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The Dutch Eredivisie saw its fair share of shocks and surprises. It was a season of two halves. The first half saw Ajax slipping , the other saw Ajax’s dominance. New talent in the form of Bas Dost, Ola John and John Guidetti stole the limelight from the bigger players of Ajax Amsterdam.
1. Team Of The Season: Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam continued their continued dominance of the Dutch league after they defended their trophy following a rather jittery start. The Netherlands’ most successful team might have won the Eredivisie with two games to spare, but they were nowhere close to even Champions League qualification at the halfway point.
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Christian Eriksen, Siem De Jong, Jan Vertonghen and Miralem Sulejmani were the pick of the players again for Ajax Amsterdam. Their turning point came at Old Trafford, where they put up a brave fight but eventually lost the tie after a poor home performance. Ajax Amsterdam scored 93 goals, averaging close to three goals a game. Frank De Boer fulfilled his promise to the Ajax faithful by changing Ajax into a threatening attacking unit.
2. Player of The Season: Jan Vertonghen
The Belgian international took over the role of captain after Luis Suarez left the club in January, 2011. He has been a solid rock in the Ajax defence, averaging 4 successful tackles and 3 vital interceptions per game. He marshalled the defence to achieve an impressive eleven clean sheets. Vertonghen also scored an impressive eight goals in the Eredivisie this season, the highest in Europe by a defender.
Other candidates include Heerenveen’s goal machine Bas Dost, PSV’s creative midfielder Dries Meertens and Ajax’s young sensation Christian Eriksen
3. Young Player Of the Year: Adam Maher
Az Alkmaar’s teenage sensation Adam Maher took the Eredivisie by storm at the halfway point of the season with his breathtaking dribbling skills. The Moroccan born Dutch under-21 sensation was a pivotal part of AZ’s title chase. They fell just short of the Champions League qualifiers. Maher was named Eredivisie talent of the year 2012.
Other candidates include Feyenoord’s tenacious midfielder Jordy Clasie, Heerenveen’s goal machine Bas Dost and Twente’s Ola John.
4. Breakaway Team Of the Year : Feyenoord
Feyenoord were expected to finish in the mid table again after the dismal transfer planning by the management. But the Eredivisie were in for a rude shock. Buoyed by two of their brightest talents, Jordy Clasie and John Guidetti, Feyenoord collected twice as many points than they managed last season. John Guidetti, on loan from Manchester City, showed he too can compete with the best.
Other candidates include Heerenveen and Vitesse.
5.Breakdown team of the Year: Groningen
It has been a hugely disappointing season for Groningen. They were in the battle for Europe last season but ended up in the relegation battle this year. Though they managed to assure themselves of another year in the top division, it was a huge step down for a team which had realistic European ambitions.
Other candidates include ADO Den Haag and Twente Enschede.
6. Goal Of The Season: Maya Yoshida :
The Japanese international and VVV Venlo centre back’s first time Overhead volley against PSV Eindhoven was the pick of the best goals in the Eredivisie. Other candidates include Rasmus Elm’s superb strike from a corner and Lorenzo Ebicillo’s superb dribbling and Long range effort.
7. Eredivisie Best Eleven:
