Ajax Football Club, commonly referred to as Ajax or simply De Godenzonen, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the world. Founded in 1900, the club is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and plays its home matches at the renowned Johan Cruyff Arena, which has a seating capacity of over 54,000.
Ajax has a rich history, boasting 34 Eredivisie titles, 19 KNVB Cups, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era under legendary manager Rinus Michels, who led Ajax to multiple league titles and three consecutive Champions League victories between 1965 and 1973.
Known for its attacking style of play and its emphasis on youth development, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, and Dennis Bergkamp. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances on the European stage, Ajax remains one of the world’s most respected football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence Dutch and world football.
Ajax is one of the most renowned football clubs globally, boasting one of the highest average home attendances in Europe. The club asserts that its global fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Ajax Supporters Club (ASC), in at least 24 countries. Ajax capitalises on this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Ajax has 50 million fans worldwide. The club has one of the highest social media followings globally among sports teams, with over 50 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Ajax had some of the most vocal fans in the Eredivisie.
Ajax was formed in 1900 as Football Club Ajax by Floris Stempel, Carel Reeser and Johan Dade. The team initially played games against other local clubs, but on 17 December 1900, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the club—red and white—they were defeated 4–3 by AFC.
In 1965, the appointment of Rinus Michels marked the beginning of a successful era for Ajax. Michels introduced the concept of 'Total Football', giving Ajax an unprecedented level of control over their opponents. Under Michels' guidance, Ajax secured league titles in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1970, and won the KNVB Cup in 1967, 1970, and 1971. In 1971, the club won its first European Cup.
On 29 November 2010, Frank de Boer took over as manager, ushering in a successful period for Ajax. De Boer led the club to four consecutive Eredivisie titles from 2011 to 2014. However, after De Boer's departure in 2016, Ajax struggled to maintain their dominance. The club appointed Peter Bosz as manager in 2016, but despite leading the team to the UEFA Europa League final in his first season, Bosz was unable to secure the Eredivisie title. Ajax continues to be a dominant force in Dutch football, producing high-quality players through their world-renowned youth academy.
Originally supported by the Ajax supporters association, the club was formed as a football club in 1900 and sold shares to local supporters for an affordable price via an application form. In 1911, majority ownership passed to four local businessmen who invested a significant amount to save the club from bankruptcy, including future club president Johan Cruijff. After his death in 2016, the club faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in March 1934 by Michael van Praag, who assumed control of the club after an investment of a considerable amount. Van Praag promoted his son, Jordi, to the board in 1998, but stepped down three years later; the Van Praag family retained ownership of the club through Michael's wife, Linda, but the position of chairman passed to former player Edwin van der Sar.
Promoted to the board a few days after the Beverwijk incident, Frank de Boer, a friend of Ronald Koeman, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately €40,000, he accumulated a 54 per cent shareholding and took control in January 2011. When Linda van Praag died in January 2001, her shares passed to Jordi van Praag, who sold a percentage of his shares to Frank de Boer's son, Ronald de Boer, in 2008; Ronald de Boer went on to become chairman upon his father's death in 2013. Media tycoon John de Mol attempted to buy the club in 2015, but did not meet De Boer's asking price. In 2019, chairman Ronald de Boer attempted to sell the club to Mino Raiola for €20 million, but the sale fell through and Raiola joined the board of directors instead.
Ajax is one of the most successful clubs in Europe in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the Netherlands Football League Championship, which they won in 1918. In 1917, the club won their first KNVB Cup, which is the main national football competition in the Netherlands. Since then, they have gone on to win a record 35 Eredivisie titles and their total of 20 KNVB Cups is one of the highest in the Dutch football. Those titles have also meant the club has appeared multiple times in the Johan Cruyff Shield, winning it 9 times.
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Ajax Football Club Overview: A comprehensive overview of Ajax Football Club, including its history, key players, and achievements. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Ajax
Ajax's Global Fan Base: An analysis of the extensive global fan base of Ajax, including its reach and impact on the club's operations. https://www.ajax.nl/en/home
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