Ajax capped a memorable and remarkable season with their first league title since 2014 as a 4-1 win over De Graafschap secured a domestic double. Erik Ten Hag’s side – who came close to an unprecedented Champions League final bar a last minute strike from Lucas Moura in their defeat to Tottenham – needed only a point from their last game to claim their 34th Eredivisie league title and they duly delivered as they tore apart De Graafschap.
Not only has their impressive performances been a revelation in Holland but also in the UEFA Champions League. Erik Ten Hag’s side caused havoc beating two of Europe’s giants in Real Madrid and Juventus and almost toppling Tottenham in the semi-final but for a last minute goal to end their Champions League hopes.
A breath of fresh air Ajax were on their journey to the semi-finals playing some scintilating stuff and exerting a brand of football that many clubs would kill to exhibit. Credit will have to go to Erik Ten Hag for the way he has transformed the aura around the club after years of going without the league title and even the domestic cup. Though, much of the credit will go to the players at his disposal, has executing his high-intensity and exciting philosophy to perfection. Players such as Frenkie De Jong – on his way to Barcelona this summer. Matthijs de Ligt – another player who will most definitely be leaving the Amsterdam in the coming months – has captured much of the imagination around Amsterdam with his impressive physical stature, maturity and immense leadership qualities at such a tender age of 19. Already being touted as one of the best centre backs of his generation.
Players such as Dusan Tadic, Hakim Ziyech, Daley Blind, David Neres have all garnered much of the praise this season but one man who has gone under the radar for much of the season especially during their fairy tale run in the Champions League, a player who has been compared to the Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp by Bergkamp himself.
That man is Donny van de Beek.
Van de Beek may have just burst onto the scene with his combative and tenacious showings in the Champions League over the past couple months, but over a decade ago he was awarded with a seal approval from a Dutch great in former Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp, who was working as a Ajax Under 12’s coach where he spotted the talents of Van de Beek taking a shine to his abilities.
Under Frank de Boer, Bergkamp – who was made his assistant at the time – immediately brought him to the attentions of Van de Beek. It may have been Bergkamp that spotted his talents when others did not but if his mother had her way, Van de Beek would not be on his way to stardom right now. Growing up in Nijkerk, an area in Holland which is known for its farmers. A young Van de Beek was more known for climbing up wooden fences and beams than he was playing football in his early years. Gerdina, his mother, shared that lack of enthusiasm for the sport.
Where one side of Van de Beek’s family hated the game, it was another that found him his once in a lifetime opportunity. His dad, Andre, took him to local side Veenseche Boys. It was said, after his first training session with them that Donny Van de Beek experienced his new found love for the game. He was so talented that by the time he turned 10, clubs such as Utrecht, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven were all touting his services. However, his family were Ajax season ticket holders so the only club they would have considered were the Amsterdam giants.
Despite his talents at such a tender age, there were some refinement needed in his game and with the help of Bergkamp, Van de Beek blossomed. It was the Dutch legend who told his Youth coach Ruben Jongkind that he needed some intense physical training.
Jongkind explained:
“We put him under a system of pretty rigorous physical training. He needed that. He came from the farmers. That area of Holland is pretty strong farmers there. But he needed to transfer that to field. He was benefiting from the performance department a lot. We got in people from American football and Judo.”
Eventually, Donny Van de Beek caught the eye of an even greater figure than Dennis Bergkamp – Johan Cruyff. A meeting was held between Van de Beek’s dad and the Barcelona legend.
‘I fell completely silent.’ Johan said: “I know your son, yes. That is Donny Van de Beek. He is good at this and good at that.” He was able to tell everything. Do you know how strange it is that your idol knows everything about your son? He was able to tell everything down to the smallest detail.’
Van de Beek went on to become one of the stars in a very strong and technically sound youth team. As an Under-16 plying his trade in the Under-19s, it was impossible to hold back Van de Beek forever, he would then go on to make his first team debut against Celtic in the Europa League in 2015. Ajax came out victorious in that game 2-1 and Van de Beek never looked back. Frank De Boer used him sparingly that season but it was under Peter Bosz that Van de Beek found his calling, his purpose and most importantly his place in a very talented and technically astute Ajax team.
Even featuring in the Europa League final defeat against Manchester United that season as a late substitute, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona keeping close tabs on him. Last summer, he turned the chance to move to Roma as he believed Ajax was the best place for his development. That decision has proved vital as this year the Dutch playmaker has really come about with this season being his most productive one yet – scoring 17 goals in all competitions – becoming a vital cog in a team that has been well oiled, shaped and moulded by coach Erik Ten Hag.
So what exactly does Donny Van de Beek bring to the Ajax table?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upiNuuCc7ow&t=165s
A well-rounded midfielder capable of playing in a number of positions within the middle. Whether its no.8, no.10, or even a no. 6 just know you’re going to get a performance that is worthy of being placed in the 100% calibre. You’re almost guaranteed a complete performance from Van de Beek, one of the reasons why Erik Ten Hag struggles to keep him out of the first XI.
In fact, his heroics in Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals – netting against Juventus in the last eight and against Tottenham as Ajax came out victorious in the first-leg – has yet again placed him high in the agenda of several of the continents top clubs, including Barcelona, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund. However, Ajax are adamant that they will be able to hold onto his services for the new season and hopeful of the midfielder signing a new contract. Just like his Dutch counterparts, Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt, Van de Beek has also – as well at club level – become a vital component in Ronald Koeman’s new and improved young Dutch team.
Despite his versatility in midfield, Van de Beek has regularly been deployed as Ajax’s main source of drive and creativity as a no.10 in behind Dusan Tadic. The Dutch maestro has become a master of the ‘third man’ run, arriving late in the box from midfield – latching onto crosses, through balls and loose balls – to exploit his predatory instincts in front of goal, becoming the prime beneficiary of Dusan Tadic’s switch to an unfamiliar role as a false-nine. His goal against Tottenham, a prime example of the kind of runs and positions he takes up in and around the penalty box. For a player so young, Van de Beek already has the tactical nous and positioning that players well matured than him would only dream of, and those traits owe much to the training and influence he has gone through throughout his time at Ajax.
What has been so exciting about Ajax’s football this season is the high energy in their pressing and movement without the ball. It’s bordering on relentless. As soon as they lose possession – within a second – they hustle their opponents aggressively to try and retrieve the ball. The one player kick-starting that process is Van de Beek, as soon as he moves off to press, the whole team follow. The type of football that made the Netherlands so good in the 1970s with the adaptation of Total football. The Johan Cruyff philosophy that has become the hallmark of what Ajax are traditionally all about. Much of the press comes through Van de Beek, his not stop running and tremendous energy is partly the reason Ajax are so dominant when attacking.
The team may well be disbanded this summer with the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Matthijs De Ligt, Nicholas Tagliafico, and David Neres all rumoured to leave by the time the new season starts in August. However, this is a club that will reboot successfully with many players ready to step up and take the mantle that has been vacated. It is said that Donny Van de Beek would be staying at the Amsterdam Arena, if that’s the case then Ajax will be not be worried at all about becoming feeder club this summer.
The future is still bright for Ajax, even more so if Donny Van de Beek renews his contract.
A future leader in the making.
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