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Ajax were the second club to win the European Cup three years in
succession. Real Madrid had achieved the feat originally and in fact
went on to record five successive victories in the competition and
later a sixth.
The Dutch club's triumphs, however, came at a time when the
power of Spanish football was waning in Europe and in fact their
first such title came in 1,971 the year after Feyenoord had brought
the trophy to Holland for the first time.
Ajax repeated their success in 1972 and 1973 having originally
reached the final in 1969 when they had to be content with runners-
up medals.
When they achieved their initial European Champions Cup win
they were under the direction of Rinus Michels who left them after
the finals to manage Barcelona.
His successor was Stefan Kovacs a Rumanian who was able to
produce an even greater flexibility and flair among the players and
still enable them to be totally effective. And this was reflected
when they won the European Cup again in the following two years.
At this time probably the most outstanding four players with the
club were Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Piet Keizer and Barry
Hulshoff. Cruyff and Neeskens found their way to Spain where
they linked up with Michels at Barcelona. Keizer has retired and
Hulshoff has moved on.
Founded in 1900 Ajax first won the League Championship in
Holland in 1918 and again in 1919. They had to wait for title number
three until 1931 but they were a formidable outfit at this time and
were able to record further successes in 1932, 1934, 1937 and 1939.
After the war Ajax were again champions in 1947 but it was
another ten years before they were able to repeat a title in this way.
But when they achieved the League championship in 1960 it was
the beginning of a period of further glory as titles followed in 1966,
1967,1968, 1970, 1972, 1973 and in 1977 which was their 17th such
honour.
At the same time Ajax are not only the most successful League
club of all time in Holland but their seven cup victories is also
second to none.
Ajax were also World Club champions in 1972, have twice won
RUUD KROL
