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Ajax reveals squad and jersey numbers for 2002-2003
20 June: The Ajax-1 squad for 2002-2003 will be very similar
to the 2001-2002 selection. The number of newcomers and players
leaving will be is even smaller than expected. Ajax.nl revealed
the official Ajax selection today, including jersey
numbers.
The only newcomers in the team are players we already know:
Belgian defender Jelle Van Damme already made his Ajax-1 debut
last season. Young Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is
added to the squad as the third goalie, behind Bogdan Lobont
(#1) and Joey Didulica (#21). Lobont, Richard Witschge and -
surprisignly - Aron Winter are back in Ronald Koeman's
selection.
According to unconfirmed rumors, players such as Pius
Ikedia, Cedrid van der Gun and Abubakari Yakubu were told to
go. Regardless whether these rumors were true or not: those
players are still members of the Ajax squad.
The only players to have disappeared from the team sheet are
Ferdi Vierklau, Richard Knopper and Daniël Cruz. They are
no longer part of the Ajax-1 team.
Despite the limited number of newcomers, many players will
have a different jersey number next year. Many players are
given the number that is 'traditionally' associated with their
respective positions. For example, right-back Hatem Trabelsi
wore the somewhat unlikely #6 last season, but will wear the
'traditional' jersey number for a right-back from now on:
#2.
John O'Brien (#18) last year, made such an excellent
impression as a left-back that Koeman assigned him the
traditional left-back jersey number, #5. The magic number 10
was - as expected - assigned to Rafaël van der Vaart,
whereas the fact that Bogdan Lobont is the new #1 indicates
that Ronald Koeman regards the Romanian as his first man,
rather than Joey Didulica (#21). (MP)
Related links:
(Source: Ajax.nl)
