In a shocking turn of events, in their own backyard in the Euroborg stadium, Ajax Amsterdam were defeated comprehensively by FC Groningen, a side playing in the second tier of Dutch football. Groningen played with determination, tenacity, and unity despite having only a fraction of Ajax’s funds. With a 3-0 victory that will become Eredivisie folklore, they overpowered Ajax from the beginning whistle.
Four times European Cup champions and 36-time Eredivisie winners Ajax, a club steeped in rich football history, could not put up a good defence. The result unveiled the serious structural deterioration at one of Europe’s proudest clubs, not merely an off night.
The Groningen
Groningen had an immediate impact. Ajax had to clear quickly and make lateral passes since their midfield harassed them. The Groningen wingers created space centrally and pulled the fullbacks of Ajax wide.
Groningen capitalized on a disastrous back pass by Jorrel Hato in the twelfth minute. Tomáš Suslov beat an off-form goalie after picking up the ball and placing it in the empty net. Groningen came out on top unexpectedly early, and the home supporters went ecstatic.
Sterile possession was Ajax’s answer. They seemed to be disjointed in the latter third, faltered in their attack, and drifted laterally. Feeling exposed, Groningen cranked up the pressure. Midfielder Luciano Valente put the game further away from Ajax’s reach in the 33rd minute with a stunning 20-yard shot.
Ajax
John van t Schip, Ajax’s head coach, switched the formation to a back three and brought on two substitutes at halftime. There was no relief from the substitutions. Groningen continued to gain the midfield battles and cleanly shut down Ajax’s creative channels.
Groningen had won the match by the 78th minute. After a swift counterattack, Romano Postema headed past defenceless Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj after winger Ragnar Oratmangoen had played the ball to him. Groningen’s third goal encapsulated Ajax’s total mental, tactical, and emotional breakdown.
Media
The Dutch defeat quickly went global, and the European media reacted with shock and disapproval, echoing the sentiments of football fans worldwide.
French newspaper L’Équipe labelled the match “a collapse of reputation.”
“Second-Rated Underdogs Crush Ajax” was the title that appeared in Germany’s Bild.
Spanish newspaper Marca described it as “the fall of a historic symbol.”
“Ajax faces existential crisis after Euroborg embarrassment,” The Guardian of England reported.
The result was examined by football podcasts, social media, and commentators all across the continent, who viewed it as a reflection of an ill system as opposed to an aberration.
Adherents
Ajax supporters, known for their passion and high expectations, held protests online and at the Euroborg. Clips of fans shouting at the club’s management while holding signs that read, “Wij Zijn Ajax Niet Meer” (We are no longer Ajax), went viral.
Resignation letters swamped social media. While there were calls for the club to bring back former manager Erik ten Hag, now at Manchester United, as a permanent saviour among some fans, others demanded the removal of the sports director, Sven Mislintat, as his replacement.
Coach and Players
John van ‘t Schip’s future is currently unknown. Though he was hired as a temporary measure, he could not stabilize the team. Ajax is already searching for a new head coach who has both Ajax DNA and tactical leadership, according to sources close to the team.
Several players could be on the chopping block in the interim. Club officials have reportedly planned to review the team and consider unloading players who are not performing at their best or are not fitting during the summer window. With the evaluation process beginning, contract renewals are suspended.
Ajax’s collapse in Euroborg registers shockwaves across Europe, and not only in the Eredivisie. Ajax had for so many years represented style, youth, and creativity. None of those values were represented by the club that night. Instead, it looked shattered, vulnerable, and lost.
Europe not only witnessed the Ajax fire in Euroborg, but also grieved about the past. The club is now faced with the decision of rebuilding with a mission or becoming obsolete.
