It’s 30 years since one of the great Champions League-winning teams ever assembled lifted the trophy, with the Ajax 1995 side living in infamy.
Thirty Years On: The Legendary Ajax 1995 European Cup Winners
Ajax ruled Europe for the first time since 1973 when beating the defending champions AC Milan 1-0 at the Ernst-Happel Stadion in Vienna on 24th May 1995 and they did it with a line-up packed with elite players. The teams had emerged from the same group and Ajax had signalled their intent with a pair of 2-0 victories.
In the final they needed only one goal, from youngster Patrick Kluivert in the 85th minute, to rule Europe for the first time in the Champions League era and the fourth time overall. Here are the 11 players managed by Louis van Gaal who made up their fantastic line-up.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Edwin van der Sar
Ajax’s top-class goalkeeper made 312 of his 821 career appearances for the Dutch giants before moving on to Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. Van der Sar was signed for the Red Devils by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2005, winning the Premier League title four times and enjoying another Champions League success in 2007-08. He represented the Netherlands 130 times and he was CEO of Ajax from 2016 until 2023.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Michael Reiziger
Right-back Michael Reiziger also began his career with Ajax, with the final being one of his 91 games for the club. He moved on to AC Milan before playing 253 matches for Barcelona followed by shorter spells with Middlesbrough in the Premier League and ending up back home with PSV. Reiziger earned 72 caps for the Netherlands and won the Eredivisie four times and La Liga twice. After his playing days, he moved into coaching and is the current coach of the Netherlands Under-21 team.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Danny Blind
Defender Danny Blind played all 682 of his career games for two clubs, with 188 for Sparta Rotterdam and a mammoth 494 for Ajax from 1986-1999. He won the Eredivisie as a player and represented the Netherlands 42 times. He has gone on to manage both Ajax and the national team.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard is one of the best all-round midfielders to grace the game and played 248 games for Ajax before enhancing his reputation as part of a great AC Milan side, winning two European Cups and returning to Ajax for the 1994-95 success against his former club. He went on to have a long managerial career with the Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona, Galatasaray and Saudi Arabia, leading Barca to two La Liga titles and a Champions League success in 2005-06.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Frank de Boer
Frank de Boer, twin brother of team-mate Ronald de Boer, played on the left of the Ajax back three. He made 431 appearances for the club before moving to Barcelona, with his later career including a short spell at Rangers in 2004. De Boer won the Eredivisie five times and La Liga once. His managerial career included spells with Ajax, Inter Milan, Crystal Palace, Atlanta United and the Netherlands national team, winning the Dutch league a further four times as a coach.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf played the first 53 minutes on the right side of the Ajax midfield before making way for substitute Nwankwo Kanu. Still a teenager at the time of the final he went on to great acclaim at Real Madrid and both Milan clubs as well as making 87 appearances for the Netherlands. He was part of Champions League winning teams with Real Madrid and AC Milan (twice) and his brief managerial career also included 22 matches with the Italian club.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Finidi George
Nigerian winger Finidi George never quite lived up to his vast potential but he shone brightly early in his career and was also part of the Ajax side that contested the 1996 Champions League final. He went on to play for Real Betis, Mallorca and Ipswich as well as earning 62 caps for his country, winning the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Edgar Davids
Edgar Davids was one of the most recognisable footballers of the era with his dreadlocked hair and the dark glasses he wore later in his storied career. The midfielder played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs including both Milan teams, Juventus and Barcelona as well as returning to Ajax in 2007 and playing in England with Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Barnet. He won Serie A three times and made 74 appearances for the Netherlands.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Ronald de Boer
Midfielder Ronald de Boer played in an advanced position in the final. He was in his second spell with Ajax after a brief stint with FC Twente and went on to play for Barcelona and Rangers. Versatile as a player, he won the Eredivisie five times and also landed national titles in Spain and Scotland. He scored 13 goals in 67 international matches for the Netherlands.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Jari Litmanen
Finnish forward Jari Litmanen was a prolific striker and netted an incredible 129 goals in 228 appearances for Ajax before moving on to Barcelona and Liverpool and playing another 31 games for the Dutch club between 2002-04. He won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup with Liverpool in 2001 and scored 32 goals in his 137 caps for Finland.
Litmanen was substituted after 70 minutes, making way for 18-year-old striker Patrick Kluivert, who became the youngest scorer in a Champions League final with his 85th-minute goal. Kluivert went on to great success at Barcelona and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2000 as part of his 40 goals in 79 international appearances for the Netherlands.
Ajax 1995 Legends: Marc Overmars
Left winger Marc Overmars joined Ajax via Go Ahead Eagles and Willem II and enjoyed success with Barcelona and Arsenal after leaving his home nation. The speedy Dutchman won the Premier League and FA Cup double with the Gunners in 1997-98.
By Tom McGarry
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