July 1991
Ajax… Fifteen Years Ago
The summer break of 1991 is only 30 days long for Ajax. The
first training for the new season is scheduled for 15 July in
the Amsterdamse Bos. During those 30 days of silence
at De Meer, however, Ajax are remarkably active on the transfer
market. Last year the club did not sell or buy any players and
kept their young, talented squad intact. This year the merry-go
round is in full swing.
The most remarkable transfer is that of Richard Witschge,
who had a conflict with coach Leo Beenhakker last season and
scored only once. Yet, he drew the attention of the mighty FC
Barcelona, who were willing to pay 7 million guilders for him -
an offer Ajax couldn't refuse. Defenders Peter Larsson and Mark
Verkuyl already disappeared through the back door during the
latter months of the 1990-1991 campaign, to AIK Stockholm and
FC Groningen, respectively.
Witschge's successor could be presented in no-time: Alfons
Groenendijk (28), generally regarded as one of Holland's best
left-footed midfielders, moves from Roda JC to De Meer. Ajax
also purchase a right-footed midfielder, namely Robbie Alflen
(24) of FC Utrecht. A surprising buy. The most remarkable (and
most expensive) newcomer, however, is headstrong striker John
van Loen (27), who was very succesful for Utrecht and Roda but
much less so at RSC Anderlecht in Belgium. Van Loen is happy to
return to the Eredivisie - and over the moon that his new club
will be Ajax.
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| The newcomers, from left to right: Rob Alflen, Alfons
Groenendijk, John Hansen, Dan Petersen and John van
Loen. |
And there are more newcomers. Ajax also land two players
from Danish side Odense: defender John Hansen (19) and the
extremely talented Dan Petersen (20), who - just like Dennis
Bergkamp - prefers the 'number 10' position but can also play
on the right wing. Finally, on the day of the first training it
appears that Beenhakker has added no less than nine youth
players to the first team - at least for the time being.
Goalkeeper Dennis van de Poll, fullback Michael Reiziger,
defenders Jeffrey van As and Dick van Burik, striker Michael
Mols and midfielders Guus Uhlenbeek, Michael Kandhai, Tarik
Oulida and (what an interesting family name…) Martin
Cruyff. Will they stay or drop back to Ajax-2? Time will tell.
For now, they are proud to be here, on 15 July, in the
Amsterdam Woods, with the first team.
Ronald de Boer is missing, and for a reason. With Pettersson
and Van Loen above him in the hierarchy he probably won't.
That's why Ajax decided to loan him out for a season, to
Eredivisie side FC Twente. All in all, it seems like Leo
Beenhakker and his assistants, Bobby Haarms and Louis van Gaal,
will have a good squad at their disposal this season.
During the first week of training at De Meer the fans have a
lot to discuss. The new players, but also a couple of very
prominent new sponsors. Ajax landed a new kit sponsor (Umbro)
as well as - after a ten year partnership with TDK - a new
'main sponsor'. For ten million guilders Ajax will play with
the name of ABN AMRO for the next three seasons, the brand-new
merger between Dutch banks ABN and AMRO. The sponsor name will
appear vertically on the jersey - a novelty in
football. The new away kit will have the colours of ABN AMRO:
green with a yellow triangle.
Indeed, Ajax will look different this season. Even more
remarkable than the new players, the new kits or the new
sponsors is the club's brand-new logo. As per 01 July 1991 the
old, Greek head of Ajax, the warrior, has been replaced with a
simplified version of the classic logo: eleven simple lines
form the flashy, new Ajax crest. The Michael van Praag board
decided to change the logo in order to underscore the new sense
of professionalism within the club. Ajax want to look to the
future and - after a number of dark years - return to the top.
Of The Netherlands and Europe.
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Out with the old crest...
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... and in with the new.
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Time for the first pre-season games against Dutch amateur
clubs. The first one is on 20 July at Sparta Nijkerk (0-8),
followed by wins over JVC '31 on the 23rd (0-6) and Middelburg
on the 24th (0-3). After that Ajax travel to Ghent, Belgium,
where they are one of the participating teams in the local HCS
Tournament. The first game, against Royal Antwerp FC (26 July),
is lost by 1-0, but the Amsterdammers look very good two days
later, against AA Ghent (2-0). Ajax finish second in the
tournament, behind winners Steaua Bucharest.
On 29 July it's Open Day at De Meer. The stadium is packed
to the last seat for the event. There is a public training
session, with live (and pretty funny!) commentary from
head-coach Leo Beenhakker, every player is presented to the
crowd and there is a very low-key kickabout between Ajax and a
team of 'KNVB All-Stars', which Ajax win by the score of 2-1.
The sun is shining at De Meer and everyone's smiling. The 'SVV
trauma' of June 1991 is forgotten. Time for a new season!
(MP)
29 July 1991: Open Day at De Meer. Cheerleaders in Ajax
training suits add lustre to the presentation of new striker
John van Loen..
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