Ajaxsquad
Celtic are in the driving seat in this UEFA
Champions League qualifier and here
are the players who stand in the way of
the Bhoys and a place in Europe's elite
ArenA
artistes
FRED GRIM (36)
Now in his second spell with his hometown
club, the keeper hit the headlines for all the
wrong reasons after a poor performance in
the first leg. Between spells at Ajax he established
himself as first-choice at Cambuur but in 1994 he
rejoined the club as deputy to Edwin van der Sar.
That was the case until van der Sar moved to
Juventus in 1999 when Grim grabbed the No.l
shirt and he has managed to keep it despite the
arrival of Bogdan Lobont. He actually scored a
goal for Cambuur against Zwolle in 1991 but if
the previous leg is anything to go by he will be
more intent on stopping them at the other end.
BOGDAN LOBONT (23)
Was on the bench two weeks ago but was seen as
the long-term replacement for van der Sar when
he signed for £2million from Rapid Bucharest in
1999. However, since then he has played second
fiddle to Grim thanks to an unspectacular debut
period, injury and (Celtic's 3-1 win apart) an
unexpected Indian summer from the veteran.
Age is on his side though and he is seen as
Romania's long-term national first choice.
ANDRE BERGDOLMO (29)
Tall player who was chased by several clubs after
impressive displays for Rosenborg in the Champions
League and Norway in Euro 2000 but had no doubt
that a move to Ajax was the best possible solution.
Won the Norwegian double with Rosenborg in his
three years at the club after joining from Lillestrom
in 1997. He has since transformed himself from a
good player to a fine internationalist. Currently the
No.l choice at left back in the national team,
pushing Stig Inge Bjornebye out of the reckoning.
page 14
CRISTIAN CHIVU (20)
Chivu was an inspired signing by Ajax in 1999.
The young Romanian defender made an
immediate impression and established himself as a
fixture in the first team far quicker than many fans
expected. It certainly didn't take him long to oust
another young gun, talented Holland under-21 star
Tim de Cler, at left-back. The only black spot has
been his wayward disciplinary record. In the first
half of the 1999/00 season he was red-carded four
times. His breakthrough on the international stage
came at Euro 2000. But Chivu s talent does not
just lie in defending, he is also excellent in
supporting the attack, taking every opportunity to
raid down his flank. He even chose the big stage to
score his first international goal, against England.
Reported to be the subject of a .£15million bid
from Barcelona in November 2000, fans reacted
with fury and besieged the Ajax offices, angry that
their new hero might be sold. He
steadied their nerves in March 2001 by
signing a new contract.
MAXWELL (19)
Maxwell Scherrer Cabelino
Andrade as his mammy knows him,
only turns 20-years-old next
Monday. Ajax signed the left-sided
defender from Cruzeiro on a three-
year contract in June 2001. The
highly-rated teenager, whose transfer fee was
around £2million, can also play in midfield. A
PETRI PASANEN (20)
Petri Pasanen became recognised as one of the
most promising defenders in Finland after claiming
a regular place at the heart of FC Lahti's
defence in 1999 as a teenager. In contrast to many
other Finnish central defenders, Pasanen has skill
on the ball besides the normal man-marking
talent. Won the Finnish Most Promising Player
award in 1998.
HATEM TRABELSI (24)
Powerful, quick defender who joined Ajax on a
three-year deal in July 2001. His transfer marked
the end of a lengthy search for a right-back,
occasioned by the long-term injury suffered by
Ferdi Vierklau. Signed from Sportif Sfax in his
native Tunisia and played for the whole of the first
leg in his natural full-back position and like most
of the defence, carried the can for the defeat at the
hands of the rampaging Celtic wingers.
FERDY VIERKLAU (28)
Once regarded as one of the best defensive talents
playing in the Netherlands (he won 20 under-21
caps, and scored one goal), Ferdi Vierklau, together
with Roy Makaay, left Vitesse forTenerife of Spain
in a multi-million guilder deal. At Tenerife he
i was often suspended or injured, and during
the 1998/99 season Ajax tempted him
away from the holiday island. Vierklau,
who was a fans' favourite in Utrecht, has
played twice for the Dutch national team
but the injury-prone defender has failed
to impress the Amsterdam crowd so far
and was another who sat on the bench
against Celtic.
DANIEL CRUZ (20)
Colombian import to Amsterdam on a
high from Academica Futbol de
Tucaman and it looks like a good deal.
