1998–99 AFC Ajax season

During the 1998–99 Dutch football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie.

AFC Ajax
1998–99 season
Chairman Michael van Praag
Manager Morten Olsen (until December)
Jan Wouters
StadiumAmsterdam Arena
Eredivisie6th
KNVB CupWinners
Champions LeagueGroup stage
Johan Cruijff ShieldRunners-up
Top goalscorerJari Litmanen and Benni McCarthy (11)

Season summary

Having waltzed to the title during the previous season, Ajax suffered a complete collapse this season to finish 6th, 23 points adrift of champions Feyenoord. This was the club's lowest finish since 1965. The club also suffered poor form in Europe, finishing bottom of their Champions League group stage. Manager Morten Olsen had paid for the club's poor form in December with his job; his replacement, promoted reserve-team coach Jan Wouters, was unable to reverse the team's fortunes but managed to lead Ajax to the KNVB Cup.

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  NED Edwin Van Der Sar
2 DF  DEN Ole Tobiasen
3 DF  NED Danny Blind (captain)
4 DF  NED Frank De Boer
5 DF  NED Tom Sier
6 MF  NED Ronald De Boer
7 MF  NGA Tijani Babangida
8 MF  NED Richard Witschge
9 FW  NED Gerald Sibon
10 MF  FIN Jari Litmanen
11 MF  GEO Georgi Kinkladze
12 GK  NED Fred Grim
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 MF  NED Richard Knopper
14 FW  POR Dani
15 MF  NGA Sunday Oliseh
16 MF  DEN Jesper Grønkjær
17 FW  RSA Benni McCarthy
18 MF  POL Andrzej Rudy
19 DF  NED Mario Melchiot
20 MF  SUR Dean Gorré
21 DF  GHA Kofi Mensah
22 MF  NED Peter Hoekstra
24 FW  GEO Shota Arveladze
23 FW  BRA Wamberto

Transfers

In

Out

Results

Group stage

16 September 1998 Croatia Zagreb 0–0 Ajax Maksimir, Zagreb
Report Attendance: 33,000
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
30 September 1998 Ajax 2–1 Porto Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Rudy  57'
Litmanen  86' (pen.)
Report Zahovič  68' Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Piero Ceccarini (Italy)
21 October 1998 Olympiacos 1–0 Ajax Spiridon Louis, Athens
Alexandris  39' Report Attendance: 73,250
Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega (Spain)
4 November 1998 Ajax 2–0 Olympiacos Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Witschge  33'
Gorré  88'
Report Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Stefano Braschi (Italy)
25 November 1998 Ajax 0–1 Croatia Zagreb Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Report Šimić  68' Attendance: 46,000
Referee: Marc Batta (France)
9 December 1998 Porto 3–0 Ajax Estádio das Antas, Porto
Zahovič  54', 80'
Drulović  73'
Report Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy)

References

  1. The transfer for Grønkjær was completed in October 1997, but the player remained at his club until the start of the new Dutch football season.
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