How would Ajax FC look like if it retained all its exports

The football world has been more than honored, right from the past to the present, to be witness to some of the best Dutch football talents who have gone on to make it big in Europe. However,when one speaks of Dutch football talents, it is impossible to neglect the impact that Ajax FC made on the beautiful game. The ‘Jong Ajax’ or the Ajax Youth Academy is one of the most prestigious football academies in the world, churning out superstar after superstar since ages.

Some of football’s greatest ever players like Johann Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp and countless others are all products of Jong Ajax. Even today the Academy boasts of some world-class exports throughout Europe and it will be interesting to look at how Ajax FC would look like, if it brought back all its exports back in the squad to blend in with the new exciting, budding talents that it already possesses.

Ideal Formation- 4-3-3

Goalkeeper- Maarten Stekelenburg

Maarten Stekelenburg is currently playing for Italian Serie A side AS Roma following a highly impressive career at former club Ajax FC and also some world-class performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the Netherlands. The Haarlem-born shot-stopper is one of the most technically gifted and sought after goalkeepers in the world today. He boasts of superb reflexes, precise distribution skills and supreme confidence in dealing with high-balls and long-range shots. He has been the regular man between the sticks for his national side and has never made the Netherlands feel the absence of his predecessor, at both club and national level, Edwin van der Sar. Any manager would die to relinquish his services.

Full-backs- Gregory van der Wiel (RB), Jan Vertonghen (LB)

Gregory van der Wiel is one of the most impressive modern day full-backs in the world today. His surging forward runs down the right flank resemble that of any Brazilian full back,much like Dani Alves. His pace coupled with superior technique and the ability to deliver pin-point crosses make him an extremely valuable asset to any side. Van der Wiel is also a regular in the Netherlands national team and was largely involved in the 2010 World Cup where his national side made it to the finals only to fall short in the end.

Jan Vertonghen has been linked with many top Premier League sides like Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United and why shouldn’t he be? He is an excellent example of the Ajax way of playing football as he can play multiple roles in a single game. Vertonghen is generally used as a left-sided central defender however, he can also play at left-back and even as a central defensive midfielder. Another attack-minded defender, the Belgian international loves moving forward whenever he can and also cover up in defence at the same time. He is an excellent player in central defence, though I personally would love to see him play at left back and play as an additional attacking outlet on the wings. His versatility is his biggest plus point and managers look for exactly that in today’s times with the competition becoming so demanding that every team needs to possess the extra edge over others which Vertonghen duly provides.

Centre-backs – John Heitinga,Thomas Vermaelen

John Heitinga is an established Premier league centre-back and plays for Everton FC. He is a rock in defence and is one of the key assets to David Moyes’ organized and well-drilled side. Heitinga is a beast at the back who never fears to throw in crunching tackles when needed. Also, he is excellent at set-pieces and has the knack of scoring from set pieces. An experienced presence like Heitinga helps the defence remain organized throughout the course of the 90 minutes. He is a regular Dutch international and has featured regularly in the Oranje’s Euro and World Cup campaigns in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

The Belgian defender is undoubtedly one of Wenger’s best buys in recent memory. Thomas Vermaelen is Arsenal’s defensive lynch-pin and is one of the key factors in Arsenal’s revival this season. He is technically solid and extremely assured on the ball in defence. His ability to score goals on a regular basis thanks to his bursting forward runs, and excellence in converting set-pieces. One of the best goal-scoring moments of Vermaelen this season was his late winner against Newcastle United a couple of weeks ago that helped Arsenal overtake Tottenham to 3rd spot.

The combination of Heitinga and Vermaelen will be a treat to watch as both will complement each other perfectly with Heitinga sitting back and cutting down attacks while Vermaelen could burst forward and unsettle the opposition’s midfield.

Midfield- Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen.

Rafael van der Vaart has become Tottenham’s star play-maker ever since his transfer deadline-day move from Real Madrid where it would be fair to say, his services were grossly under-utilized. Van der Vaart is a dynamic attacking midfielder who oozes class with every touch of the ball on his feet. The former Ajax midfielder is an out and out attack minded play-maker who can alo operate as a second striker. He has a genuine eye for goal, a sharp footballing brain and terrific technical ability. Also, he is very much a dead-ball specialist and can score some dazzling free-kicks. A class act in all aspects, he is one player to die for. A fit and fully motivated Rafael van der Vaart can destroy any defence with his trickery, movement and pace. Harry Redknapp should be very proud of himself for making such an excellent signing.

Wesley Sneijder is hailed by many of his supporters as the ‘Dutch Xavi’. The Inter Milan midfielder is highly sought after, by top European clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City. Sneijder is an influential midfielder who dictates the play. He can attack as well as defend and set the tone to a game. When Sneijder is on song, he is unstoppable and even Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona were witness to his magic in the 2009/10 CL semi-final first leg. He is known for his free-kick taking abilities and he has scored countless of them for Ajax and Inter Milan. Also, he is extremely reliable when on the pitch and one can always expect pin-point passes coming from him. What makes him an incredible midfielder is his ability to provide assists and score goals in tandem striking fear in the hearts of many an opposition defence. He played his best football in the 2009/10 season, guiding Mourinho’s Inter to a scintillating treble-winning campaign and also his Dutch national side to the 2010 World Cup finals. A real gem of a footballer and one of the best in the world!

Danish striker Christian Eriksen will be the next star player on his way out from Ajax very soon and football followers would know what an exciting prospect he is. This 20 year old midfielder is quick, a terrific dribbler of the ball who has great vision and boasts of a powerful strike! The kind of dynamism he adds to the midfield is what managers love to see and converts a team into a goal-scoring engine.

Forwards- Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Klaas jan Huntelaar

Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Luis Suarez has already become a household name in Liverpool thanks to his exploits in front of goal for the Merseysiders. Though he plays as a centre forward for Liverpool, I would love to see him on the wings where he can cut inside of a fullback and run towards the goal. The Uruguayan played a vital part in helping his national side finish 4th in the 2010 World Cup and win the Copa America in 2011. After a terrific spell at Ajax FC, he made an immediate impact for Dalgish’s Reds and quickly replaced Torres in the Liverpudlian hearts. His best performance was the dismantling of the Manchester United defence last year when The Red Devils made their trip to Anfield.

What can be said about Ibrahiovic that has not been said before? The Swedish striker is in the top bracket of European strikers along with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Gomez. Zlatan holds an enviable record of winning the most number of domestic league titles consecutively with Ajax, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona and AC Milan. Ironically, he is yet to win a Champions League. The 6’7″ forward is a real bully for defenders, thanks to his supreme physicality. He is a great set-piece converter and a clinical finisher. Ibrahimovic is the most destructive when he is given the kind of freedom on the pitch he notoriously demands and he gets at AC Milan. He has been the top-scorer for the Rossoneri for the past two seasons and is their main go-to man. He will surely be remembered as one of the best strikers of his generation when he retires.

The Schalke 04 striker (Klaas jan Huntelaar) is a deadly finisher of the ball and has built an excellent reputation at both club and national level. A quality poacher of the ball who never fails the efforts of his team’s midfielder, the Dutchman is another classic product of the Ajax Academy. A poacher of his quality is essential in this Ajax squad, as his positional awareness and movement on and off the ball keeps the opposition defenders on their toes throughout the match. Huntelaar still has a long way to go and a shift to a bigger club in Europe will earn him the plaudits that his ability deserves.

So viola! an out and out goal-engine that only knows one way to move- forward! What say Real Madrid and Barca, wanna mess with ‘em?