th |
| 2024/25 | Eredivisie | 2nd |
Former position
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Players
Current squad
- As of 3 February 2026[2]
Out on loan
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Retired numbers
- 14 – File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Johan Cruyff (Forward, 1964–73, 1981–83). Number retired on 25 April 2007 at Cruyff's 60th birthday celebration match.[3]
Notes:
- ↑ Number 34 has not been used since Abdelhak Nouri (who played for Ajax from 2015 to 2017) suffered extreme cardiac arrhythmia in a friendly match against Werder Bremen,[4] but the number is not officially retired.
AFC Ajax Media
Ajax's former squad in 1900
Johan Cruyff played at Ajax from 1959 to 1973, and from 1981 to 1983, winning 3 European Cups; his No. 14 is the only squad number Ajax has ever retired. Cruyff came back to manage the club from 1985 to 1988.
Against Panathinaikos in the 1971 European Cup Final
Cruijff, seen here with van Basten and Rijkaard, returned as manager in 1985.
Against Chelsea in UEFA Champion League 2019-2020
2011 AFC Ajax team wearing its home kit by adidas with the AEGON sponsor across the chest, ahead of its UEFA Champions League match against Olympique Lyonnais.
Jong Ajax against NEC in the Eerst divisie in 2018
De Amsterdam ArenA tijdens de wedstrijd AFC Ajax - RKC Waalwijk op 15-09-2012.
Ajax supporters celebrating the club's 30th Dutch national championship in 2011
Supporters with Israeli flags in 2008
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References
- ↑ Amsterdam Arena – Did you know?Amsterdam Arena. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
- ↑ All information about Ajax 1 - Ajax.nlAFC Ajax. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ↑ Cruijff viert 60ste verjaardag lo (25 April 2007)De Ondernemer. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ↑ Abdelhak Nouri Collapses on Pitch During Ajax Friendly vs. Werder Bremen Archived 15 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine on Bleach Report, 8 July 2017