{"id":30583,"date":"2017-12-26T15:30:46","date_gmt":"2017-12-26T15:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/?p=30583"},"modified":"2017-12-26T08:53:45","modified_gmt":"2017-12-26T08:53:45","slug":"ajax-2017-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/ajax-2017-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Ajax&#8217; 2017 in Review: A fantastic European run overshadowed by drama and sorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax \u2013 probably the most important club in the development of the sport of football \u2013 is caught between two worlds. One world, a place of misery and underachievement in a declining Eredivisie league. Another world, a place of joy and success at a global level. The year of 2017 was one of, if not the most, vacillating in the club\u2019s recent history: packed with high climaxes and depressing troughs. Let\u2019s look at AFC Ajax\u2019 past year.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>By January of 2017, Ajax\u2019s season was already halfway done. A lot had occurred since the summer of \u201916 \u2013 Peter Bosz was hired to replace the legendary Frank de Boer, cash was dealt out for Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech and unknown Columbian talent Davinson S\u00e1nchez, and opinions were mixed on the club\u2019s chances for the 16\/17 season. Ajax were knocked out of the Champions League by Russian side Rostov in an embarrassing fashion, and soon many fans\u2019 opinions turned sour.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"nl\" dir=\"ltr\">66. Goal Rostov. Poloz maakt er 4-0 van. Hij gaat alleen op Cillessen af en scoort&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UCL<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/rosaja?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#rosaja<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AFCAjax\/status\/768540934422298624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 24, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>However, hopes began to rise again after the emergence of Ziyech and Danish striker Kasper Dolberg. The club picked up form in the Europa League and went undefeated in the group, advancing their European hopes. The Eredivisie was looking hopeful as well \u2013 with Feyenoord only five points ahead at the top, anything was possible come 2017.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>A European Adventure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>During the January break, Ajax Technical Director Marc Overmars splashed out the cash on Brazilian teen David Neres, who proved to be integral to the club\u2019s league campaigns throughout the year. Many players were ushered out of the door, including exiled Nemanja Gudelj, who had a bust-up with Bosz in training. The team was still strong enough, though, as the likes of Ziyech, Dolberg, S\u00e1nchez, and Davy Klaassen were still performing well on the pitch.<\/p>\n<p>Ajax began 2017 with a vengeance, winning seven straight league matches to stay in the title race. In the Europa League, a controversial 0-0 draw away at Legia Warsaw was followed by an all-too-close 1-0 win to advance to the Round of 16. As the squad pushed on in the league, FC K\u00f8benhavn proved tough challengers in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Away in Denmark, K\u00f8benhavn scored a stunner within 60 seconds. A young Ajax squad looked shaken but determined, and Kasper Dolberg scored an equalising goal soon after. However, the home side grabbed another goal before full-time as Ajax were forced to recover in the second leg. Recover they did \u2013 Bertrand Traor\u00e9 and Dolberg both scored in the following match to send Ajax through to the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/ajaxdailydotcom\/status\/842790741374046208<\/p>\n<p>After a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/ajax-edge-rivals-feyenoord-top-table-clash-psv-keep-hunt\/\">fantastic victory<\/a> over title rivals Feyenoord in April, Ajax faced off against Schalke 04 in the Europa League. A dominant performance at the Amsterdam ArenA and a Davy Klaassen double saw <em>De Godenzonen <\/em>lead the tie 2-0 at full-time. Despite the win, the second leg in Germany would be anything but straightforward.<\/p>\n<p>After a scoreless first half, Leon Goretzka and Guido Burgstaller scored in quick succession for the Bundesliga club \u2013 tying the aggregate score at 2-2 and sending the match to extra time. Daniel Caligiuri\u2019s header from Sead Kolasinac\u2019s cross gave Schalke the advantage in extra time, but the young, pesky Ajacieden would not back down.<\/p>\n<p>In the 110<sup>th<\/sup> minute, Nick Viergever\u2019s touch in the box went astray, but the clearance cannoned off of Viergever and into the net. The defender was swarmed by teammates on the floor of the pitch \u2013 the away goal meant Ajax were going through. An Amin Younes goal guaranteed the victory and an appearance in the Europa League Semi-Finals.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/FrankKoken\/status\/855171154507698176<\/p>\n<p>After losing to PSV, Ajax\u2019 hopes of an Eredivisie title were all but over. Hopes for any silverware were hedged on the European competition. French side Olympique Lyonnais squared off against Ajax in the Semis \u2013 certainly no walk-overs. It didn\u2019t seem like that in the first leg, though, as the Amsterdammers dominated Lyon in a 4-1 thrashing.<\/p>\n<p>In typical Ajax fashion, the second leg was not as simple as it should\u2019ve been. Despite a Kasper Dolberg goal, a quick Alexandre Lacazette brace before halftime decreased the margin to two. Rachid Gezzal\u2019s goal in the 81<sup>st<\/sup> made for a tense finish, and a few fluffed chances for Lyon meant that Ajax (barely) escaped to make the Europa League Final. It was the first time Ajax made a European cup final this millennium \u2013 a fantastic achievement for a squad that was counted out at the start of the season.<\/p>\n<p>Back in Holland, Feyenoord managed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/eredivisie-roundup-jubilant-feyenoord-seal-first-title-18-years\/\">win on the final day<\/a> and claim the title. Peter Bosz\u2019 men gave the club from Rotterdam a run for their money, but in the end it wasn\u2019t enough. Ajax still received acclaim for their second-place finish and brilliant style of football, something that was often missing when Frank de Boer was in charge. The focus quickly shifted to Stockholm, where Manchester United awaited the young Ajax team in the Europa League Final.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/europa-league-final-preview-ajax-vs-manchester-united-may-24-2017\/\">Jos\u00e9 Mourinho vs Peter Bosz<\/a>; two managers descended from the Cruijffian school of football, but two completely different mindsets on how to attack a match tactically. Mourinho\u2019s pragmatism and sturdiness would make things extremely difficult for Ajax to break down his \u00fcber-talented squad, but Bosz\u2019 free-flowing possession game would definitely pose the English team some trouble.<\/p>\n<p>United took the lead in the first half from a deflected Paul Pogba longshot and never looked back. Henrikh Mkhitaryan\u2019s brilliant goal from a corner after halftime really put the match out of reach for Ajax and, despite their best efforts, United took home the trophy when the fulltime whistle blew. It was ultimately a defeat for Ajax, but at the macro level it was an astounding victory. Ajax and Dutch football were back on the map of European football after proving they have what it takes to compete with the best on the continent.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>A Gloomy Summer &amp; Moving Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The summer window saw a mass exodus of players \u2013 Klaassen, S\u00e1nchez, Riedewald, and Tete left for a combined \u20ac80 million. However, the biggest loss was that of Peter Bosz, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/bosz-moving-to-dortmund\/\">left for Borussia Dortmund<\/a> after a falling out with the Ajax hierarchy. It was a major loss for the club as Bosz was getting the squad to play some of the finest football I\u2019ve ever watched. However, it was the insanely unfortunate and sad event during the preseason that shook the club to its core.<\/p>\n<p>When Abdelhak Nouri <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/scary-moment-appie-nouri\/\">went down<\/a> during a preseason match in Austria, I wasn\u2019t so sure what\u2019d happened. However, after minutes of waiting and watching the worried expressions of Ajax players and staff, my opinion switched to one of nervousness. News came out that Nouri \u2013 20-years-old \u2013 suffered from heart dysrhythmia that caused oxygen to be cut off to his brain for an extended period of time. In short, Nouri\u2019s brain functions were severely harmed and are still not recovered to this date.<\/p>\n<p>The outpouring of support and genuine love for Appie Nouri and his family was awe-inspiring, and football was about the last thing on everyone\u2019s mind heading into the new season. Marcel Keizer, hired to replace Bosz, had to deal with the difficult task of motivating a team that \u2013 quite understandably, was distracted by the state of their teammate. Ajax lost on away goals to OGC Nice in the Champions League Qualification Playoffs, and an aggregate loss to Rosenborg ended Ajax\u2019 European adventure early. Still, I must emphasise the fact that no blame should be dealt to anyone for this; I cannot imagine the pain felt by everyone at the club in the weeks and months following Appie Nouri\u2019s collapse and subsequent health condition.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Troll__Footbal\/status\/892842730191302656<\/p>\n<p>The Eredivisie season continued in a much more positive fashion. Bar a few slip-ups against Heracles, ADO, and Vitesse, Ajax won every match up until November. Unfortunately, PSV Eindhoven, bolstered by new signing Hirving Lozano, were relentless and eventually found themselves ten points clear of Ajax at the top. In December, Ajax <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byfarthegreatestteam.com\/posts\/eredivisie-17-18-week-15\/\">thoroughly defeated<\/a> PSV in <em>De Topper<\/em>, and now Ajax are in second and within 5 points of the leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Right before the Eredivisie broke for winter break, the shocking news came out that Ajax had suspended (i.e. sacked) Marcel Keizer and other staff members, including Dennis Bergkamp. While this came as a major surprise considering the positive recent results, many fans were quite pleased considering the array of better coaching options. Bergkamp in particular was reported to be the main reason for Peter Bosz\u2019 exit, so it\u2019s possible that the road for Bosz to return has been paved.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>If you\u2019ve read this entire yearly review of AFC Ajax and still think there\u2019s a more drama-filled, ever-intriguing, totally shocking sports club in the world, please let me know. I cannot fathom any sort of journey of fandom as perplexing and exciting as the one of an Ajax supporter, though I can admit to my bias. From a miraculous European adventure to boardroom drama to the emergence of superb young stars, Ajax has had <em>quite <\/em>the 2017.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, though, we must take a step back and put sport into perspective. That is exactly what Appie Nouri\u2019s situation has forced me to do, and I challenge you to do the same.<\/p>\n<p>#StayStrongAppie<\/p>\n<div class=\"zak-oembed-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jij bent Ajax, Appie \u2764\" width=\"812\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JXi80p9Sjr0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax \u2013 probably the most important club in the development of the sport of football \u2013 is caught between two worlds. One world, a place of misery and underachievement in a declining Eredivisie league. Another world, a place of joy and success at a global level. The year of 2017 was one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":24661,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1621],"tags":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ajax&#039; 2017 in review: European Final, #StayStrongAppie, &amp; Total Football<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"AFC Ajax has been the most interesting club to follow in the year of 2017. 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