AFC Ajax is a club that is stooped in history. Pioneers of ‘total football’ in the late 60s and 70s with the legendary Johan Cryuff at the forefront. Their youth system is highly revered throughout the footballing world producing the likes of Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp and Clarence Seedorf to name but a few.
Leading the new generation and continuing the lineage of fantastic football players that have come from the club is the sublime Siem de Jong. De Jong is Ajax captain at age 23 and demonstrated his skills and eye for goal with three strikes against Man City, home and away, in the Champions League.
Domestically, Ajax are beginning to exert their authority on the Eredivisie once more, winning consecutive titles but in European competition they have experienced something of a decline. They have been handed a true ‘group of death’ this year, coupled with Real Madrid, Broussia Dortmound and Man City, all champions in their respective countries.
But the team have performed above expectations and still have a reasonable shot at reaching the latter stages of the competition. Their performances against Man City were statements that Ajax will soon once again be a force to be reckoned with, Siem de Jong the spearhead of the Ajax renaissance.
On Wednesday night, we got a loo
k at Ajax and Dutch football’s future. De Jong’s two goals were superbly taken and he could have easily scored a hat-trick. City had no answer for him as he roamed free in an attacking midfield role and caused the English problems all night long.
With 126 appearances and two league titles to his name already at his young age, De Jong will only get better and following his outstanding performances in the Champions League he will surely be on many of Europe’s top clubs radars.
I can imagine City’s owner Sheikh Mansour watching de Jong tear his team apart and say to one of his many advisors ‘buy that one in January’.
Ajax will have to hope that the talented young man hangs around long enough to restore the Dutch club to its former European glories.