AFC Ajax are one of the most successful football clubs to have ever taken part in the Champions League and have looked to get back to their heydays as one of the best teams in the continent with performances in recent editions of the competition. De Godenzonen have a hugely passionate fanbase that they can call upon when they compete in the tournament, something they do on a regular basis and, as such, the 54,990 Johan Cruyff Arena becomes an incredible place on matchdays.
The Dutch giants have had a number of world-renowned figures play for their side over the years, which in part has been down to their ability to produce some quality talent. Men such as Edwin van der Sar, Johan Cruyff, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Dennis Bergkamp, Clarence Seedorf and many, many others have all come through and played in the tournament for the club in a real whos-who of world-class talent. Recent years have seen men like Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Hakim Ziyech all feature.
Indeed, with all that sheer quality in the side, the club have been able to lift four Champions League titles aloft their heads in the past, making them one of the most successful teams to have competed in the knockout tournament.
The Amsterdam-based giants’ feats came in 1970/71, 1971/72, 1972/73 and 1994/95 as they completely dominated football in the early part of the 70s. Ajax have reached a number of five finals in their history, having been beaten by AC Milan in 1968/69 and Juventus in the 1995/96 edition as they almost succeeded in defending their title.
Naturally, the most memorable moments in the club’s history of playing in the tournament will have been in the early 70s as they went on to win three successive titles and established themselves as a world-class football club.
However, fans might have fonder memories of more recent times, as the 2018/19 tournament proved to be an incredible one for the club from Amsterdam. Die Godenzonen managed to achieve two draws with Bayern Munich in the group stage, beat Real Madrid in the Round of 16 before edging past Juventus in the quarter-finals.
The semi-final match against Tottenham Hotspur might go down as an unfavourable memory, however they were within just minutes of going through to the Champions League final. Nonetheless, the success of that campaign will have left a feeling amongst fans that they could be within a chance of returning to the main stage in the very near future.
Champions League Round of 16
Champions League Final
UEFA Champions League - Quarter-finals
Champions League Semi-finals
Champions League - Play Off Round
UEFA Champions League Group Stage
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