Daniel de Ridder signs new deal until summer 2007
22 December: For a few days it seemed like last
Sunday's appearance as a substitute against FC Groningen
was Daniël de Ridder's last in the Ajax jersey. Unhappy
with his situation the Amsterdammer admitted that he
was ready for a transfer. For that reason today's news
from the ArenA came as a surprise: De Ridder has chosen for
Ajax. And Ajax have chosen for
him. De Ridder agreed to the terms of a new
contract that will tie him to Ajax until the summer of
2007.
The Ajax fans will be particularly pleased with De
Ridder's unexpected commitment. The born and raised
Amsterdammer, a product of the Ajax youth system, is extremely
popular with the supporters and generally praised for his
intelligence and mature personality. De Ridder's honesty broke
the hearts of many in a recent edition of FC
Godenzonen, the weekly Ajax talkshow on AT5
television: De Ridder told that playing for Ajax was
his dream. He became visibly emotional when answering
questions about his current position at the club: that of
a substitute and - more importantly - that of a young
player craving for a pat on the shoulder from the
coaching staff.
That 'pat on the shoulder' has now come in the form of a
personal talk with head-coach Ronald Koeman. "I've waited a
long time for some signs from Ajax that they believe in me.
Koeman's words have meant a lot to me: he expressed his faith
in me and this was also reflected by Ajax's new
offer. I am a happy man."
Daniël de Ridder (born Amsterdam, 06 March 1984) was
generally regarded as one of the gems of the Ajax youth system
when he was first added to the first squad in January 2004. He
made his first team début on 21 January 2004 in the
Eredivisie away game at Roda JC at age 19. He made a good
impression in his nine appearances, but his first season as a
fully-fledged member of the Ajax-1 squad, however, started with
a few painful setbacks: in the summer Ronald Koeman ignored De
Ridder and announced that he was going to give young
Tom De Mul a shot as Ajax's right winger. Shortly
after that the club landed Argentinian international
Mauro Rosales, so that De Ridder became right winger #3 in
the hierarchy. Ronald Koeman told the player that he
should focus on midfield positions.
Ajax and De Ridder were open for transfer talks and
the player refused to sign his first serious
contract with Ajax, thereby remaining on an unusually low
'youth player's salary'. There was contact with English
Premiership outfit Tottenham Hotspur, but the time before the
closing of the transfer window appeared to be too short.
"Looking back I am glad that things went the way the went," De
Ridder now says.
This season De Ridder only had six appearances in Ajax-1,
including one as a starter. Having scored his first league goal
in May against Willem II, he netted a Ajax's only goal in the
Champions League game at Maccabi Tel Aviv, which Ajax lost in
dramatic fashion. That fixture was a special one for De Ridder,
who is Jewish and has an Israeli mother.
De Ridder's situation improved slightly during the first
half of the season: he leapfrogged De Mul in the Ajax hierarchy
and is now the usual replacement for Mauro Rosales. "Besides,"
De Ridder adds, "the technical staff told me that there are
also possibilities for me as a midfielder or a left winger.
I have decided to accept the challenge."
During the first half of the season several Eredivisie sides
expressed their interest in the elegant Ajacied. Vitesse
were interested in buying the player, but the transfer fee
demanded by Ajax was deemed to high by the Arnhem
club. Willem II, meanwhile, contacted Ajax about a
possible loan deal. It is as yet unclear whether Ajax are still
interested in loaning De Ridder out or not.
For the time being, the player himself is pleased with
his extended and improved deal: "It is very nice
to have found out that Ajax have faith in me and I will do
everything I can in order to contribute to our quest for the
championship, the Amstel Cup and the UEFA Cup." (MP)
Sources: Ajax.nl, Het Parool, VI.nl
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