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WAX PAMNMKOS
We take a look at Ajax's illustrious continental history, that includes four European Cup
triumphs over the years.
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THE GLORY YEARS
DIUITOnl MIRISIEIRIS
Dick van Dijk heads Ajax into the lead in the
1971 European Cup Final at Wembley
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With 33 league titles and 18 KNVB Cups to their
name, Ajax - or Amsterdamsche Football
Club Ajax to give the Dutch side their full
name - are the Netherlands'most successful
club of all time,
Formedonl8March,1900, the 'Godenzonen' or 'Sons of the
Gods' as they are nicknamed, were elected to the top flight of
Dutch football in 1911 under the guidance of Jack Kirwan - who
won the FA Cup with us as a player in 1901. Their first league
success came in 1917/18 with English manager John Reynolds
at the helm.
Ajax won their ninth domestic title in 1956/57, topping the
newly re-named'Eredivisie'table. Their success enabled them
to enter continental competition for the first time, as they
won 3-1 at Wismut Karl Marx Stadt on their European Cup
debut on 20 November, 1957. Progressing to the next round
by virtue of a 4-1 aggregate victory over the East German
outfit, Ajax were eliminated at the quarter final stage by
VasasSC of Flungary.
The club didn't have to wait long to experience continental
success though. In 1962 they beat arch-rivals Feyenoord
4-2 in the final of the International Football Cup - the
predecessor of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Seven years later,
they reached the final of the European Cup for the first
time but were beaten 4-1 by Milan at the Estadio Santiago
Bernabeu on 28 May, 1969.
By the end of the 1960s, Ajax's Johan Cruyff had
established himself as one of the finest players in world
football. In 1969/70, the
winger won his fourth
Eredivisie title with his
home city club and second
domestic 'double', with Ajax
also winning KNVB Cup that
season.
The following campaign,
Ajax saw off Albanian
sidel7Nentoriaswell
as FC Basel, Celtic and
Atletico Madrid to reach
the European Cup Final
of 2 June, 1971, which was
EUROPEAN CHAMPION CLUBS CUP
1908
EUROPfENNES DE FOOT BALI
WEDNESDAY. 2nd JUNE. 1871 Kick-off 7 46 p.m.
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME 10p
OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME