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2003–04 AFC Ajax Season
During the 2003–04 Dutch football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie. Season summary Ajax reclaimed the Eredivisie title. Players First-team squad :''Squad at end of season'' Left club during season Reserve squad Transfers In * Zdeněk Grygera - Sparta Prague, 22 July, €3,500,000 * Wesley Sonck - Genk * Sander Boschker - Twente * Julien Escudé - Rennes * Nicolae Mitea - Dinamo București * Tom Soetaers - Roda JC * Yannis Anastasiou - Roda JC Out * Mido - Marseille, 12 July, €12,000,000 * Nikos Machlas - contract terminated, July * Cristian Chivu - Roma, September, €18,000,000 * Andy van der Meyde - Inter Milan, £4,000,000 * Mitchell Piqué - FC Oss * Richard Witschge - ADO' 20 * Joey DidulicaDidulica was born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, and represented Australia at U-23 level, but also qualified to represent Croatia internationally through his father and made his i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
AFC Ajax
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (), also known as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam, or simply Ajax, is a Dutch professional football club based in Amsterdam, that plays in the , the top tier in Dutch football. Historically, Ajax (named after the legendary Greek hero) is the most successful club in the Netherlands, with 36 and 20 KNVB Cups. It has continuously played in the , since the league's inception in 1956 and, along with and , it is one of the country's " big three" clubs that have dominated that competition. Ajax was one of the most successful clubs in the world in the 20th century. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, Ajax were the seventh-most successful European club of the 20th century and ''The World's Club Team of the Year'' in 1992. According to German magazine ''Kicker'', Ajax were the second-most successful European club of the 20th century. The club is one of five teams that have earned the right to keep the European Cup ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steven Pienaar
Steven Jerome Pienaar (; born 17 March 1982) is a South African former professional footballer and current assistant coach of the U18 team of the Ajax Youth Academy. He was a captain of the South African national team. He primarily played as a winger, but also played as an attacking midfielder. Pienaar played at club level in South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, and England for Ajax Cape Town, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Bidvest Wits. Pienaar is currently serving as an international ambassador at former club Everton. Club career Ajax Cape Town Pienaar was born in Johannesburg. He started his professional career at Ajax Cape Town, some away from his hometown. He was brought to the attention of Ajax CT whilst playing for the School of Excellence and was asked to join their youth academy. Pienaar said, "I was very fortunate to go to the School of Excellence 2000, to be able to polish the technique and the talent that God gave me an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zdeněk Grygera
Zdeněk Grygera (; born 14 May 1980) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a defender. Club career Early career Grygera began his career at Petra Drnovice before moving to Sparta Prague. Ajax In July 2003, he was signed by Dutch club Ajax for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around €3.5 million. His first goal came for the club came in September 2004, a 5–0 thrashing away at Den Bosch. He soon became a fan favorite, especially after scoring against bitter rivals Feyenoord in the April ''Klassieker''. Juventus On 10 January 2007, it was confirmed by Ajax Technical Director Martin van Geel that Grygera would be leaving for Juventus on a Bosman transfer when his contract with Ajax expired in June 2007. He was supposed to transfer after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but the ''Calciopoli'' scandal prevented him from doing so. He expressed his delight over the possibility of playing with one of his Czech compatriots, Pavel Nedvěd. Due to his versatility, he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abubakari Yakubu
Abubakari Yakubu (13 December 1981 – 31 October 2017) was a Ghanaian footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder but also as a defender. Club career Born in Tema, Yakubu joined AFC Ajax at only 17, going on to remain in the Netherlands for one full decade. He made his Eredivisie debut on 19 April 2000, playing 50 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against FC Den Bosch and finishing his first season with only five matches. Yakubu played in an average of 15 league games in the following four years, going on to make 89 competitive appearances and helping the Amsterdam side to two national championships and the 2001–02 edition of the Dutch Cup. During the 2002–03 campaign he featured in five matches in the UEFA Champions League, in a quarter-final run that ended at the hands of eventual champions A.C. Milan; he spent 2004–05 on loan to fellow league team Vitesse Arnhem. In the ensuing off-season, Yakubu signed permanently with the latter club for four more years, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maarten Stekelenburg
Maarten Stekelenburg (; born 22 September 1982) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club Ajax. Stekelenburg began his career at Ajax, playing 282 matches over nine seasons in his first spell there and winning nine honours, including two Eredivisie titles. He went on to play for Roma, Fulham, Monaco, Southampton and Everton. He returned to Ajax after the expiry of his contract at Everton following the 2019–20 Premier League season. Stekelenburg made his debut for the Netherlands national team in 2004, and earned 63 caps in total. He was understudy to Edwin van der Sar at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008, then was first choice as he helped his nation to the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, also playing at Euro 2012 and Euro 2020. Club career Ajax Stekelenburg began his career at Zandvoort '75 before joining VV Schoten, which he left for Ajax when he was 15 years old. He made his official debut for Ajax on 24 February 2002, in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jari Litmanen
Jari Olavi Litmanen (; born 20 February 1971) is a Finnish former footballer. He was the first-choice captain of the Finland national team between 1996 and 2008 in an international career that ran from 1989 to 2010. Litmanen is widely considered to be Finland's greatest football player of all time. He was chosen as the best Finnish player of the last 50 years by the Football Association of Finland in the UEFA Jubilee Awards in November 2003. He also finished 42nd in the 100 Greatest Finns voting in 2004. The Association of Football Statisticians' (The AFS) compendium of 'Greatest Ever Footballers' listed Litmanen as the 53rd best footballer ever. In Finland, he is often called "Litti" (after his own surname), which dates from his early years, and is also known as "''Kuningas''" ("The King"). During his club career, Litmanen represented Reipas, HJK, MyPa and Lahti in Finland, and Ajax, Barcelona, Liverpool, Hansa Rostock and Malmö FF abroad. Once considered one of the bes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wesley Sonck
Wesley Sonck (born 9 August 1978) is a Belgian professional football manager and former player who manages the Belgium U19 national team. He played as a striker for Molenbeek, Germinal Ekeren, Germinal Beerschot, Genk, Ajax, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Club Brugge. He was capped by Belgium at international level. During his time with Genk, he was the top goalscorer in the Belgian First Division in the 2001–02 season with 30 goals, and joint top in the following campaign with 22 – sharing the award with Cédric Roussel. Club career Ajax Sonck moved to Ajax in the summer of 2003, to replace departed striker Mido. He made his debut on 12 August against Grazer AK. He scored his first goal for the club 13 September against RKC Waalwijk. Sonck never really made it in Amsterdam, partly because he was playing on the right wing a lot under coach Ronald Koeman. He moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the winter of 2004. Borussia Mönchengladbach Sonck's time with Borussia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder (; born 9 June 1984) is a Dutch retired professional footballer. Due to his elite playmaking ability, Sneijder was considered one of the best midfielders in the world during his prime. A product of the Ajax Youth Academy, he started his professional career playing for Ajax, with whom he won four trophies and was awarded the Johan Cruyff Trophy in 2004. He was sold to Real Madrid for €27 million in 2007, winning La Liga in his first season with the club, and transferred to Inter Milan for €15 million in 2009. At Inter, he won Serie A, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and two Coppa Italia. In 2010, Sneijder was named UEFA midfielder of the season, and one of the three best midfielders in the world by FIFA. After being sold to Galatasaray for €7.5 million in 2013, he helped the club win the Süper Lig in his first season, following with the capture of the Turkish Super Cup, after a 1–0 win against rivals Fenerbahçe. After an un ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yannis Anastasiou
Giannis Anastasiou ( gr, Γιάννης Αναστασίου; born 5 March 1973) is a Greek professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Super League club Panetolikos. As a player, Anastasiou played as a striker, and was active professionally in Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands. He also represented the Greece national team at senior international level. Playing career Born in Arta, Anastasiou played professionally in Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands for PAS Preveza, Ethnikos Piraeus, OFI Crete, Anderlecht, Roda JC, Ajax, Sparta Rotterdam and Omniworld. He also earned five caps for the Greece national team between 1998 and 1999. Managerial career After his retirement from football in 2008, Anastasiou joined Panathinaikos as an assistant to manager Henk ten Cate. In 2011, he left Greece for the Netherlands as assistant coach for Jong Ajax, the reserve team of Ajax. After two years, Anastasiou joined English club Reading in January 201 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nigel De Jong
Nigel de Jong (born 30 November 1984) is a Dutch former professional Association football, footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He is currently the technical director of the Royal Dutch Football Association, KNVB, the national Dutch soccer federation. he has also worked as an English language pundit for beIN Sports (Middle East TV channel), beIN Sports covering English Premier League, Premier League and UEFA Champions League, Champions League football. De Jong joined the Jong Ajax, Ajax youth academy and made the first team at age 17. He moved in 2006 to join Hamburger SV, Hamburg and then joined Manchester City in January 2009 for an estimated £18 million, where he became an important part of their holding midfield. A tireless grafter, he garnered a reputation of being a combative and feisty player in his performances, a reputation that earned him nicknames such as ''"The Destroyer"'' and ''"Lawnmower"''. He moved to Italian side A.C. Milan in August 2012, before jo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maxwell (footballer, Born 1981)
Maxwell Scherrer Cabelino Andrade (born 27 August 1981), known as Maxwell, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He is currently employed by Paris Saint-Germain as assistant sporting director. Maxwell came through the ranks at Cruzeiro and played for Ajax, Internazionale, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, winning trophies for each of these clubs. He was the most decorated active footballer in Europe at the time of his retirement, with 33 official titles. He made his international debut with Brazil in 2013 and appeared at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Club career Early career Born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Maxwell started his career at Cruzeiro. In June 2001, he signed a five-year contract with AFC Ajax. Maxwell played his best season for Ajax in the 2003–04 season, only missing three games for the Eredivisie champions that season due to international duty, and becoming the Dutch Footballer of the Year. He was seriously injur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jelle Van Damme
Jelle François Maria Van Damme (; born 10 October 1983) is a Belgian retired professional footballer who played as a centre-back, left-back or left midfielder. He played for clubs in Belgium, England, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. He also earned over 30 caps for the Belgium national team. Club career Early career Van Damme started his career at Beveren, before he made a short move to neighbour club Lokeren where he played in the youth teams. He then signed for Germinal Beerschot in 2001, making his senior debut in the Jupiler League. Beerschot were linked with Ajax and the Amsterdam club soon offered him a trial stay beginning in February 2002. In summer 2002, Van Damme moved permanently to Ajax where he showed promise in the Dutch Cup. In the 2002–03 season, he played in the Champions League and started as a regular player in the squad before breaking his toe in November 2002. The next season, he helped Ajax again qualify for the Champions League group ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
