Ajax claimed the points from the Eredivisie's Klassieker clash with Feyenoord on Sunday courtesy of a stunning winning goal from teenage midfielder Riechedly Bazoer at the Amsterdam Arena.
It was the away side who struck first through Jens Toornstra, but Ajax hit back with a fine solo goal from Amin Younes before Bazoer hit the winner midway through the second half.
The 19-year-old latched onto a loose ball and unleashed a venomous strike that left goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer with no chance.
The win took Ajax into first, two points clear of PSV Eindhoven, who play later on Sunday, while Feyenoord were left clinging onto fourth after a sixth consecutive league defeat.
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Patrick Kluivert's 16-Year-Old Son Justin Scores Superb Solo Goal for Ajax U17
Jan 27, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOioA3t7jWw
If this goal is anything to go by, the future is bright for young Justin Kluivert.
The 16-year-old son of former Newcastle, Milan and Barcelona player Patrick scored a brilliant solo effort for Ajax U17 in a recent game against Feyenoord.
The youngster picked up the ball near the halfway line, danced past three defenders and fired an unstoppable finish into the far corner.
Ajax's Richairo Zivkovic: Can't-Miss Prospect's Bad First Impressions
May 14, 2015
UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 05: Richairo Zivkovic of Ajax applaudes the fans after the Dutch Eredivisie match between FC Utrecht and Ajax Amsterdam held at Stadion Galgenwaard on April 5, 2015 in Utrecht, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Dutch centre-forward Richairo Zivkovic, 18, arrived at Ajax as a bound-to-be-successful No. 9 prospect with world-class potential.
Behind the veneer of praise initially lavished on Zivkovic, there are now escalating concerns.
Coup
Scoring 11Eredivisie goals for Groningen as a 17-year-old last season, Zivkovic looked like becoming a "top player for years to come," per Michiel Jongsma at Benefoot.
Marcus Berg|Groningen →Hamburg: €10/£8.7 million (22 years old; 2009).
Luis Suarez|Groningen→ Ajax: €7.5/£5.1 million (20 years old; 2007).
Tim Matavz|Groningen→PSV Eindhoven: €7/£6.2 million (22 years old; 2011).
Stefan Nijland|Groningen →PSV Eindhoven: €4/£3.2 million (19 years old; 2008).
Richairo Zivkovic |Groningen →Ajax: €1.9/£1.5 million (17 years old; 2014).
Relative to Groningen selling previous centre-forwards, Ajax not only bought Zivkovic at a discount, but avoided being embroiled in a Suarez-like media circus.
Entangled in a legal dispute with Groningen, Suarez was intent on forcing a transfer to Ajax, per his autobiography:
It was about a five-day wait for the Court of Arbitration to make their decision.
In the meantime, I had to carry on training at [Groningen]. You can imagine what the fans were saying to me.
One morning they told me that I had lost the case. I had two training sessions ahead of me and I just couldn't move, my head was gone, my thoughts elsewhere.
"Luis, don't you want to train?" asked [then-Groningen manager] Ron Jans.
I told him that, no, I had no desire to train after receiving the news. I didn't feel like doing anything. I felt sunk. I just wanted to go home and cry.
I couldn't believe what [Groningen] was doing to me.
Suarez revealed Ajax had originally offered €5/£3.4 million, but Groningen having legal backing procured an additional €2.5/£1.7 million.
"We didn't have to let [Suarez] go at that time because the court said we were right," a Groningen spokesman said, per Andy Hunter at the Guardian. "It was only afterwards when Ajax made a better offer, and we decided it was the best offer, that we decided to do the deal."
Unlike the acerbic, controversial, and lawyer-centric Suarez transfer negotiations, Groningen general manager Hans Nijland was relaxed over selling Zivkovic to Ajax.
"We wanted to extend his contract, but Richairo has shown to have ambitions. He wants to take a higher step. That's his right," Nijland said, per Algemeen Dagblad (h/t FourFourTwo). "The talks with Ajax have been very enjoyable."
Ajax director of football Marc Overmars tacked on an extra two years to Zivkovic's contract, bolstering his transfer stock.
"We have complete faith in Richairo. Because of his age, we were only able to contract him for three years," Overmars said, per Ajax's website. "He's since turned 18 [years old] and shortly after that, we agreed to add on two years."
Jong Ajax
Zivkovic playing for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie (Dutch equivalent of the Championship) is spun as a positive—he is getting accustomed to the club.
But there are two fallacies with that thinking.
1. Zivkovic outperformed Arkadiusz Milik and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson in league-play last season.
Kickerrated Milik the worst player at Augsburg and Zivkovic possesses a higher upside than Sigthorsson.
Ajax manager Frank de Boer should have started Zivkovic from the get-go on merit.
2. Daley Sinkgraven, 19, is not subject to the Jong Ajax treatment.
Signed from Heerenveen for €7/£5.3 million in the January transfer window, Sinkgraven has played 586 more minutes in the Eredivisie for Ajax than Zivkovic this season.
Sinkgraven has started 88.9 per cent of Eredivisie games he has been involved in under De Boer.
Despite scoring 18 goals in 25 Eerste Divisie games for Jong Ajax, including eight goals in a five-game run, Zivkovic has yet to start an Eredivisie game under De Boer.
Prior to earning De Boer's confidence, Milik was Stefan Kiessling's understudy at Bayer Leverkusen and a second-rate footballer at Augsburg.
Failing in Germany gave Milik a chip on his shoulder.
"Of course, Stefan was better than me, but I thought that maybe [Bayer Leverkusen] would give me a chance...unfortunately, it did not happen," Milik said, per Piotr Kozminski at UEFA's website. "Ajax have a great reputation for their work with young players and I would like to take advantage of it."
Milik scoring six goals in a 9-0 KNVB Cup win over JOS Watergraafsmeer showed his desperation, the ferociousness of his drive, and willingness to cash in.
De Boer has yet to see these attributes from Zivkovic, who has scored once in 114 minutes spread over seven Eredivisie games.
Zivkovic is 1/5 in on-target shots/total shots and fails to convert 80 per cent of scoring chances, per Squawka.
Whereas, Milik leads Ajax in Eredivisie goals (11), which is why his loan from Bayer Leverkusen has been extended into a permanent deal for €2.8/£2 million.
Having a contract until 2019 indicates that Milik is rated by De Boer as Ajax's No. 1 centre-forward.
Converting Viktor Fischer—a No. 11—to a No. 9 in Ajax's 3-0 win over Cambuur is further evidence that De Boer is comfortable without Zivkovic.
Vindicating De Boer's tactical adjustment, Fischer scored twice against Cambuur.
Performance wise, Zivkovic has not impressed in the Eredivisie, but red flags over his character could be the underlying reason why he has yet to earn the trust of De Boer.
Kicking Ludcinio Marengo during Jong Ajax's 5-0 defeat to FC Volendam is an inexcusable and thuggish act from Zivkovic.
Losing possession, Zivkovic attempts to trip up Marengo, but he doesn't go down.
Zivkovic then wallops Marengo with a low-kick and has his "What? Me?" moment in reaction to receiving a red card from referee Davy Otto.
It is one of several Zivkovic transgressions.
Netherlands U19 manager Aron Winter excluded Zivkovic from the squad last November.
Earning reprimands at club, league and national level is an inglorious trifecta from Zivkovic.
Zivkovic's Future
Miralem Sulejmani|Heerenveen→Ajax: €16.3/£12.9 million (19 years old; 2008).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Malmo → Ajax: €7.8/£4.7 million (19 years old; 2001).
There was a period in Ibrahimovic's career where he was on course to be a monumental transfer bust at Ajax, per his autobiography:
All the headlines and comparisons with [Marco] van Basten were just turned against me, and I started to be seen as a disappointment, a bad purchase.
I was replaced in the front line by Nikos Machlas, a Greek who I'd hung out with quite a lot, and in those situations when I get dropped and lose my form, my head starts buzzing, like: "What am I doing wrong? How am I going to break out of this?"
Unlike Ibrahimovic, who developed into one of the best footballers in the world, Sulejmani never overcame his tribulation at Ajax.
Struggling to maintain his weight and being hit-and-miss on the field, Sulejmani is shaping up to be another Arnold Bruggink—unfulfilled.
It is up to Zivkovic to avoid emulating Sulejmani by using Ibrahimovic as motivation to succeed at Ajax.
Will Ajax Prodigy Lucas Andersen Escape Christian Eriksen's Shadow?
Oct 1, 2014
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 03: Lucas Andersen of Ajax in action during the 19th Johan Cruijff Shield match between Ajax Amsterdam and PEC Zwolle at the Amsterdam ArenA on August 3, 2014 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Lucas Andersen will continue to be compared and contrasted to former Ajax teammate and Danish compatriot Christian Eriksen.
"I know mostly about Danish players at Ajax," Eriksen said, per Peter Fraser at Sky Sports. "Hopefully Lucas Andersen will also get his chance this season."
Nation
Position
Age
Height
Weight
Denmark
RF/DLF/LW
20
6'1"
159 lbs
Fortuitously that chance presented itself to Andersen when the ball deflected into his path after Apoel Nicosia goalkeeper Urko Pardo saved the shot of Ajax right-forward Lasse Schone.
Unruffled by Apoel central midfielder Nuno Morais' desperate lunge, Andersen scored his first-ever goal in the UEFA Champions League.
Schone, a Danish international, ecstatically bear-hugged Andersen.
Then Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Davy Klaassen, Thulani Serero, Nicolai Boilesen—another Dane—Nick Viergever, et al. joined in on the celebration knowing how much Andersen has struggled.
Andersen went from being a wunderkind at AaB, was dishing out a lesson in football to seasoned veterans in the Danish Superliga, to playing reserve football for Jong Ajax.
It must have been a crestfallen feeling since he arrived at Ajax in 2012 a more developed prospect than Eriksen did in 2008, who was not a first-team contributor at OB.
"We would have liked him [Eriksen] to stay at our club and to see him in our Superliga team eventually," then-OB director of sports Kim Brink said, per UEFA's official website. "But there has been such great interest in him lately that we realised it was unrealistic to keep him here."
Whereas, Andersen had begun his third top-flight season at AaB.
He was AaB's biggest talent since Jesper Gronkjaer, who went on to star for Ajax and received 80 caps for Denmark.
"The fact that Lucas has played so many matches in the Danish League at such a young age indicates that he is a great talent," Ajax technical director Marc Overmars said, per Ajax's official website (h/t Peter McVitie at Goal.com). "I expect him to further develop in the senior side."
Andersen started his Ajax career placidly, which was the opposite of what people expected of him given the teenage marvel status bestowed on his young shoulders.
Aside from a cameo role on his Eredivisie debut in a 2-0 win over Groningen and making up the numbers on the bench in a 0-0 draw against Utrecht, Andersen toiled away from the first team at Jong Ajax.
Having likened Andersen to a "young Michael Laudrup," then-Jong Ajax manager Gery Vink was left feeling underwhelmed.
Andersen scored once from 1,385 minutes of reserve football, per Transfermarkt.
A lack of productivity at a lower level plus the rise of fellow Dane Viktor Fischer was why Andersen assumed the role of a spectator, rather than being a contributor to Ajax's 2012-13 Eredivisie title.
The following season in an Eriksen-less Ajax (he moved to Tottenham Hotspur), it was time Andersen emulated his compatriot by taking his game to the next level.
It did not happen, as Andersen was surpassed by Eredivisie players around his age.
Players such as Davy Klaassen, Jean-Paul Boetius, Jurgen Locadia, Lucas Piazon, Memphis Depay and Richairo Zivkovic.
"I was training the U19s and could directly say to then-manager [Martin Jol]: 'You can take Christian [Eriksen] already'," then-Ajax youth manager Frank de Boer (now manager) said, per Amy Lawrence at The Guardian. "He might have more to come physically, but he is mentally ready."
Does Andersen lack the intangibles to thrive?
A red flag to De Boer last season was Andersen failing to play with a sense of urgency when given a rare start.
In a 0-0 draw against Waalwijk, a team that was later relegated to the Eerste Divisie, Andersen attempted the same number of shots (two) as centre-back Stefano Denswil.
One glaring problem Andersen encounters is he does not consistently take the ball past opposing players.
Last season, Andersen turned over the ball 62 percent of the time he attempted a take-on, per Squawka.
Is Andersen another more-hype-than-substance prospect, a la Froylan Ledezma?
Costa Rican [teenager] Froylan Ledezma flew into Schiphol to sign for Feyenoord, but because Ajax had better airport contacts, Feyenoord's representatives were left in arrivals, while Ajax officials met Ledezma directly from the plane.
He signed for Ajax, leaving Feyenoord furious that their foes had kidnapped the player, though they had the last laugh when Ledezma failed to shine in Dutch football.
With Fischer recuperating from injury, Andersen is still competing for a starting spot, given the upside Ajax duo Anwar El Ghazi and Ricardo Kishna possess.
El Ghazi has outstanding physical attributes while Kishna is looking to push on after flashing incisive play last season.
Against all expectations, the Netherlands performed well during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, despite having a squad that largely consisted of relatively inexperienced players. Sure, they had Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie up front...
Frank De Boer Admits He Wanted Spurs Job This Summer
Jul 17, 2014
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 03: Ajax Coach / Manager, Frank de Boer looks on prior to the Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and NEC Nijmegen at Amsterdam Arena on May 3, 2014 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Ajax manager Frank de Boer has lifted the lid on the past rumours of his potential Amsterdam exit by declaring that he would have quit the Dutch champions in favour of joining Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur had he been offered the opportunity.
The Dutch legend had been heavily linked with the White Hart Lane hot seat earlier this year as reports concerning former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood had rightly suggested that the north London club were on the lookout for a new permanent manager.
De Boer’s regular outbursts, particularly after Ajax’s premature Europa League exit to Red Bull Salzburg, only further fuelled the speculation that he would make his Amsterdam Arena exit and even brother Ronald suggested, via talkSPORT, that the 44-year-old was ready to leave the Eredivisie in search of a new challenge.
Nevertheless, De Boer’s Ajax continued to dominate Dutch football on the pitch and recorded a club- record fourth successive Eredivisie crown. However, they did miss out on the double thanks to a humiliating 5-1 KNVB Cup final defeat to PEC Zwolle—a match that was infamously marred by crowd trouble, as per Richard Arrowsmith of the Daily Mail.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 03: A detailed look at the Champions of the Netherlands trophy prior to the Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and NEC Nijmegen at Amsterdam Arena on May 3, 2014 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/
De Boer is now preparing to guide his team towards a fifth straight domestic crown but, according to Richard Parry of the Evening Standard, he has revealed that he was approached by Daniel Levy about the Tottenham job, which was eventually awarded to former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Ajax boss told Dutch outlet Amstel Television 5, via Parry:
If they wanted me, I would probably have said 'yes.' I was really close to a move to Tottenham, but they chose Pochettino. It's the same in a corporate company. Eventually the board will vote and they came out with Pochettino.
The news will come as a blow to the Ajax board, fans and players, especially as De Boer remains one of the club’s icons.
De Boer will forever be heralded as one of the greats at Dutch football’s most famous team and they would not begrudge him a move to one of Europe’s elite leagues. However, the timing of his admission is not ideal and it may be hard for players to stay motivated when they know that the manager wants out.
The champions begin their Eredivisie title defence with a home fixture against Vitesse Arnhem on August 10.
Ajax Secure Eredivisie Crown for Fourth Straight Year
Apr 27, 2014
Ajax soccer players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Heracles Almelo in the Dutch Premier League final with a 1-0 score in Almelo, Netherlands, Sunday April 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Vincent Jannink)
Amsterdam giants Ajax have clinched the Eredivisie for club-record fourth consecutive season.
Frank de Boer’s men put the finishing touches on a successful title defence with a 1-1 draw away at Heracles Almelo with one game to spare.
Ajax started the day six points clear of second-placed Feyenoord knowing that they would secure the title by avoiding defeat against their mid-table opponents, regardless of what happened in Rotterdam.
The day couldn’t have got off to a better start as Danish midfielder Lasse Schone fired the visitors into a 13th minute lead with his ninth goal of the season. However, Ajax’s lead only lasted for just nine minutes as Heracles levelled through Simon Cziommer.
Feyenoord’s emphatic second half display, in which the Rotterdam giants raced to a 5-1 scoreline in Ronald Koeman’s final home match, created a tense atmosphere towards the end. However, Ajax held on for a crucial point to ensure it is their name on the trophy once more.
In truth, the manner in which Ajax crossed the finishing line was fitting. The Amsterdam giants have been far from convincing this season, but once again they got the job done and extended their status as Dutch football’s most decorated club.
Ajax will bring the domestic title back to the Amsterdam for a record 33rd time. Meanwhile, Feyenoord’s victory ensures that the Rotterdam club qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Elsewhere in the Eredivisie, rock-bottom Roda threw away a one-goal advantage at home to Groningen to leave themselves hanging on by a thread. Their only saving grace was NEC’s 5-2 defeat to FC Twente, but they will need a minor miracle to avoid automatic relegation next weekend.
What do you think of Ajax’s achievements? Post your thoughts below
Ajax Win Record 4th Dutch Title in a Row as Frank de Boer's Team March On
Apr 27, 2014
Ajax's coach Frank de Boer gestures during the Champions League Group H soccer match between Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic Glasgow at ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. Ajax won the match with a 1-0 score. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Ajax claimed a fourth successive Dutch league title on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Heracles Almelo.
It is the first time in the illustrious history of Ajax the club have won their domestic title four years in a row.
Lasse Schone's early goal set up Ajax for an afternoon of celebration but Simon Cziommer's equaliser in the 22nd minute ensured a nervy finish as Ajax opened up an unassailable lead at the top of the table to seal the title.
Ajax suffered a shock 5-1 loss to PEC Zwolle in the Dutch Cup final in Rotterdam on April 20, but their league form has been unwavering in 2014.
To find Ajax's last Eredivisie defeat you have to go back to early November 2013, when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Vitesse.
Since then Frank de Boer's team have won 15 games and drawn six. With just one game of the season remaining, Ajax lead Feyenoord by four points after their draw on Sunday, ensuring the title will once again be theirs.
Former Ajax player de Boer was named the club's manager in 2010, having already spent time working their youth team.
His team won the title in his first season and have now done so in the three since. It's Little wonder de Boer's name is being linked with other big clubs—amongst them Tottenham, as per Luke Edwards of The Telegraph (via Tony Mogan of the International Business Times).
It seems doubtful, however, that Ajax would let him leave without a fight.
Ajax Set to Clinch Record-Breaking Eredivisie Title
Apr 26, 2014
Ajax coach Frank de Boer watches his players at the start of the national soccer league game match against Twente at ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday Sept. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Frank de Boer's league-leading Ajax head to struggling Heracles on Sunday knowing that avoiding defeat will secure the Eredivisie crown.
Having squandered last week's opportunity to complete a domestic double, this weekend's contest offers the Amsterdam giants the chance to bounce back from that bitter disappointment with a club-record fourth successive league victory—a feat that would only further cement de Boer's place amongst the all-time Ajax greats.
Since de Boer took charge of the club, for whom he made 400 appearances as a player, in 2010, Ajax have enjoyed a firm stranglehold on Dutch football, and the Amsterdam giants don't look like they'll releasing that grip any time soon.
Assuming Ajax don't capitulate in the final two games, it will be the first time that the club has ever claimed four successive Dutch titles. The Amsterdam club are already the Netherlands most decorated club, lifting 32 league championships (24 since it became the Eredivisie) and would further cement their place as the country's greatest club with this victory.
The Amsterdam club's previous best haul was three straight league titles, a feat that was achieved between 1966-1968 and again between 1994-1996 (de Boer had been a player throughout the latter).
Entering the history books would be the perfect response to last week's KNVB Cup final defeat, in which the club were embarrassed both on and off the field. A 5-1 loss to PEC Zwolle was humiliating for Ajax, but not nearly as shameful as the action of their fans—who caused a 25-minute delay after throwing dozens of flares onto the De Kuip playing turf.
Elsewhere in the division, rock-bottom Roda will be desperate for a win against Groningen as they look to keep their slim hopes of survival alive. The best possible outcome for Jon Dahl Tomasson's side is a relegation play-off, but they could be condemned to automatic relegation this weekend if results don't go their way.
Meanwhile, Feyenoord can cement Champions League qualification with a victory in their final home game of the season; the Rotterdam club face 10th-placed Cambuur.
What do you think will happen in this week's Eredivisie action. Post your predictions below.
Ajax to Be Punished for Crowd Trouble in KNVB Cup Final
Apr 22, 2014
Ajax supporters cheer as they watch the match between Ajax and ADO Den Haag at ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Ajax won with a 3-2 score, but did not clinch the Dutch title as nearest opponent Feyenoord also took 3 points with a win against PSV. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Dutch FA has confirmed that Amsterdam giants Ajax will be punished due to the actions of their fans during Sunday’s KNVB cup-final loss to PEC Zwolle.
Sunday’s final, played at Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium, was just 20 seconds old when fans situated behind the goal bombarded the pitch with a number of smoke bombs and flares. This caused a momentary pause to proceedings, before the action restarted.
However, just moments after Ricardo van Rhijn had fired Ajax into an early lead, the problems resumed. As confirmed by BBC Sport, the fireworks caused damage to the pitch and also set fire to one of the advertising boards.
The trouble forced referee Bas Nijhuis to lead the players away from the pitch and the action could not be resumed for another 25 minutes.
It was a situation that threatens to detract from what was actually a very impressive victory for Zwolle, who claimed their first-ever major trophy with the win in Rotterdam, and the Dutch authorities have vowed not to take it lightly.
According to Mark Gleeson of Reuters, KNVB director Bert van Oostveen has confirmed that there will be ramifications for the Amsterdam giants.
Van Oostveen stated, via Gleeson, “We will work with the clubs and the local authorities thoroughly to evaluate this and we will try to track down and punish the perpetrators."
It is a very sour ending to what was set to be the weekend in which Ajax would claim their first KNVB Cup triumph since 2010. The Amsterdam giants must now ensure that this sorry chapter does not derail their Eredivisie title challenge.
Frank de Boer’s men can claim a fourth successive league title with victory at Heracles.
