In European football, everyone knows who’s who. The vast majority of the continent’s biggest clubs play in the five big leagues: England, Italy, Spain, France and Germany. But there are a few clubs from other countries that manage to draw the spotlights and remind the world that there is exceptional football being played in not-so-glamorous leagues! One of the teams that are usually too big for their league is Ajax, the Dutch powerhouse. The Amsterdammers ensured their place in history books a long time ago. Four-time European champions, the club who gave us such legends as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Edgar Davids, Wesley Sneijder, Clarence Seedorf, Dennis Bergkamp and many more, are making sure they don’t live in the past. It’s an organization that’s constantly raising the standard in all aspects of the game. And when you do things the right way – results are bound to follow.🔥 Ajax 4-0 Dortmund…⚪️🔴⚪️ Which @AFCAjax players have impressed you this season?#UCL pic.twitter.com/lPkfoO62aM— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 25, 2021 The reigning Eredivisie champions recorded two fantastic wins in space of just six days: they demolished Borussia Dortmund (4-0) in the Champions League and they scored five more goals when PSV Eindhoven arrived to Amsterdam for one of the Netherlands’ biggest fixtures. Sebastien Haller, Anthony and Dusan Tadic scored in both of those games. In a lack of a better word – it was perfect.Led by their influential captain Tadic, the red and whites of Amsterdam produced two devastating displays of so-called total football, the style that was conceived in these parts over 50 years ago. A team where everyone has their role but made out of players who feel confident with the ball regardless of the place on the pitch they find themselves in, always has an edge over the opponents. And when your players are so talented and well-drilled – only the sky is the limit. Brazilian right-winger Anthony, towering Ivorian centre-forward Haller, tireless Daley Blind, highly creative attacking midfielder Steven Berghuis and wonderkid midfielder Ryan Gravenberch – are only some of Ajax stars who are dominating these days.Saturday, 19.45: (10.0) Heracles (6.50) Ajax (1.25)Head coach Erik ten Hag is one of the best-respected tacticians and it’s hardly a surprise. He’s been in charge of Ajax for just under four years and has got a remarkable record: two league titles, two national cups and some notable performances in the Champions League. In 2019, they eliminated Juventus and Real Madrid with some breath-taking football and were just a couple of minutes away from the final – only to see their dreams dashed by a Lucas Moura hat-trick at Tottenham Hotspur.Smart transfer dealings and long-term planning, combined with some of the best training facilities and coaching staff in the world made Ajax a golden standard for all football academies in the world. If you want to learn about youth players development – Amsterdam is the place to go and study.
The Amsterdammers are currently top of the Eredivisie table, having notched eight wins in their opening ten matches, with a goal difference of 37 for and just two against. The average of 3.7 goals scored per match tells its own story. Also, they are top of the standings in their Champions League group with three wins in three. Dortmund, Sporting CP and Besiktas are already falling behind the mighty Ajax.It’s early days still, but the team from the Johan Cruyff Arena is looking like a serious contender to win the title and go a long way in European competition.