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MJMBER OHE
EFGTFE ROOM
STOPPER
the ram
Pride Park Stadium
Former Dinamo
Bucharest goalkeeper
Bogdan Lobont joined
Ajax in 2001 and has gone
on to be their top keeper.
The 25-year-old (right),
born in Hunedoara in
Romania, is an agile keeper
whose shot-stopping is second
to none. He dominates his
penalty area well and handles
crosses well.
Another impressive season
in 2002-03 means Lobont
should retain his name on the
teamsheet for the new
campaign but, as with all top
sides, there is great
competition for places at Ajax
especially with the arrival of
experienced goalie Sander
Bosch ker.
Boschker, 32, joined the
Dutch giants from FC "Twente
- where he was between the
sticks for 15 seasons - at the
start of June and there's no
doubt he'll keep Lobont on his
toes.
He played 356 matches in
the Dutch League for Twente
and the highlight of his career
so far was beating PSV in the
final of the Amstel Cup in
2001He saved three
penalties in the shoot-out to
clinch victory.
Lobont and Boschker are
joined in the goalkeeping ranks
by youngster Maarten
Stekleenburg, a 20-year-old
youth product who Ajax
officials believe has a very
bright future.
Although many of
Ajax's stars come
from across the
globe, one of the club's
best success stories is
former youth player Rafael
van der Vaart - further
evidence that an emphasis
on an Academy set-up is
still just as important to
the Dutch giants as it ever
was.
The talented 20-year-old
midfielder (right), who was
born in Beverwijk in the
Netherlands, has been
associated with the
Amsterdam Arena club since
he was 10 and knows no other
way of playing the game than
the Ajax way.
Taking that into account it is
easy to see how such an
education has developed van
der Vaart into a competitive
midfielder who is strong in the
challenge and energetic with
an unerring eye for a quality
pass or ball into the box.
Van der Vaart is a born
winner, as just three defeats in
38 starts for the club shows,
and that helps him fit in well
with a club that strives to win
a trophy every single season.
It is also great for the
youngster that he can look
around him and see so much
talent alongside him in the
engine room.
The experience of Tomas
Galasek and the unique flair of
Brazilian Maxwell all add to a
nice mix in the midfield.
Defender Cristian
Chivu is a tough-
tackling, no-
nonsense customer who
epitomises the tremendous
battling spirit that runs
through Ronald Koeman's
side.
The Romanian (right) joined
Ajax from Croiva in 1999 and
has become a popular figure at
the heart of the backline, his
expertly timed last-gasp
tackles often a feature in good
defensive displays.
One of Ajax's strengths is
their ability to keep the
opposition at bay and Chivu is
joined in defence by some of
the finest players in European
football. Tunisian-born Hatem
Trabelsi, signed from
homeland side Club Sportif
Sfax in 2001has been linked
with the Premiership in the
past and is a right-back with
bags of ability.
The opposite side of the
backline is often occupied by
Oslo-born Andre Bergdolmo,
the 31-year-old former
Rosenborg man who is as
committed as they come,
twinned with great technical
ability. A squad packed with
stars also sees defensive
options in the form of youth
products Johnny Heitinga and
Nigel de Jong, Finnish star
Petri Pasanen and the man
with the film star name and
bags of talent to go with it -
Jelle Van Damme.
He may not be the
global icon of
someone like David
Beckham but Swedish
striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is
a massive hero at the
Amsterdam Arena.
The Malmo-born frontman
(right), signed from his
hometown club in 2001has the
kind of swashbuckling, never-
say-die approach to the game
that all fans love.
And what's more, 22-year-
old Ibrahimovic certainly knows
how to hit the back of the net.
He bagged an impressive haul of
21 goals last season, five of
those coming against top class
opposition in the Champions
League.
Adored by the Ajax faithful,
Ibrahimovic will be keen to have
another impressive campaign
but there's no shortage of top-
notch hitmen gearing up to take
his goalscoring crown.
Brazilian striker Wamberto,
the experienced frontman
signed from Standard Luik back
in 1998, is a seasoned player and
home favourite Andy van der
Meyde, who has now been with
the Amsterdam Arena club for
10 years, is also a threat in front
of goal.
Add to that former Vitesse
Arnhem frontman Victor Sikora
and the clinical Nourdin
Boukhari, among others, and it
is easy to see why Ajax will be a
good pre-season test for the
Rams tonight.
and ticket hotline: call Derby County Direct 0870 444 1884
