Ajax Amsterdam, Founded in 1900

Ajax are a professional football club based in Amsterdam and are one of the strongest and historically successful clubs in Dutch football. Ajax along with fellow Dutch clubs Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven are widely considered as the top three sides currently competing in the Eredivisie.

Ajax was founded in 1900 and they immediately began to establish themselves as an ambitious club gaining promotion to the highest level of Dutch football in 1911. However, Ajax suffered relegation in 1914 after just a brief period at the top but they showed resilience and soon returned in 1917 lifting the Dutch Cup in the same year. This success was just the beginning as in 1918 Ajax lifted the League title for the first time in the club’s history and then topped this achievement in 1919 when they retained the title for the second successive season without suffering defeat once. Ajax enjoyed a golden era in the 1930’s becoming the most successful team in the Dutch league lifting five Championship titles.

More success followed in the 1940’s but not at the same level that Ajax had enjoyed in the 1930’s. In the early1950’s Ajax struggled to make an impact on the league however when Dutch football turned professional in 1954 the club soon imposed themselves as serious contenders lifting their first Eredivisie title in 1957 and then again in 1960 narrowly pushing out rivals Feyenoord. The early 1960’s brought a period of struggle to Ajax as they endured their worst form in years but a complete overhaul soon saw the club bounce back to become League Champions in 1966 and 1967 helped by star player Johan Cruff. The year 1968 would prove to be even bigger for Ajax as they lifted the title and reached the European Cup final only to be defeated by AC Milan.

The 1970’s saw Ajax establish a stranglehold on Europe lifting various European accolades and this form continued until Johan Cruff left the club and things began to unravel. Ajax were not to enjoy the same level of success until 1995 when they lifted the Champion’s League trophy. Since 1995 Ajax have struggled to reach the high levels of success in Europe but they have never been far away from the main contenders. Traditionally Ajax's main rivals were Feyenoord but recently they have enjoyed hard pitched battles with PSV Eindhoven for the League title.