2008–09 AFC Ajax season explained

Club:Ajax
Season:2008–09
Manager:Marco van Basten (until 6 May 2009)
John van 't Schip (interim)
Chairman:Uri Coronel
League:Eredivisie
League Result:3rd
Cup1:KNVB Cup
Cup1 Result:Third Round
Cup2:UEFA Cup
Cup2 Result:Round of 16
League Topscorer:
Luis Suárez (22 goals)
Season Topscorer:
Luis Suárez (28 goals)
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Prevseason:2007–08
Nextseason:2009–10

During the 2008–09 season AFC Ajax participated in the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup and the UEFA Cup. The first training took place on Monday July 14, 2008. The traditional AFC Ajax Open Day was on Tuesday August 5, 2008, followed by a testimonial match for the retired former Ajax defender Jaap Stam.

Pre-season

The first training for the 2008–09 season was held on July 14, 2008. In preparation for the new season Ajax organized a training camp in De Lutte, Netherlands at the De Thij Sportpark. During the pre-season, the squad from manager Marco van Basten played friendly matches against VV Noordwijk, CVV Germanicus and Excelsior '31 before traveling to the United Kingdom to play against Cardiff City and Sunderland, then traveling to Spain to play Real Murcia. They then returned to Amsterdam to play Arsenal and Internazionale in the annual Amsterdam Tournament.

Player statistics

Appearances for competitive matches only|-|colspan="14"|Players sold or loaned out after the start of the season:|}As of 31 October 2011

2008-09 selection by nationality

NationalityTotal Players
align=center Current squad selectionalign=center 11align=center 2align=center 2align=center 2align=center 2align=center 1align=center 1align=center 1align=center 1align=center 1align=center 1align=center 1align=center -align=center -align=center 27
align=center Youth/reserves squad in AFC Ajax selectionalign=center 3align=center 1align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center 1align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center 5
align=center Players out on loanalign=center 1align=center -align=center 1align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center -align=center 1align=center 1align=center 4

Team statistics

Eredivisie standings 2008-09

Goals by match day

Statistics for the 2008-09 season

FriendliesAmsterdam
Tournament		KNVB CupUEFA CupEredivisieTotal
Matches722103455
Wins40152131
Draws100359
Losses2212814
Home02151725
Away70151730
Yellow cards 222176083
Red cards 000268
2 x yellow in 1 match 000134
Number of substitutes used 47862789177
Goals for 24221674118
Goals against 841104164
Balance +16align=center-2+1+6+33+54
Clean sheets 30141422
Penalties for 2002812
Penalties against 000033

2008-09 team records

width=40% align=center Descriptionwidth=20% align=center Competitionwidth=40% align=center Result
Biggest win Friendly matchExcelsior '31 - AFC Ajax (1 - 8)
KNVB CupAFC Ajax - FC Utrecht (2 - 0)
UEFA CupFK Borac Čačak - AFC Ajax (1 - 4)
EredivisieAFC Ajax - Willem II (7 - 0)
Biggest loss Friendly matchVfB Stuttgart - AFC Ajax (3 - 2)
KNVB CupFC Volendam - AFC Ajax (1 - 0)
UEFA CupOlympique de Marseille - AFC Ajax (2 - 1)
EredivisiePSV - AFC Ajax (6 - 2)
Most goals in a match Friendly matchExcelsior '31 - AFC Ajax (1 - 8)
KNVB CupAFC Ajax - FC Utrecht (2 - 0)
UEFA CupFK Borac Čačak - AFC Ajax (1 - 4)
EredivisiePSV - AFC Ajax (6 - 2)

Top scorers

width=33% align=left valign=top Friendlies
width=15% align=center Nr.width=65% align=center Namewidth=20% align=center
1. Luis Suárez5
2. Darío Cvitanich4
3. Gabri3
4. Leonardo2
Kenneth Perez2
6. Jeffrey Sarpong1
Albert Luque1
Jan-Arie van der Heijden1
Kennedy Bakircioglü1
Javier Martina1
Siem de Jong1
Vurnon Anita1
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar1
Total24
width=33% align=left valign=top Eredivisie
width=15% align=center Nr.width=65% align=center Namewidth=20% align=center
1. Luis Suárez22
2. Darío Cvitanich9
3. Miralem Sulejmani8
4. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar6
5. Thomas Vermaelen4
Jan Vertonghen4
Urby Emanuelson4
8. Leonardo2
Rasmus Lindgren2
Gregory van der Wiel2
11. Jeffrey Sarpong1
Oleguer1
Siem de Jong1
Evander Sno1
Kennedy Bakircioglü1
Gabri1
Rob Wielaert1
Ismaïl Aissati1
Eyong Enoh1
Own goals Erik Pieters (PSV)1
Fernández (N.E.C.)1
Total74
width=33% align=left valign=top KNVB Cup
width=15% align=center Nr.width=65% align=center Namewidth=20% align=center
1. Luis Suárez1
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar1
Total2
width=33% align=left valign=top UEFA Cup
width=15% align=center Nr.width=65% align=center Namewidth=20% align=center
1. Luis Suárez5
2. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar2
Miralem Sulejmani2
Leonardo2
5. Jeffrey Sarpong1
Thomas Vermaelen1
Jan Vertonghen1
Kennedy Bakircioglü1
Eyong Enoh1
Total16
width=33% align=left valign=top Amsterdam Tournament
width=15% align=center Nr.width=65% align=center Namewidth=20% align=center
1. Luis Suárez1
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar1
Total2

Placements

Results

All times are in CEST

Eredivisie

See main article: article and 2008–09 Eredivisie.

KNVB Cup

See main article: article and 2008–09 KNVB Cup.

UEFA Cup

See main article: article and 2008–09 UEFA Cup.

Group stage

See main article: article.

+Group F
Team
Hamburg430173+49
Ajax421154+17
Aston Villa420256-16
Žilina411234–14
Slavia Praha402225–32

Final phase

Round of 16

Amsterdam Tournament

Final standings of the LG Amsterdam Tournament 2008
Team
Arsenal211048
Internazionale211015
Sevilla FC202013
Ajax200222

Friendlies

Transfers for 2008-09

Summer transfer window

For a list of all Dutch football transfers in the summer window (1 July 2008 to 1 September 2008) please see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2008.

Arrivals

NamePositionTransfer typePrevious clubFee
Return from loan spell
Kenneth VermeerGoalkeeper30 June 2008 Willem IIalign=center-
Transfer
Darío CvitanichMidfielder28 April 2008 Banfield€6,5 million
Miralem SulejmaniForward4 July 2008 SC Heerenveen€16,25 million
Ismaïl AissatiMidfielder19 July 2008 PSV€4,1 million
OleguerDefender29 July 2008 FC Barcelona€3 million
Evander SnoMidfielder21 August 2008 Celtic€1,5 million
Free Transfer
Darko BodulForward14 June 2008 SC Heerenveenalign=center-
Eyong EnohMidfielder31 August 2008 Ajax Cape Townalign=center-
Hans VonkGoalkeeper31 August 2008 Ajax Cape Townalign=center-

Departures

NamePositionTransfer typeNew clubFee
Out on loan
Donovan SlijngardDefender27 July 2008 Sparta Rotterdamalign=center-
George OgăraruDefender30 August 2008 Steaua Bucureștialign=center-
Albert LuqueForward31 August 2008 Málaga CFalign=center-
Transfer
Rydell PoeponForward30 May 2008 Sparta Rotterdam€1 million
John HeitingaDefender15 August 2008 Atlético Madrid€12 million
Free Transfer
Edgar DavidsMidfielder20 May 2008—align=center-
Marco van DuinGoalkeeper21 June 2008 HFC Haarlemalign=center-
Erik HeijblokGoalkeeper30 June 2008 De Graafschapalign=center-
Ismael UrzaízForward15 July 2008—align=center-
Jurgen ColinDefender20 August 2008 Sporting de Gijónalign=center-
Michael Krohn-DehliMidfielder29 August 2008 Brøndby IFalign=center-
Nicolae MiteaForward31 August 2008 Dinamo Bucureștialign=center-
Samuel KuffourDefender1 September 2008 Asante Kotokoalign=center-
Vito WormgoorDefender2 September 2008 FC Utrechtalign=center-
Kenneth PerezMidfielder4 September 2008 FC Twentealign=center-

Winter transfer window

For a list of all Dutch football transfers in the winter window (1 January 2009 to 1 February 2009) please see List of Dutch football transfers winter 2008–09.

Arrivals

Departures

NamePositionTransfer typeNew clubFee
Out on loan
Dennis RommedahlForward20 January 2009 N.E.C.align=center-
Transfer
Klaas-Jan HuntelaarForward1 January 2009 Real Madrid€27 million
John GoossensForward1 February 2009 N.E.C.€900,000
Free Transfer
Laurent DelorgeMidfielder6 January 2008 Roda JCalign=center-
Hans VonkGoalkeeper20 January 2009 SC Heerenveenalign=center-

External links

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2008–09 AFC Ajax season".

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