Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax, also known as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam, or simply 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.
Feyenoord Rotterdam is a Dutch professional association football club in Rotterdam, which plays in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football. Founded as Wilhelmina in 1908, the club changed to various names before settling on being called after its neighbourhood in 1912 as SC Feijenoord, updated in 1974 to SC Feyenoord, and then to Feyenoord in 1978, when it split from the amateur club under its wing, SC Feyenoord. Since 1937, Feyenoord's home ground has been the Stadion Feijenoord, nicknamed De Kuip, the second largest stadium in The Netherlands.
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 2023–24 season, it is ranked the 5th-best league in Europe by UEFA.
Petrus Johannes "Piet" Keizer was a Dutch professional footballer who played as a left winger.
Willem "Wim" van Hanegem is a Dutch former football player and coach who played as a midfielder. In a playing career spanning over 20 years, he won several domestic honours in the Netherlands, as well as a European Cup and a UEFA trophy, all with Feyenoord. He was also a finalist in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. As a manager, he won the league and cup with Feyenoord and spent a period as the Dutch national team's assistant coach. His most recent job as manager was for FC Utrecht, from 2007 to 2008.
Wilhelmus Marinus Antonius Jansen was a Dutch professional football player and manager.
De Klassieker is the main football rivalry of the Netherlands, between Ajax and Feyenoord. The record attendance was on 9 January 1966, when 65,562 watched in Rotterdam.
Marinus "Rinus" David Israël is a Dutch former professional football player and manager who is currently a scout. Nicknamed "Iron Rinus", he formed a solid defence line at Feyenoord with Theo Laseroms.
Matheus Wilhelmus Theodorus "Theo" Laseroms was a Dutch football defender who made a name for himself when he played for Feijenoord. He gained six caps for the Netherlands national team.
Gerardus ("Gerrie") Dominicus Hyacinthus Maria Mühren was a Dutch footballer who played as a midfielder. He was the older brother of Arnold Mühren, who likewise played for the Netherlands national team.
The history of Feyenoord, a Dutch football club formed in 1908, is among the longest and most successful in Dutch football. The club won their first national championship in 1924 and over nearly a century have won thirty major trophies. Feyenoord is based in the city of Rotterdam.
Dirk Wouter Johannes "Dick" van Dijk was a Dutch professional footballer who played for FC Twente and Ajax Amsterdam. He was a member of Ajax's European Cup victory in 1971. He earned seven caps for the Netherlands national football team.
Jesaia Swart, commonly known as Sjaak Swart, is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a winger for Ajax. During his career at Ajax, he amassed a total of almost 600 matches, a record for the club.
Johannes Cornelis "Joop" van Daele is a retired Dutch footballer who was active as a defender.
Jan-Arie van der Heijden is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre back, most recently for Eredivisie club Willem II.
Steven Berghuis is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Eredivisie club Ajax and the Netherlands national team. He can play as either a winger or an attacking midfielder.
AFC Ajax is one of the most successful clubs in Dutch football. Historically, Ajax is the most successful club in the Netherlands, with 36 Eredivisie titles and 20 KNVB Cups.
Anton "Ton" Pronk was a Dutch football defender who played for Ajax in the 1960s and for FC Utrecht in the early 1970s.
The 2002–03 season was Feyenoord at 47th consecutive season playing in the Eredivisie, the top division of Dutch football. Feyenoord finished 3rd in the 2002–03 Eredivisie and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. In the KNVB Cup, they lost the final to FC Utrecht. In the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League, Feyenoord was eliminated after the group stage.
