Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax, also known as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam, or commonly Ajax, is a Dutch professional football club based in Amsterdam, that plays in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football. Historically, Ajax is the most successful club in the Netherlands, with 36 Eredivisie titles and 20 KNVB Cups. It has continuously played in the Eredivisie since the league's inception in 1956, and along with Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, it is one of the country's "big three" clubs that have dominated that competition.
Dirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch former football player and coach. He is the current manager of the Curaçao national football team.
Rudolphus Antonius "Roy" Makaay is a Dutch professional football coach and former footballer. As a forward, he was known for his goal-scoring ability as a result of his "aerial prowess and quick drives to the net where he can put the ball away with either foot."
Arjen Robben is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a winger. Known for his dribbling skills, speed, ball control and long-range shots, he is regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest wingers in the history of the sport.
Ronald Koeman is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who is the manager of the Netherlands national team. Koeman scored over 250 goals whilst playing in defence for the majority of his career. Koeman was capable of playing both as a defender and as a midfielder; he frequently played as a sweeper, although he was equally known for his goalscoring, long-range shooting, and accuracy from free kicks and penalties. Because of his goalscoring, he is considered one of the best attacking center backs of all time.
The Eredivisie is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. As of the 2024–25 season, it is ranked the sixth-best league in Europe by UEFA.
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel is a Dutch football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackling machine and expert ball-winner, but he also boasts a fine array of passes and a powerful shot, having been a free-kick specialist during his PSV days".
Søren Lerby is a Danish former football player, manager, and licensed agent. As a player, he spent most of his career in Dutch football, winning five Eredivisie championships with Ajax Amsterdam and two with PSV Eindhoven. With the latter club, he also won the 1988 European Cup. He won two Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, and played one season for AS Monaco in France. He played 67 matches for the Denmark national football team from 1978 to 1989, and represented Denmark at the 1986 FIFA World Cup and two European Championship tournaments. Currently, he is the agent of Galatasaray winger Dries Mertens.
Johannes Franciscus "Hans" van Breukelen is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was the technical director of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) from 2017 until 2018.
Dirk Jan Klaas Huntelaar, known professionally as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Gerald Mervin Vanenburg is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a right winger.
Nick Viergever is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Utrecht. He also made three appearances for the Netherlands national team.
Mario Götze is a German professional footballer who plays for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and the Germany national team. Although his favoured position is that of an attacking or central playmaker, Götze has also played as a winger or false nine.
Jetro Danovich Sexer Willems is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back or left-back for Segunda División club Castellón.
During the 2004–05 season AFC Ajax participated in the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup.
During the 2001–02 season, Feyenoord participated in the Eredivisie, the highest-ranking league in Dutch football. They also played in the KNVB Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Cup. They were crowned champions of the 2002 UEFA Cup after beating Borussia Dortmund (Germany) in the final.
Erik ten Hag is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who most recently managed Premier League club Manchester United.
Lineth Enid Fabienne Beerensteyn is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Frauen-Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Netherlands national team.
Ryan Jiro Gravenberch is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team. Considered one of the best young defensive midfielders in the world, he is known for his passing and dribbling ability.
Malik Leon Tillman is a professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club PSV. Born in Germany, he represents the United States national team.
