The history of AFC Ajax.

[soccer fanatic]

I will tell Ajax complete history. It has 18 parts, two parts a post.
Please dont post between the history parts, after the last post you can post everything you want.


1893-1900: The pre-history.

A handful of friends, under supervision of Han Dade decide to found a club in 1894, this club is named Footh ball club Ajax.
Not much is known about this time piriod, except that fair play was important and they played against opposition from Amsterdam. In 1896 the ground Ajax played on was used for building and a lot of players left Ajax to go elsewhere. Ajax where near the end.

1900-1907: The foundation.

On 18-03-1900 Ajax was officially founded by the three friends Dade, Reeser and Stempel. The club joined the AVB (Amsterdam Football Association). They did this to become succesfull after their anonymous period. The first period wemt reasonably well and they won their first prize, for best goal average. They played their matches on a rected field in Amsterdam north.


End of part one, eight to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part two.


1907-1910: The first succes.

In 1902 Ajax were welcomed in the NVB (Dutch Football association).
in 1907 Ajax were forced to find a new place to play, they went to the Middenweg. Their were no dressing rooms but more room for training fields and a good location for transportation. The players used the bar at the other side of the street to change. The new location brought succes to Ajax. Ajax won 1n 1907/1908 the golden cross, a prize which could (and still can be on amateur level in Amsterdam) be won since 1902. In that time only the best 8 teams of the region could compete.
This is also the period where the first real stadium came of Ajax het "Houten Stadion" or in English the Wooden Stadium.

1910-1917: The highest level.

In 1910 the Ajax board of directors decided that it was time to go the the first division. To reach the first division, they came up with the plan to get a British trainer. it became Irishmen John Kirwan.
Ajax won the championship in 1911 and after promotion/degradation matches they promoted to the first division. After the promotion Ajax changed in their red and white striped shirt for their current one lane shirt. They did this because Sparta had the same shirts to prevent confusion. Left midfielder Ge Fortgens became the first Ajax player to play in the Dutch National Team.


End of part two, seven to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part three.


1917-1919: Natinal Champions.

After our promotion soon came disappointment, in the season 1913/1914 Ajax degradates back to the 2nd division. A couple of players leave to other clubs. Jack Reynolds builds on what is left of Ajax and make them champions three times in a row, promotion is missed every time in the promotion/degradation matches. in 1917 Ajax go back to the first division, due to a big surprise. The NVB promotes 8 teams to the first division, klasse B, Ajax to their relief can go directly to the first division, klasse A. Reason for this is that they were all 2nd division champions. Ajax seized their given chance and came back with a bang by winning the championship in 1918, Ajax didn`t lose a single match, in the nineties this would also be accomplished. One player, enfant terrible Jan de Natris misses the match because he fell asleep in the train. Ajax beat Willem II in the championships match. Coach Jack Reynolds is until now and probably forever the longest sitting Ajax coach. (33 years, only shortly paused due to WWII and a short 3 year period with rivals Blauw-Wit)

1920-1929: The bad years.

A unsuccesfull period for Ajax. They came close a few times but didn`t win a trophy. In 1925 Jack Reynolds leaves and he comes back in 1928. Several players left and there were also injury problems. Absolute low is the 16-2 defeat against Rapid Wien. Ajax did get a new club logo.


End of part three, six parts to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part four.


1929-1939: The golden century.

Until the glory days of the early seventies, this is Ajax most succesfull period. In ten years time Ajax win 7 times the regional championship and 5 times the national championship.
Part of the reason of the succes was captain Wim Anderiesen, the only Ajax player who has the honour of having a street named after him.

1940-1945: The war years.

The fifth decennia of Ajax started with a sad period, the second World War. football was no longer an important part of live, it was just a destraction. Trainer Jack Reybolds became prisoner of war and was put in a "work camp". In that camp he organised matches between several countries who were there. In 1941 the Germans didn`t allow jews to be a member of a mixed sport team. This also counted for Ajax. Even though Ajax already had the name of being a Jewish club, this rule mostly was pointed to the visitors of the club. People from the Amsterdam middleclass, which for a big part were Jews. No Ajax members were killed during the war. In 1944 playing was no longer an option due to the Hunger Winter. A lot of people died in Holland at that time.


End of part four, five parts to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part five.


1945-1954: The reconstruction.

Three weeks after the liberation Ajax started playing matches again. In October Ajax coach Jack Reynolds returns. Ajax won the "section" championship, the national overall title was still to high.
On 5-7-1947 Rinus Michels is part for the first time of Ajax, Ajax win the national title.

1960-1965: Silence before the storm.
Not a succesfull period, but not bad either. Under English coach Vic Buckingham Ajax played some good matches, but couldn`t win championship titles. Ajax did win the KNVB beker now known as the Amstel Cup. Ajax desire to be a European force wasn`t realistic in this period, Ajax couldn`t compete in Europe.
The season 1964-1965 is an absolute low point in the history of Ajax. They were three points away from degradation and Vic Buckingham left Ajax, he resigned. The Ajax board under supervision of Ajax president Jaap van Praag gave the job to Rinus Michels. Michels became the first Dutch coach of Ajax with a permanent position as coach. Michels brought Ajax to the European top.


End of part five, four to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part six.


1965-1971: On the way to the European top.

With the arrival of Rinus Michels, nicknamed The Sfinx, proffesionalism was announced. michels played attacking and attractive, the playing style Ajax still plays today. In six years time Ajax become champions for four times and KNVB beker winners for three times. In the season 1966/1967 they win their first double. Johan Cruiff and piet Keizer contribute to a record scoring in a season, 122.
Ajax also has its breaktrough in Europe. Ajax become the first Dutch team to reach the final of the Europa Cup I, now known as the Champions League. Ajax loses 4-1 to AC Milan. From that moment Ajax became a European force.

1971-1973: European glory.

In 1973 Johan Cruijff left Ajax, partly because of his loss of being captain of Ajax to Piet Keizer. Johan moves to Barcelona and give them their first championship since 14 years. Michels is coach in Barca, he left Ajax almost two years earlier. His succeeder is Stefan Kovacs. Later on also Neeskens will go to Barcelona.
Michels work was the basis of the European glory in 1971, 1972 and 1973. Ajax won three Europa cup 1 titles in a row by beating in order Panathinakos (2-0), Inter Milan (2-0) and Juventus (1-0).
In 1973 Ajax also win the worldcup for club teams by beating Indepediente.
The Dutch league was just a formality, Ajax are almost unbeatable. Ajax plays in these years in a style which would later on be called Total football. A fast passing game built on a good defence who also came up to the other goal. In this period (1971) goalkeeper Heinz Stuy iholds a clean sheet for 1082 minutes. Cruijff was the engine and leader of this Ajax and became the crowds favouriyte due to his technic skills and fantastic movement. A lot of people all over the world still know who played in that team.
A few names: Johan Cruijff, Piet Keizer, Joohan Neeskens, Arie Haan, Wim Suurbier, Ruud Krol, Arnold and Gerrie Muhren, Velibor Vasovic and Barry Hulshoff.


End of part six, three parts to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part seven.


1974-1980: The Danish wave.

After the golden century Ajax didn`t only loose a lot of their top players, they also lost their position in both national and international football. On 23-2-1975 Ajax lost for the first time at home since 1969. "Mister Ajax" Sjaak Swart retired from football in 1973, after playing 17 years for the club. He scored 228 times in 603 matches. Piet Keizer and Arie Haan both left after problems with the trainer, Hans Kraaij, currently match analist. Neeskens left to Barca, like I mentioned earlier. From the star team only Ruud Krol stayed. (currently assistant at Ajax of Ronald Koeman.) New players came, and especcialy a lot of Danes. Jesper Olsen, Frank Arnesen, Soren Lerby, Jan Molby and Henning Jensen. Players like Simon Tahamata and Ruud Geels also came to Ajax. In 1976, 1979 and 1980 Ajax won the league. In 1979 Ajax won for the second time in their history the double.
In Europe there was no succes.

1982-1987: Back at the European top.
In the Eighties Ajax depended a lot on their youth academy. Every time they needed a good player they seemed to be able to get him from their own youth academy. Problem was that when the youth players became stars, Ajax wasn`t able to hold on to them. They left to bigger leagues like Spain, Italy and England.
When Cruijff came back in 1981 all Ajax supporters were very happy. not in the last place because they couldn`t hold on to their talent. In the period from 1981-1987 Ajax won the Dutch league three times. The Ajax players scored the most of Europe with 628 goals in six years.

It would take until 1985, when Cruijff became the technical director, (Not coach, he didn`t have the papers.) for Ajax to be succesfull in Europe again. In the final of the Europa Cup for cup winners. Lokomotive Leipzig was beaten 1-0 in Athens. Johan Cruijff didn`t make Ajax champions in Holland. PSV was too good at that time. Too replace Koeman and Vanenburg, who both went to PSV, Cruijff bought Danny Blind from Sparta and Jan Wouters from FC Utrecht. A good move, in 1987 Ajax won the UEFA Cup, back then known as the Europa Cup II. Cup winners cup.


End of part seven, two parts to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of part eight.


1987-1991: Black clouds above De Meer.

At the end of the Eighties Ajax went trough the toughest moment of their history. Ajax played lousy, after six weeks Ajax were 14th.
Of the pitch there were also problems. The FIOD, the "bar" (not as in cafe!) incident and a plane crash. Sportively speaking things went better when Ajax appointed temporary coach Spitz Kohn and his assistant, a young Louis van Gaal, who was youth coach at that point of his career. Ajax won 13 matches in a row, including a 4-1 victory in Eindhoven against the unbeatable PSV. Ajax ended up on the 2nd place, not bad after such a start. Stefan Pettersson became an incredible popular and important player. In 1989 the new board at Ajax and new president Michael van Praag got the assignment to get support and confidence back from the fans and sponsors. First thing they did was to appoint Leo Beenhakker, who was back from Real Madrid. Leo Beenhakker won the league in the 1989/1990 season with players like Ronald de Boer, Dennis Bergkamp, Richard and Rob Witschge, Aron Winter and Bryan Roy. Due to the UEFA punishment Ajax weren`t allowed to go into Europe.
After a year a big shock came. Beenhakker quitted Ajax and the young and inexperienced Louis van Gaal became the new coach.
This proved to be a good choice.... .... .....

1991-1997: The Van Gaal era.

Van Gaal already proved his quality when he was a youth coach for the club, but he still had to convince the press. He does that by winning the UEFA Cup in 1992 in a final against
Torino. (2-2,0-0)
With this result they now have won all major European trophies.
the best year of this new Ajax under charge of the fanatic Louis van Gaal was without a doubt tbe season 1994/1995. Ajax wins for the fourth time in their history the Europacup I, or the Champions league. Ajax also beat Gremio after penalty`s for the worldcup for clubteams.

Foreign teams didn`t let the Ajax triumphs go unnoticed and bought a lot of players away from Amsterdam. Players like Bergkamp, Wouters, Jonk, Roy, Oulida and Kreek all left. All these players leaving made room for a lot of new players, talents from the Ajax youth academy. Seedorf, with sixteen years the youngest Ajax debutant, Davids and Kluivert. From other teams Ajax brought in new players like De Boer, who played shortly for FC Twente and as a replacement for Bergkamp Jari Litmanen. Jari Litmanen who was on trial at teams like PSV Barca and Leeds, but was found to be to light. Ajax did buy him.
In 1993 Ajax goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar gained his spot in the team after a huge but unfortunate mistake by Menzo against Auxerre.


End of part eight, one part to follow.

[soccer fanatic]

Start of the ninth and final part.


1997-2001: Bouncing back.

After the era Van Gaal Ajax has to move on. Morten Olsen from Denmark is appointed and players like Laudrup, Arveladze and Oliseh join the club. In Holland Ajax plays good and wins the double. With 17 points between Ajax and runner up PSV and a 5-0 victory against PSV in the KNVB beker final, Ajax performs well. In Europe is a totally different story, losing in the quarterfinals against Spartak Moskou. In the same year Ajax went to the exchange market. (beurs?)

Ronald and Frank de Boer caused a riot by wanting to leave even thought they were still under contract until 2004. (This happened in 1998, they still had six years left on their contract!) After a long struggle Ajax let the twin brothers go, they didn`t really have a choice. Ofcourse this riot reflected on the team and they came in sixth, Ajax did win the KNVB beker this year. Again a lot of important players left Ajax. Van der Sar, Jari Litmanen, Blind and Laudrup. Danny Blind retired, I`m not sure about Laudrup though.
Morten Olsen loses his job in the season where they came in sixth and after a short spill of Jan Wouters and Westerhof, Co Adriaanse takes over. Co Adriaanse the compeer of Louis van Gaal came from Willem II were he reached the Champions League, Westerhof goes to Willem II. New players come to the first team under whom Willem II midfielder Galasek and Andre Bergdolmo. Van der Gun and Van der Meyde come back after being rented out. Co Adriaanse wanted to give the youth the chance. Rafael van der Vaart maikes his debute under Co Adriaanse. He also tells players they can leave. Co Adriaanse handles the hard approach, the thing which will cost him.

2001-NOW Time of new hope.

After a serie of bad results, Co Adriaanse is fired. His relationship with press and players didn`t help him either and he had to go.
Bad results against Kopenhagen, Celtic, De Graafschap and PSV were reason for his departure. After the match against Twente where Ajax won 3-2 after trailing 0-2, Co Adriaanse was sacked.
Within 24 hours Ajax hires Ronald Koeman, who was still under contract of Vitesse Arnhem. The contract koeman had was bought of, koeman joined Ajax asisted by former Ajax legend Ruud Krol.

2002 is a good year for Ajax. Ajax 2 reaches the semi final of the Amstel Cup, Ajax 1 wins the double. The supporters are happy again. Ajax now have an incredible talented but young squad, which could reach great heights. Now the only thing that is left is waiting and hoping for succes in Europe. Players like Van der Vaart and Chivu are the players who are expected to shine.


End of the ninth and final part.


Feel free to comment now, or ask questions.
I know not everything is in it, but try to keep a story containing over 100 years of history complete and short.
If you see a mistake, please inform me.
(Not grammar, historically.)

[PopA]

excellent posts....... really cleared up a few confusions i had

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by PopA
excellent posts....... really cleared up a few confusions i had

Thanks.

[Dyfi Forester]

:eek:

That's a big lot of history. Very interesting too. :)

I might come over to see Ajax sometime.

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by Dyfi Forester
:eek:

That's a big lot of history. Very interesting too. :)

I might come over to see Ajax sometime.

Too this part of the forum or the real thing in amsterdam?

If you go for coffeeshops too you better hurry now it is still legal. :D

[Dyfi Forester]

Do they sell chips at the ground? ;)

[soccer fanatic]

Ofcourse. :D

[Dyfi Forester]

You've done it again. :eek: Very impressive. How do you do it?

Anyway, yes i mean come over to see a game. I like coffee as well. :)

I have seen Ajax once at Forest. It was in a tournament a few years ago and they played against Chelsea. Ajax lost 2-0 but i enjoyed the band. :)

[Dyfi Forester]

And i bought an Ajax scarf, which is on my bedroom wall along with my photo of Bryan Roy.
































No i don't have a Bryan Roy photo. ;)

[soccer fanatic]

I have a few Ajax scarfs too, including one of Gronkjaer, who left us shortly after I got it. :(