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Ajax is a Dutch Football club which was founded in March 1900. Ajax is one of the three clubs in the history to have won three consecutive European Cup/Champions League titles. So far, Ajax has won 25 titles in the Dutch league, highest by any club in the league.
In 2017, The Ajax Football stadium, Amsterdam Arena, was renamed after Legend, Johan Cruijff. The Academy of Ajax in Amsterdam is based on three principles: Speed, Technique and Personality. Some of the players who left Ajax early in their playing career went on became star footballers elsewhere.
Here is a look at 5 players who left the club and later, became world class players.
#5 Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar is considered as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Manchester United alongside Peter Schmeichel. He played nine seasons for Ajax till 1999 and appeared in 226 matches. He then joined Manchester United and kept 132 clean sheets in 313 Premier League matches for the Red Devils.
In his illustrious career, he won 3 Champions League trophies and 4 Premier League titles. He took the retirement from professional football in 2011.
#4 Jan Vertonghen
Jan Vertonghen was a hero during his time at Ajax and has become a club hero at Tottenham Hotspur. He started playing for Ajax in 2006 and appeared in 155 matches.
The Belgian defender joined Tottenham in 2012 and became an integral part of the club. He has performed consistently for the club and played 34 games out of 38, in his debut season. So far, He has appeared in 194 matches for Tottenham in the Premier League and has a tackle percentage of 78%.
#3 Luis Suarez
Suarez is a world class striker and has performed exceptionally well in all the leagues he has played so far. He appeared in 159 matches for Ajax and scored 111 goals.
He left Ajax and joined Liverpool in 2011. During his time in Liverpool, he was lethal in front of the goal and scored 82 goals in 133 matches. He moved to Barcelona in the 2014 summer transfer window and has scored 120 league goals in 137 games, so far.
#2 Wesley Sneijder
Sneijder is considered as one of the best attacking midfielders, the club has ever produced. In his entire career, he played for six different clubs and he is remembered for his match-winning performances, during the time with Inter Milan. Fo Ajax, he played five seasons and scored 43 goals in 126 appearances.
He scored 31 goals in 134 appearances for the Netherlands, at International level. He won the La Liga title in 2007-08 while playing for Real Madrid and won the Champions League trophy with Inter Milan in 2009-10 season.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a prolific goal scorer who is known for this technique, off the ball movement and ability to score via set pieces. He won two league titles while playing for Ajax and left the club in 2004.
In his career, he played for clubs like Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United. He has recently scored his 500th goal of the career. He has won the footballer of the year award for Sweden, a record thirteen times.
He won the Puskas award in 2012 for his overhead kick against England. He is currently playing for US Club LA Galaxy and has scored some spectacular goals.
