Editing AFC Ajax (section)

==History==
{{main|History of AFC Ajax}}
[[File:AFC Ajax 1900-1901.jpg|thumb|213x213px|Ajax's former squad in 1900]]
Ajax was founded in [[Amsterdam]] on 18 March 1900. The club achieved promotion to the highest level of Dutch football in 1911 and had its first major success in 1917, winning the [[KNVB Beker]], the Netherlands' national cup. The [[1917–18 Netherlands Football League Championship|following season]], Ajax became [[List of Dutch football champions|national champion]] for the first time. The club defended its title in [[1918–19 Netherlands Football League Championship|1918–19]], becoming the only team to achieve an unbeaten season in the Netherlands Football League Championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html|title=Unbeaten during a League Season|access-date=30 December 2014|work=RSSSF|archive-date=16 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216212124/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Throughout the 1920s, Ajax was a strong regional power, winning the Eerste Klasse West division in 1921, 1927 and 1928, but could not maintain its success at the national level. This changed in the 1930s, with the club winning five national championships ([[1930–31 Netherlands Football League Championship|1931]], [[1931–32 Netherlands Football League Championship|1932]], [[1933–34 Netherlands Football League Championship|1934]], [[1936–37 Netherlands Football League Championship|1937]], [[1938–39 Netherlands Football League Championship|1939]]), making it the most successful Dutch team of the decade. Ajax won its second KNVB Cup in 1942–43, and an eighth Dutch title in [[1946–47 Netherlands Football League Championship|1946–47]], the last season the club was managed by Englishman [[Jack Reynolds (footballer, born 1881)|Jack Reynolds]], who, up to this point, had overseen all of its national championship successes as well as its 1917 KNVB Cup win.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/334848|title=Ajax: the early years and the birth of Total Football|date=5 May 2012|access-date=3 March 2014|work=World Soccer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718091841/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/334848|archive-date=18 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12464632|title=Ajax remembers Bury football hero Jack Reynolds|date=15 February 2011|access-date=3 March 2014|work=BBC|archive-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926003055/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12464632|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1956, the [[1956–57 Eredivisie|first season]] of the Netherlands' new professional league, the {{Lang|nl|[[Eredivisie]]|italic=no}}, was played with Ajax participating as a founding member. The Amsterdam club became the first national champions under the new format and made its debut in the [[European Champion Clubs' Cup]] the [[1957–58 European Cup|following year]], losing to Hungarian champions {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Vasas SC]]|italic=no}} 6–2 on aggregate at the quarter-final stage. The team was again {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} champions in [[1959–60 Eredivisie|1960]] and won a third KNVB Cup in 1961.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1441/Ajax/article/detail/3642832/2014/04/27/Ajax-weer-kampioen-zonder-topscorer.dhtml|title=Ajax weer kampioen zonder topscorer|date=14 April 2014|access-date=30 December 2014|work=AD.nl|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221414/http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1441/Ajax/article/detail/3642832/2014/04/27/Ajax-weer-kampioen-zonder-topscorer.dhtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Cruijff afscheidswedstrijd bij Ajax.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Johan Cruyff]] played at Ajax from 1959 to 1973, and from 1981 to 1983, winning 3 European Cups; his No. 14 is the only squad number Ajax has ever retired. Cruyff came back to manage the club from 1985 to 1988.]]
[[File:1971 Champions League Final Ajax - Panathinaikos.jpg|thumb|Against {{Lang|el|Panathinaikos|italic=no}} in the [[1971 European Cup Final]]]]

In 1965, [[Rinus Michels]], who had played for the club between 1946 and 1958, was appointed manager of Ajax, implementing his philosophy of [[Total Football]] which was to become synonymous with both Ajax and the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8338289.stm|title=Cruyff will coach Catalonia team|date=2 November 2009|access-date=3 March 2014|work=BBC|archive-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828152524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8338289.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/ajax’s-youth-policy-still-its-prime-asset|title=Ajax's youth policy still its prime asset|date=18 March 2010|access-date=3 March 2013|work=Radio Netherlands Worldwide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171634/http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/ajax%E2%80%99s-youth-policy-still-its-prime-asset|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A year earlier, [[Johan Cruyff]], who would go on to become widely regarded as the greatest Dutch footballer of all time, made his debut.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/players/a/Cruyffrrofile.htm|title=Legends: Johan Cruyff|access-date=3 March 2014|work=About.com|archive-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225131543/http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/players/a/Cruyffrrofile.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Between them, Michels and Cruyff led Ajax through the most successful period in its history, winning seven {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} titles, four KNVB Cups and three [[UEFA Champions League|European Cups]].

Ajax won the Dutch championship in [[1965–66 Eredivisie|1966]], [[1966–67 Eredivisie|1967]] and [[1967–68 Eredivisie|1968]], and reached the [[1969 European Cup Final|1969 European Cup final]], losing to [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]. During the 1966–67 season, Ajax scored a record 122 goals in an {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} season and also won the KNVB Cup to achieve its first league and cup [[Double (association football)|double]]. In [[1969–70 Eredivisie|1969–70]], Ajax won a fourth Dutch league championship and second league and cup double in five seasons, winning 27 out of 34 league matches and scoring 100 goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voetbalcentra.nl/index_files/Eredivisierecords.htm|title=Eredivisierecords|access-date=30 December 2014|work=Voetbal Centra|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220041208/http://voetbalcentra.nl/index_files/Eredivisierecords.htm|archive-date=20 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The [[1970–71 Eredivisie|1970–71 season]] saw Ajax retain the [[1970–71 KNVB Cup|KNVB Cup]] and reach the [[1971 European Cup Final|1971 European Cup final]], where they defeated {{Lang|el|[[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]|italic=no}} 2–0 with goals from [[Dick van Dijk]] and [[Arie Haan]] to become continental champions for the first time, with Cruyff being named [[Ballon d'Or|European Footballer of the Year]]. After this success, Michels departed to become manager of [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and was replaced by the Romanian [[Ștefan Kovács]]. In Kovács' first season, Ajax completed a [[Treble (association football)|treble]] of the [[1971–72 European Cup|European Cup]], the {{Lang|nl|[[1971–72 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]]|italic=no}} and a third consecutive [[1971–72 KNVB Cup|KNVB Cup]]. The following season, the team beat Argentine {{Lang|es|[[Club Atlético Independiente]]|italic=no}} to win the [[1972 Intercontinental Cup]] and retained their {{Lang|nl|[[1972–73 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]]|italic=no}} and [[1972–73 European Cup|European Cup]] titles, becoming the first club to win three consecutive European Cups since [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in the 1950s.

In 1973, Michels' Barcelona broke the [[World football transfer record|world transfer record]] to bring Cruyff to the [[Catalonia|Catalan team]]. Kovács also departed to become manager of the [[France national football team|France national team]], signalling the end of this period of international success.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/10211043/World-record-football-transfers.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/10211043/World-record-football-transfers.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Johann Cruyff – World record football transfers |access-date=30 December 2014|work=Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In [[1976–77 Eredivisie|1976–77]], Ajax won its first domestic championship in four seasons and recorded a double of the {{Lang|nl|[[1977–78 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]]|italic=no}} and [[1977–78 KNVB Cup|KNVB Cup]] two years later.

The early 1980s saw the return of Cruyff to the club, as well as the emergence of young players [[Marco van Basten]] and [[Frank Rijkaard]]. The team won back-to-back {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} titles in [[1981–82 Eredivisie|1982]] and [[1982–83 Eredivisie|1983]], with all three playing a significant role in the latter. After Cruyff's sale to rivals {{Lang|nl|[[Feyenoord]]|italic=no}} in 1983, van Basten became Ajax's key player, top scoring in the {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} for four seasons between [[1983–84 Eredivisie|1983–84]] and [[1986–87 Eredivisie|1986–87]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=41373/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303150103/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=41373/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2014|title=Van Basten, a Dutch goal machine|access-date=3 March 2014|work=FIFA}}</ref>

[[File:Vertrek Ajax van Schiphol voor Europa Cup II wedstrijd tegen Olympiakos Piraeus, Bestanddeelnr 933-8034.jpg|thumb|Cruijff, seen here with [[Marco van Basten|van Basten]] and [[Frank Rijkaard|Rijkaard]], returned as manager in 1985.]]

In 1985, Cruyff returned to Ajax as manager and the team ended [[1985–86 Eredivisie|his first season in charge]] with 120 goals from 34 matches. However, Ajax still finished as runner-up to [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]] by eight points. The following season, Ajax again lost out on the Eredivisie title to PSV, but won the [[1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]], its first continental trophy in 14 years. After this, Cruyff left the club to become manager of Barcelona and Rijkaard and van Basten were sold to [[Sporting CP]] and Milan respectively. Despite these losses, Ajax reached a second consecutive Cup Winners' Cup final in [[1988 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1988]], where they lost to Belgian club {{Lang|nl|[[KV Mechelen]]|italic=no}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nos.nl/video/617897-1988-mechelen-klopt-ajax-in-finale-ec-ii.html|title=1988: Mechelen klopt Ajax in finale EC II|access-date=30 December 2014|work=NOS.nl|archive-date=31 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231002107/http://nos.nl/video/617897-1988-mechelen-klopt-ajax-in-finale-ec-ii.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[1988–89 Eredivisie|1988–89]] season saw [[Dennis Bergkamp]], a young forward who had first appeared under Cruyff in 1986, establish himself as a regular goalscorer for Ajax. Bergkamp helped Ajax to the {{Lang|nl|[[1989–90 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]]|italic=no}} title and was the top scorer in the division in [[1990–91 Eredivisie|1990–91]], [[1991–92 Eredivisie|1991–92]] and [[1992–93 Eredivisie|1992–93]]. Under the management of [[Louis van Gaal]], Ajax won the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] in [[1991–92 UEFA Cup|1992]] to become the second club, after {{lang|it|[[Juventus]]|italic=no}}, to have won all three [[List of UEFA club competition winners|major European club competitions]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/video/videoid=2121239.html|title=Watch Ajax complete European sweep|access-date=30 December 2014|work=UEFA|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713202323/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/video/videoid=2121239.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the sale of Bergkamp to {{lang|it|[[Internazionale]]|italic=no}} in 1993, van Gaal re-signed the experienced Rijkaard to complement his young Ajax team featuring academy graduates [[Frank de Boer|Frank]] and [[Ronald de Boer]], [[Edwin van der Sar]], [[Clarence Seedorf]], [[Edgar Davids]], [[Michael Reiziger]] and [[Winston Bogarde]], as well as mercurial foreign talents [[Finidi George]], [[Nwankwo Kanu]] and [[Jari Litmanen]], and veteran captain [[Danny Blind]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=827853&cc=3436|title=Ajax's adolescents master men of Milan|date=30 September 2010|access-date=3 March 2014|work=ESPN|archive-date=3 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303153306/http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=827853&cc=3436|url-status=live}}</ref> The team regained the Dutch championship in [[1993–94 Eredivisie|1993–94]], and won it again in [[1994–95 Eredivisie|1994–95]] and [[1995–96 Eredivisie|1995–96]] to become the first Ajax side to win three back-to-back championships since 1968. The height of van Gaal's success came in 1994–95, where Ajax became the first, and to date only, team to complete an entire {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} season unbeaten.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dutch-football.com/football/eredivisie/records.shtml |title=Eredivisie – Records |access-date=3 March 2014 |work=Dutch Football |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009042444/http://www.dutch-football.com/football/eredivisie/records.shtml |archive-date=9 October 2013 }}</ref> The team also won its first European Cup since its 1970s era, defeating Milan in the [[1995 UEFA Champions League Final|1995 UEFA Champions League final]] 1–0, with the winning goal scored by 18-year-old [[Patrick Kluivert]]. Ajax again reached [[1996 UEFA Champions League Final|the final]] one year later, and was defeated on penalties by {{lang|it|Juventus|italic=no}}.

Ajax's return as a European force was short-lived, as van Gaal and several members of the squad soon departed to some of the continent's biggest clubs. The 2000s was a lean decade for the club, with only two {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} championships won. However, Ajax's academy continued to produce star players such as [[Wesley Sneijder]] and [[Rafael van der Vaart]].

In 2010, Frank de Boer was appointed manager of Ajax and led the club to its first league title in seven years, and record 30th title overall, in the [[2010–11 Eredivisie|2010–11 season]]. This was followed by back-to-back wins in [[2011–12 Eredivisie|2011–12]] and [[2012–13 Eredivisie|2012–13]] to match his three consecutive titles as a player in the 1990s. In [[2013–14 Eredivisie|2013–14]], Ajax was again {{Lang|nl|Eredivisie|italic=no}} champions, winning four consecutive league titles for the first time in club history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ned/news/newsid=2097233.html|title=Ajax secure fourth consecutive Dutch title|date=27 April 2014|access-date=29 April 2014|work=UEFA|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429083022/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ned/news/newsid=2097233.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> After finishing as runner-up to PSV in both [[2014–15 Eredivisie|2014–15]] and [[2015–16 Eredivisie|2015–16]], de Boer resigned as Ajax head coach in May 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36273607|title=Frank de Boer: Ajax boss leaves his role after six years|date=12 May 2016|work=BBC|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010212508/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36273607|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Peter Bosz]] took over the club and led them to the [[2017 UEFA Europa League Final|2017 UEFA Europa League final]], their first European final in 21 years. They lost to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] with a lineup that was the youngest ever in a European final, averaging an age of 22 years and 282 days.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ajax side against Man United youngest ever in a major European final|url=http://www.espnfc.us/ajax-amsterdam/story/3133254/ajax-side-vs-manchester-united-youngest-ever-in-a-major-european-final|website=ESPN|date=24 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017|archive-date=25 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525230331/http://www.espnfc.us/ajax-amsterdam/story/3133254/ajax-side-vs-manchester-united-youngest-ever-in-a-major-european-final|url-status=live}}</ref> For the third consecutive season, they finished runner-up in the {{Lang|nl|[[2016–17 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]]|italic=no}}, this time to {{Lang|nl|Feyenoord|italic=no}}.

The [[2018–19 AFC Ajax season|2018–19 season]] for Ajax involved a remarkable run in the [[2018–19 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]. Due to their runner-up finish in the [[2017–18 Eredivisie]], Ajax entered the tournament in the second qualifying round. After successive victories against [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]], {{Lang|fr|[[Standard Liège]]|italic=no}} and {{Lang|uk|[[Dynamo Kyiv]]|italic=no}}, they qualified for the group stage. Ajax was drawn in a group with German champions [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], Portuguese side [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] and Greek champions [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK Athens]]. Ajax finished runner-up in this group, qualifying for the knockout stages, where it was drawn against three-time defending champions [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]. After losing 1–2 in the first leg, they defeated Real Madrid 4–1 in the away match, stunning the defending champions in their own stadium, the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]], with an aggregate score of 5–3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/05/real-madrid-ajax-champions-league-match-report|title=Dusan Tadic inspires Ajax to stunning defeat of champions Real Madrid|date=5 March 2019|work=Guardian|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423072524/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/05/real-madrid-ajax-champions-league-match-report|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dušan Tadić]] was awarded a perfect score of 10 by {{Lang|fr|[[L'Équipe]]}} following the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823746-dusan-tadic-joins-lionel-messi-and-neymar-in-earning-perfect-lequipe-rating|title=Dusan Tadic Joins Lionel Messi and Neymar in Earning Perfect L'Equipe Rating|date=6 March 2019|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=10 May 2019|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510162557/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823746-dusan-tadic-joins-lionel-messi-and-neymar-in-earning-perfect-lequipe-rating|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Chelsea 4 Ajax 4 (49023193671).jpg|thumb|Against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in [[2019–20 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|UEFA Champion League 2019-2020]]]]
Thus, Ajax progressed to the quarter-finals and was drawn with Italian champions {{lang|it|Juventus|italic=no}}. In the first leg in the [[Johan Cruyff Arena]], they drew 1–1. In the second leg at the [[Juventus Stadium]], Ajax came from behind to win 2–1 and 3–2 on aggregate. [[Matthijs de Ligt]] scored the winning goal for Ajax to help the team advance to its first Champions League semi-final since [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|1997]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/16/juventus-ajax-champions-league-match-report|title=Matthijs de Ligt strikes decisive header for Ajax to overcome Juventus|date=16 April 2019|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529230632/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/16/juventus-ajax-champions-league-match-report|url-status=live}}</ref> There, they would face English side [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].

In the first leg of the semi-final, Ajax beat Tottenham 1–0 away from home.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2019/4/30/18524468/tottenham-hotspur-ajax-champions-league-0-1-van-de-beek-goal-first-leg|title= Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Ajax: Spurs lose first leg to early van de Beek goal|date= 30 April 2019|work= SB Nation|access-date= 8 May 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190508194810/https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2019/4/30/18524468/tottenham-hotspur-ajax-champions-league-0-1-van-de-beek-goal-first-leg|archive-date= 8 May 2019|url-status= dead}}</ref> In the second leg, Ajax scored twice in the first half to generate a 3–0 lead on aggregate. However, in the second half, [[Lucas Moura]] scored three times, including in the 6th minute of added time, resulting in Ajax losing via the [[away goals rule]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/may/08/ajax-v-tottenham-hotspur-champions-league-semi-final-second-leg-live|title=Ajax v Tottenham Hotspur: Champions League semi-final, second leg- live!|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=8 May 2019|access-date= 8 May 2019|archive-date= 8 May 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190508194806/https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/may/08/ajax-v-tottenham-hotspur-champions-league-semi-final-second-leg-live|url-status= live}}</ref>

Ajax was in first place on goal difference when the {{Lang|nl|[[2019–20 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]]|italic=no}} was declared void, preventing them being Dutch champions for the 35th time, but still qualified for the [[2020–21 UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit |title=Afwikkeling voetbalseizoen 2019/'20 een feit &#124; Eredivisie |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524145200/https://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In this, it was eliminated again, but in 2021 it reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. It was eliminated against AS Roma. That season, it again won both the national title and the KNVB Cup.
In the [[2021–22 AFC Ajax season]] Ajax again became champion of the Netherlands. It had to give up the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruijff Shield to competitor PSV because it came out on the losing end in both finals. In European terms, Ajax achieved first place in the Champions League group, all six matches were won, mostly by a wide margin. After the winter break, Ajax was narrowly eliminated in the eighth finals by the Portuguese Benfica Lisboa (Lisbon) (2–2 away, 0–1 at home).<ref>{{cite web |title=Ajax seizoensoverzicht 2021/2022 {{!}} Landskampioen en de laatste van Ten Hag |url=https://www.ajax.nl/artikelen/ajax-seizoensoverzicht-202122-landskampioen-en-de-laatste-van-ten-hag |website=Ajax |access-date=12 February 2024 |language=nl}}</ref>

As of July 1, 2022, [[Alfred Schreuder]] succeeded Erik ten Hag, who left for Manchester United, as Ajax's coach. Most of the key players from previous seasons left during the summer transfer period, but there was also a lot of reinvestment. Ajax started the 2022/23 season relatively well with six consecutive victories in the Eredivisie. But Ajax was eliminated from the Champions League quite quickly in a group with Liverpool FC, SSC Napoli and Rangers FC. At home against Napoli on October 4, 2022, they even lost by 5 goals (1–6), Ajax's biggest defeat ever in European competition. After seven consecutive matches without a win head coach Alfred Schreuder was dismissed. [[John Heitinga]] succeeded Schreuder as interim. Under Heitinga, Ajax failed to turn things around despite a good start with seven wins in a row. Ajax finished third in the Eredivisie, behind champions Feyenoord and runners-up PSV. This was the club's lowest final ranking since the 2008/09 season, in which it also finished third. After the winter break, Ajax was eliminated in the first knockout phase of the Europa League by Union Berlin (3–1). Ajax did reach the final of the KNVB Cup, but lost to PSV on penalties (3–2).

On May 19, 2023, [[Sven Mislintat]] took over as Ajax's sports director. He succeeded Marc Overmars, who left in early 2022. Mislintat appointed [[Maurice Steijn]] as head coach. Mislintat spent approximately 111 million euros on transfers. Ajax had its worst start to the season in fifty-nine years. On October 29, 2023, Ajax reached a historic low. Ajax lost 5–2 to PSV in Eindhoven. This put Ajax in last place, 18th place in the Eredivisie, for the first time since the club was founded. 
The position of director Mislintat became an embarrassment after it emerged that he had arranged a transfer through a player agent who was an investor in his company. In the evening of 24 September Mislintat was fired with immediate effect, among other things a lack of broad support within the club was one of the reasons. A day after the loss against PSV it was announced that [[John van 't Schip]] would become the head coach until the end of the season. Under the leadership of Van 't Schip Ajax managed to climb to 5th place in the Eredivisie. In the Europa League Ajax finished third, which meant a sequel in the Conference League, were it eventually lost to Aston Villa in the round of 16. In the cup Ajax was eliminated 3–2 by the third division amateurs of USV Hercules.

In the summer of 2024 a rebuild began, with a new board of directors and [[Alex Kroes]] and [[Marijn Beuker]] as Technical Director and Director of Football. They hired [[Francesco Farioli]] as new head coach, the first foreign coach since 1998. Under his leadership Ajax reached the league phase of the Europa League where it finished 11th. On the 9th of February 2025 Ajax finished the weekend on the first place for the first time since November 2022.

===UEFA ranking===
{{see also|UEFA coefficient}}
{{updated|12th of February 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=UEFA rankings |url=https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/?year=2025 |website=[[UEFA]] | date=30 June 2024 |access-date=12 February 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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|'''29'''
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