Ajax's Fall from Grace: Shattering the Dutch Eredivisie Giants
Who would've thought that the iconic Ajax, known as the "great Ajax," would taste bitter cup defeat against an amateur club? Welcome to the reality of a shocking phase in Dutch soccer history. The netizens across Europe can only express their disbelief as they witness the former Champions League titans descending into turmoil.
The Ajax Amsterdam we know is a mere shadow of its former glory, and the unsettling highlight was an unprecedented defeat in the cup against the third-division USV Hercules – sparking condemnation from both home and abroad. De Telegraaf went as far as to label it an "unearthly embarrassment," while Marca described it as a "scandalous failure" – with the overall sentiment being that Ajax has been consigned to a dark corner of the soccer world.
On a chilly Thursday evening in March 2024, the cup bearers who've claimed victory twenty times previously suffered their first-ever defeat to a non-professional side – albeit in the second round of the cup. The upset was so seismic that Ajax’s ill-fated season hit a new historic low in its unfortunate trajectory.
As De Telegraaf put it, "the fall into a crater from which the bottom hasn't yet been reached" is far from an understatement for the struggling Dutch record champions, punctuated by serious board issues and on-field struggles. Ajax was languishing in last place in the Eredivisie back in October 2024. However, under new management by coach John van 't Schip, the team has shown signs of improvement, now standing in fifth position following a disastrous start to the season. Yet, they still trail the leaders, PSV Eindhoven, by a staggering 23 points.
The team's downward spiral escalated in March 2024 when Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom scored crucial late-minute goals to narrow the 2-0 deficit, only for Mats Grotenbreg to capitalize on a desperate push for an equalizer and earn his side the game-winning wound in injury time. In the wake of the defeat, Ajax assistant coach Michael Valkanis expressed his discontent, highlighting the side's plight while maintaining hope that they could regain their footing.
Lesser Known Fact
Despite being a third-division club, USV Hercules weren't strangers to tasting cup victory themselves, having previously triumphed against top-tier rivals. The team's surprise run in the cup and their eventual victory over Ajax became one of the most memorable moments in Dutch soccer history.
Needless to say, Ajax Amsterdam's unexpected defeat to an amateur side has sent shockwaves through the Dutch soccer community, making for headlines that have reverberated across the European soccer landscape. Fans, pundits, and experts alike will argue over the reasons behind the team's implosion for years to come, but one thing is certain: Ajax Amsterdam is currently battling the most challenging time in its history.
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[References] [1] – The source of the initial article. The data regarding the cup defeat and its subsequent impact are based on this source.
