Ajax isn't Ajax anymore

It's Sunday, November 28th 2010. The biggest club of the Netherlands, Ajax Amsterdam, is visiting VVV Venlo, which is a relegation candidate in the Eredivisie, the highest competition in the Netherlands. A very suitable game for the Ajax forwards to increase their scoring significantly. The truth, however, is very different. What happened to Ajax?

AFC Ajax Amsterdam is still the largest club of the Netherlands, when it comes to character, history and the number of fans. The club had its greatest success in the 70s, when they won the European Cup three times (1970, 1971 and 1972) and the World Cup for clubs (1972). Led by famous players such as Johan Cruijff, Sjaak Swart, Dick van Dijk and Ruud Krol, Ajax played in the 4-3-3 system with great success. Now, over 40 years later, the 63-year-old Johan Cruijff is understandably frustrated about the game played by his beloved club.

Thinking of Ajax means football with true wingers, the classic "number 10" and a real goalgetter in the centre striking position. Today, however, the club isn't that imposing anymore. Players and coaches think they should decide what needs to be done in a club. In Amsterdam a guy named Martin Jol is calling the shots. A worn-down and overweight star from Egypt, who has arrived in Amsterdam with 16 pounds too much, can easily be called embarrassing. True Ajax fans, with Johan Cruijff at the front, can't stand this anymore. Ajax hasn't been Ajax for years.

Nevertheless, young players still come home with tears in their eyes when Ajax asks them to join the famous club. Playing for the biggest club of the Netherlands, who wouldn't want that? The name of the training facility The Future (in Dutch: De Toekomst) is very well chosen. But is the coaching and education of talented players still useful when the older and worn-down players block their way up?

The poor results of the past years obviously show that a change has to be made in Amsterdam. Let captain Johan take the wheel. This insight has grown for spectators as well. In Venlo, there were some careful suggestions by the fans to let Martin Jol go. Let's hope his future successor will bring back the true face of the greatest club of the Netherlands.

Sources: www.todio.nl