THE
PLAYERS
OF
AJAX
BALS, GERRIT. Goalkeeper. Gert for short, Bals
joined Ajax from PSV Eindhoven in 1965. Now
33 years old he has reached the point where he has
great days but at intervals a very poor one. Signifi
cantly, Ajax made a big bid for Sparta 'keeper Van
Beveren who had a great game against England in
January.
VASOVIC, VELIBOR. 30 years with 28 full caps
for Yugoslavia, Vasovic plays the sweeper role
behind the Dutch defence. Now in his third season
with Ajax, Vasovic played in the 1969 European Cup
final (for Ajax) and in the 1966 final (for Partizan
Belgrade) and had a great game that year.
SUURBIER, WIM. Right-back and 25 years old
with 14 full caps. A sound defensive player but like
everyone else in a team dedicated to attack, also
extremely skilful in distribution. He can tight-mark
an opponent out of the game but prefers a loose role
and the chance to go forward.
HULSHOFF, BARRY. A Centre-back who has
often played at right and left back. Amsterdam-born
and an Ajax player since his teens has worked his
way right through the club. At 23 he already has
"B" honours for the national squad.
KROL, RUUD. Left back. Though still only 21
and in his first season as a regular first teamer he
already has two full caps. Played at Wembley and
demonstrated all his qualitiescool, determined,
hard-working and a very difficult man to pass with
the ball.
REYNDERS, NICO. Left-half cum inside-left who
won international honours last season whilst with
Go Ahead (Deventer). Signed last summer for
£20,000, he played twice against England and now
has 5 full caps and is still only 22. A little more
defensive than his other midfield colleagues, but
follows the ball with extraordinary stamina.
GROOT, HENK. 31 years old with 38 caps and
wide experience. Began his career as a goalscoring
inside-centre forward, topping the Division I scorers
in 1959/60 and 1960/61 hitting 38 and 41 goals.
Since then has become an old fashioned inside-
forward who grafts and schemes in midfield.
SWART, SJAAK. Another 31 year old with 30 caps
for Holland. A strangely gifted player began as an
orthodox outside right, earning all his caps on the
wing which is where he still lines up for the kick off.
At home in Amsterdam he plays like a real winger,
gets goals and is very quick, but in away matches he
drops back to play effectively in midfield.
CRUYFF, JOHAN. 23 years old later this month,
Ajax's ace card at centre forward. Quick, tremendously
skilful and intelligent he makes goals for others and
invariably gets one or two himself. Has 9 caps and
was voted Dutch player of the year in 1967 and 1968.
Would be a bargain buy for anyone at £200,000 plus.
VAN DIJK, DICK. Came to the fore with Enschede
club FC Twente and last season shared top-scorers'
place (30 goals) with Feijenoord's Swedish World
Cup star Ove Kindvall. Signed by Ajax during the
summer for £30,000 and now fits neatly into the
skill plus finishing power pattern in which Cruyff
and Keizer are the key men. 24 years old with
4 caps.
KEIZER, PIET. Nominally a left-winger but in
fact a top class all-rounder always switching with
Cruyff and Van Dijk. 26 years old with 17 caps he
has refused many more international honours
(together with Cruyff). At 20 he spent a complete
year out of football with a blood illness that is now
long forgotten.
Others who might play:
SURRENDONK, RUDI. 26 years old and unusually
adaptable. Began as a full-back and is still No. 1
reserve on either flank, but also plays as a striker. In
one recent match he went on as substitute to score
twice.
PRONK, ANTONNY. 28 years old with 19 caps.
Once a regular at centre-half and now a utility
defender who can play stopper, sweeper or in
midfield.
MULLER, BENNIE. 31 years old with 43 caps
mostly gained at left-half and inside-left. Still a more
than useful player but being phased out in a rebuild
ing scheme.
MUHREN, GERRIT. Nominally an inside-forward,
was signed for £20,000 last summer from Volendam.
Though still not finally established in Ajax's team
won two caps this season (as a substitute) against
England. 24 years old, two caps.
SONDERGAARD, TOM. Yet another international
inside-forward unsure of a place, 26 years old he was
signed from SC Rapid (Austria) last summer and
was born in Denmark where he earned 12 full caps
before leaving B. 1913 Odense in 1967.
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