List of AFC Ajax affiliated clubs

This article is about current and former affiliated football clubs of AFC Ajax. For a list of all affiliated clubs of Ajax, see AFC Ajax#Affiliated clubs.

Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈaːjɐks]), also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax (after the legendary Greek hero), is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands. The club is historically one of the three clubs that dominate the Dutch national football league (Eredivisie), the others being PSV and Feyenoord.

Ajax is historically one of the most successful clubs in the world; according to the IFFHS, Ajax were the seventh most successful European club of the 20th century.[1] The club is one of the five teams that has earned the right to keep the European Cup and to wear a multiple-winner badge; they won consecutively in 1971–1973. In 1972, they completed the European treble by winning the Dutch Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, and the European Cup; to date, they are the only team to keep the European Cup and accomplish the European treble. Ajax's last international trophies were the 1995 Intercontinental Cup and the 1995 Champions League, where they defeated Milan in the final; they lost the 1996 Champions League final on penalties to Juventus.

They are also one of three teams to win the treble and the Intercontinental Cup in the same season/calendar year;[2] This was achieved in the 1971–72 season.[3] Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich are the three clubs to have won all three major UEFA club competitions.[4] They have also won the Intercontinental Cup twice, the 1991–92 UEFA Cup, as well as the Karl Rappan Cup, a predecessor of the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1962.[5]

This list includes current and former football clubs who have entered partnership agreements with Ajax Amsterdam.

Current affiliated clubs

Ajax Cape Town

Main article: Ajax Cape Town F.C.

Ajax Cape Town is the South African 'sister' club of Ajax, playing in the Premier Soccer League. AFC Ajax N.V. are the majority shareholders in the Cape club with 51% of its shares. In 1999 the club evolved out of the amalgamation of two previous Cape Town clubs, namely Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs, with the later being the club from which Ajax had acquired South African International Benni McCarthy a year prior to the merger of the two clubs. Although the club from Cape Town has not always proven to be financially profitable to Ajax, its European counterpart still maintains a positive outlook on the joint venture, and foresees a bright future for its South African associate club.[6][7]

The partnership between the two clubs focuses on five main points:

Since the club's inception, several young players have successfully made the step over to the Amsterdam club, such as Steven Pienaar, Eyong Enoh and Thulani Serero.

Almere City

Main article: Almere City FC

Almere City FC are a club from Almere, Flevoland, situated only 21,9 miles (35,2 km) away from Amsterdam, and playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, the 2nd tier of professional football in the Netherlands. The partnership between the two clubs began on 1 July 2005, with their first contractual agreement lasting until 30 June 2010, bringing with it an intense collaborative effort between the two sides.[8] The close geographical proximity of the two clubs, allows for young Ajax players to be loaned out to Almere without having to travel to far from their homes. Their partnership focuses on the youth teams, and exchanging emerging players from both sides, as well as sharing mutual coaching seminars and exchanging coaching methods. Several of the emerging players of Jong Ajax who require more playing time at a higher competition level than the youth leagues, are subsequently loaned to Almere City FC where they can play in the Dutch Eerste Divisie instead, in order to gain valuable playing experience. On 11 May 2010 a contract extension was agreed upon between the two clubs, extending their partnership until the summer of 2015.[9][10]

On 11 October 2012, former Ajax player, Jong Ajax trainer, and then manager of Ajax U-19 Fred Grim was announced as the newly appointed manager of Almere City further strengthening the relationship between the two clubs.[11]

Barcelona

Main article: FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona are a Spanish club playing in La Liga, the top-flight of football in Spain. The relationship between Ajax and Barcelona dates back to the early seventies, when footballing innovators Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff made the move over to coach and play for the Catalan footballing giants. Over the years several Ajax players and managers have followed in their footsteps, and made the move to Barcelona, such as Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Frank de Boer, Ronald de Boer and Louis van Gaal amongst others.

On 2 June 2007, Technical director Martin van Geel announced that the two clubs would work closer together, sharing similar values and footballing philosophies, the focus of the partnership will be to exchange information amongst the technical, medical and coaching staff of the two clubs.[12][13] The partnership with Barcelona is unique for Ajax, since it is the only affiliated club, where Ajax is not the mother-club. The relationship focuses more on the youth development of Barcelona players. Young players from FC Barcelona B, who are not yet ready to make the step to the first team can be loaned to Ajax for a season to obtain valuable playing time in the Eredivisie, rather than playing in the Segunda División in Spain. Former players such as Gabri and Oleguer have also moved to Amsterdam following successful stints in Barcelona as well.[14]

On 31 January 2013 under newly appointed Technical Director at Ajax Marc Overmars, the young winger Isaac Cuenca was loaned from Barcelona for the remainder of the season,[15] while Bojan Krkić was loaned to Ajax the season following.[16] On 4 November 2014, an interview with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was published in the Dutch news publication De Telegraaf, where he refers to the Spanish club as the "Son of Ajax". He explained the influence Michels and Cruijff had on the club as being imperative in creating the infrastructure and culture present at the club today.[17]

Cruzeiro

Cruzeiro EC are a Brazilian club from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais playing in the Série A, the top flight of football in Brazil. The partnership between Ajax and Cruzeiro was announced on 14 December 2007, and serves as a sort springboard for Cruzeiro players who seek to play their professional football in Europe. Young players from the club are regularly invited to Amsterdam for trial periods, and in case Ajax decide to purchase a player from Cruzeiro, the Brazilian side then retain 35% proprietorship and transfer rights of the player. Furthermore, the two clubs organize exhibition matches between their senior, and more frequently their youth teams, to help promote international playing experience for their players.[18]

Beijing Guoan

Main article: Beijing Guoan F.C.

Beijing Guoan are a Chinese club from Beijing, playing in the CSL, the top flight of football in China. On 15 December 2007 AFC Ajax and their then main sponsor Aegon announced a partnership with Beijing Guoan to take immediate effect.[19][20] The purpose of the collaborative effort is to strengthen the AFC Ajax brand in China, but also to help improve the quality of the team's youth development, and to allow young talented Chinese players the opportunity to come perform in Amsterdam on trial periods.[21][22]

Palmeiras

Palmeiras are a Brazilian football club from São Paulo, playing in the Série A, the top flight of football in Brazil. On 10 January 2010 it was announced by Rik van den Boog and Marcelo Solarino that AFC Ajax and Palmeiras had agreed to collaborate and to share information regarding each other's coaching, technical and medical staff.[23] The partnership focuses primarily on improving each other's youth teams, creating an exchange program, where the youth teams participate in each other's offseason tournaments in order for the players to obtain valuable international experience and exposure.[24] Furthermore, players from the Brazilian club are invited for trial periods in Amsterdam offering an opportunity for the players to make the move to Europe if they are able to convince during their visit at De Toekomst. Ajax also retain first choice for players that Palmeiras are looking to sell in this joint venture between the two clubs.[25]

On 14 January 2012, Palmeiras and AFC Ajax played their first competitive match, when Ajax paid a visit to the Brazilian club for the first time since entering this partnership. The match was played at Estádio Palestra Itália, Palmeiras home stadium, where the match ended in a 1–0 win for the Brazilian side.[26]

AS Trenčín

Main article: FK AS Trenčín

AS Trenčín are a Slovak club from Trenčín playing in the Corgoň Liga, the top flight of football in Slovakia. On 12 December 2012 it was announced, that Ajax and Trenčín would form a partnership, agreeing to a contract that would bind them until 2014. The Slovakian club is owned by former Ajax player and Johan Cruyff's good friend Tscheu La Ling. The purpose of the partnership is to share scouting information between the two clubs, for them to keep each other informed over the developing talent in each other's respective regions.[27] In 2013, Stanislav Lobotka was loaned to Ajax, while Gino van Kessel was sent to the Slovak club on a loan deal in return.[28]

Various HETT-clubs

Ajax have a number of partnerships with clubs from in and around Amsterdam (within approximately 35 km circumference) who fall under the HETT covenant. The HET was founded in 1946 to address the needs of clubs playing in the Hoofdklasse, Eerste Klasse and Tweede Klasse. Since the introduction of the Topklasse it has been referred to as the HETT. The HETT-clubs participate in meetings, training demonstrations at Sportpark De Toekomst and participate in the Ajax HETT-Tournament. They also share full access to the Ajax Online Academy and help scout for talent. The various partnerships are managed and overseen by Joost van Dam and Heini Otto for Ajax.[29]

Outside of the region around Amsterdam, Ajax have also formed partnerships with two additional amateur clubs from the Netherlands, as well as one from Belgium.[30][31]

Netherlands
Belgium

Former affiliated clubs

Ajax Orlando Prospects

Ajax Orlando Prospects was an American satellite-club of AFC Ajax, which was based in Orlando, Florida and played in the USL Premier Development League. The club was founded in 2003, and folded in 2007 due to financial difficulties. The purpose of the club was to give young footballers in America the opportunity to get recruited to play in the Netherlands for the club's Dutch counterpart.[32] Ajax saw it as an important step to create training-camps in the United States of which the Orlando club was the forerunner. The club focused primarily on youth development and staged younger players, in hopes to find a potential signee.[33] In 2005 former Ajax player Barry Hulshoff was announced as the club's Technical Director, and although the club has never seen any of its prospects actually make the transfer over to Amsterdam, the team has fielded talented players in its own right, including such luminaries as Dax McCarty, Nathan Sturgis and Pascal Millien.[34]

Germinal Beerschot

Main article: Germinal Beerschot

Germinal Beerschot is a Belgian club from Antwerp playing in the Jupiler Pro League the top-flight of football in Belgium.[35] On 27 May 1999 it was announced that AFC Ajax and KFC Germinal Beerschot had reached an agreement to form a partnership between the two clubs.[36] Germinal Beerschot was regarded as a good club to loan out Ajax players, who were deemed not yet ready for the first team selection, while also signing young talented players from the Belgian club who were regarded as ready for the step over to Ajax.[37] Noteworthy Ajax players who made the successful step over to Amsterdam include Jelle van Damme and Thomas Vermaelen.[38] Further talents include Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, all Belgian players whose shared roots lie with the club from Antwerp.[39]

Having formed a partnership with the Belgian club since 1999, Ajax acquired a majority of the shares in the Belgian club on 16 May 2000, to become the main shareholder of the club with 72,5% of the shares.[40] In 2003 the relationship between the two clubs began to wear, and on 13 March 2003, according to RTL Z, Ajax sold all of its shares in the club back to Belgian businessman Jos Verhaegen for the symbolic price of €1,- euro, ending the fusion of the clubs, which had proven to be a successful venture for the Amsterdam side.[41]

Ashanti Goldfields

Main article: Ashanti Gold SC

Ashanti Gold SC are a Ghanaian club from Obuasi, Ashanti Region playing in the Glo Premier League, the top-flight of football in Ghana. On 18 June 1999 it was announced, that AFC Ajax and the West African club from the mining town in the Ashanti region would form a partnership.[42] The primary purpose of the partnership was to improve the youth development program at Ashanti Gold SC, as well as to help improve the club's technical program, while offering trial periods in Amsterdam for promising young talent, looking to make the step over to the Eredivisie.[43] Following the joint venture, AFC Ajax owned 51% of the club, with the majority stake, while Ashanti Goldfields Corporation retained 49% proprietorship of the club.[44]

In 2000, Hans van der Pluijm was announced as the newly appointed Technical Director at Ashanti Gold SC, a position he held until 2002, and in February 2001, a modern Football Academy was commissioned at the Ofori Stadium, Obuasi at a cost of USD 360,000. The Ofori Stadium is the newly furbished training facility and second stadium of the Ghanaian club not far from their primary Len Clay Stadium. While several Ghanaian players had trial periods in Amsterdam, none were actually signed, and in February 2003, AFC Ajax sold their shares in the club back to Ashanti Goldfields, while still working together on the technical aspects of the club for a while, before all collaborative efforts between the two parties desisted.[45]

HFC Haarlem

Main article: HFC Haarlem

HFC Haarlem were a club from Haarlem, North Holland which last played in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, the 2nd tier of professional football in the Netherlands. The town of Haarlem is situated only 12,9 miles (20,7 km) outside of Amsterdam, and the relationship between the two clubs was considerably good. It was announced that the two clubs would begin working together in terms of helping each other when scouting for youth in 2001, and in 2006 their partnership was extended to include technical support for both clubs, as well as AFC Ajax loaning young players out to HFC Haarlem to acquire more experience playing in the Eerste Divisie.[46] The geographical proximity of the two clubs proved to be beneficial as the young players who were loaned to Haarlem would not have to travel far from home to the new temporary club.[47] In 2008, two years later the clubs agreed to extend their contract once more, while a new more intense program for the two teams was agreed on in 2009, under supervision of Cock Jol (brother of Martin Jol).[48] The partnership focused on four key points.[49]

On 10 January 2010, HFC Haarlem declared bankruptcy, putting an end to the club from Haarlem, and their partnership with AFC Ajax. Following the dissolution of HFC Haarlem, Ajax focused more on its relationship with FC Omniworld (now Almere City).[50]

FC Volendam

Main article: FC Volendam

FC Volendam are a Dutch football club from Volendam, North Holland playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, the 2nd tier of professional football in the Netherlands. On 13 July 2007 it was announced that AFC Ajax and FC Volendam would enter a partnership, in order to fortify each other's youth programs with a regular exchange of the club's coaching and technical staff, entering a three-year contract.[51][52]

On 30 June 2010, FC Volendam terminated the contract from their end, explaining a lack of cooperation as the reason for their termination, stating that the partnership was not noticeable enough, to justify a contract renewal. Volendam concluded that both clubs were to be seen as equal in value, and that the benefit of the partnership appeared too one-sided for them to feel a contract renewal would have benefited their side.[53]

References

  1. ↑ "Europe's Club of the Century". International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  2. ↑ with Manchester United in 1999 and FC Barcelona in 2009.
  3. ↑ UEFA sanctioned the UEFA Supercup for the first time in 1973. In 1972 was an unofficial edition and the I Centenary of Rangers (see History of the UEFA Supercup in uefa.com).
  4. ↑ (European Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup)
  5. ↑ UEFA sanctioned the UEFA Intertoto Cup for the first time in 1995. In the 1960s, it was unofficial. See History of UEFA Intertoto Cup in uefa.com. Archived March 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Ajax Cape Town primeur in professionele sportwereld" (in Dutch). Ajax.nl. 11 January 1999. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ajax Amsterdam uitermate tevreden over Ajax Cape Town" (in Dutch). Ajax.nl. 5 April 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ajax gaat technische samenwerking aan met FC Omniworld" (in Dutch). Ajax.nl. 20 May 2005. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Samenwerking Ajax en FC Omniworld reeds in afronde fase" (in Dutch). Voetbalzone.nl. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ajax en FC Omniworld gaan intensief samenwerken tot medio 2015" (in Dutch). Voetbalzone.nl. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Grim coach Almere City FC" (in Dutch). NOS.nl. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ajax en Barcelona gaan samenwerken". Soccernews.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  13. ↑ "Ajax en FC Barcelona gaan samenwerken". Voetbalcentraal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  14. ↑ "Samenwerking Ajax Barcelona op veel breder vlak". Ajaxpagina.maakjestart.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  15. ↑ "Isaac Cuenca, cedido al Ajax" [Isaac Cuenca, loaned to Ajax] (in Spanish). Marca. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "'Ajax huurt Bojan van Barcelona' (in Dutch)". ANP. NU.nl. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Bartomeu: 'Barcelona de zoon van Ajax'". Ajaxshowtime.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2014-11-04.
  18. ↑ "Komst Jonathas en Anderson startpunt van samenwerking met Cruzeiro". Soccernews.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  19. ↑ "Ajax boort markt aan van 200 miljoen voetballers". NRC.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  20. ↑ "Ajax begeeft zich op Chinese markt". Volkskrant.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  21. ↑ "Ajax trots op unieke samenwerking". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  22. ↑ "Ajax werkt samen met Beijing Guoan". Deballisnietron.web-log.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  23. ↑ "Palmeiras: "Zoveel mogelijk uitwisselen met Ajax"". Goal.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  24. ↑ "Ajax start nauwe samenwerking met Palmeiras". Soccernews.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  25. ↑ "Samenwerkingsverband tussen Ajax en Palmeiras". Voetbalcentraal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  26. ↑ "Ajax verliest op valreep van Palmeiras: 1-0". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  27. ↑ "Ajax gaat samenwerken met AS Trencin". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  28. ↑ "Ajax huurt Lobotka". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  29. ↑ "Ajax deelt kennis met HETTclubs". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  30. ↑ "Ajax en Purmerend gaan samenwerken". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  31. ↑ "Samenwerking Ajax en Belgische amateurs". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  32. ↑ "Mark Dillon: 'De sleutel is de Ajax-cultuur ontdekken'". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 6 August 2003. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  33. ↑ "Overeenkomst tussen Ajax en Royale Orlando Football Academy bekrachtigd". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 6 August 2003. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  34. ↑ "Ajax start samenwerking met Royale Orlando Football Academy". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 5 August 2003. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  35. ↑ "Ajax en Germinal Eekeren sluiten overeenkomst". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 27 May 1999. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  36. ↑ "Ajax neemt deel in nieuwe Antwerpse fusieclub". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 21 January 1999. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  37. ↑ "Drie Ajax-talenten naar GBA". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 6 June 2002. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  38. ↑ "Twee Ajax-huurlingen blijven bij GBA". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 21 May 2003. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  39. ↑ "Ajax contracteerd Belgische jeuginternational". NU.nl (in Dutch). 22 February 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  40. ↑ "Ajax vergroot belang in Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 14 November 2001. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  41. ↑ "Ajax verkoopt belang in Germinal voor 1 euro". RTL Z (in Dutch). 13 March 2003. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  42. ↑ "Ajax en Ashanti Goldfields bekrachtigen samenwerking". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 25 March 1999. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  43. ↑ "Ajax adopteert Ghanese topclub". De Verdieping Trouw (in Dutch). 19 June 1999. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  44. ↑ "Ashantigold Sporting Club -Sponsors Brief". Ajax.nl. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  45. ↑ "Ajax zet financiële participatie in Ashanti Goldfields om in technische samenwerking". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 14 February 2003. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  46. ↑ "Top 500 grootste bedrijven - AFC Ajax". FEM Business (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  47. ↑ "Edmond Claus belichaamt samenwerking Ajax en Haarlem". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 7 March 2006. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  48. ↑ "Ajax en Haarlem verlengen samenwerking". Ajax1.nl (in Dutch). 11 July 2008. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  49. ↑ "Verregaande samenwerking Ajax en Haarlem". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 10 August 2009. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  50. ↑ "HFC Haarlem failliet verklaard". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 25 January 2010. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  51. ↑ "Ajax tekende het convenant met FC Volendam op 13 juli 2007". Verus X (in Dutch). 14 July 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  52. ↑ "FC Volendam en Ajax gaan samenwerken". Ajax Online.org (in Dutch). 5 July 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  53. ↑ "FC Volendam beëindigt samenwerking met Ajax". fcvolendam.nl (in Dutch). 21 May 2010. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
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