1971–72 AFC Ajax season

During the 1971–72 Dutch football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie. Ajax won the treble that season, winning the Eredivisie, the 1971–72 KNVB Cup and the 1971–72 European Cup. It was the club's first season without Rinus Michels since 1965.

AFC Ajax
1971–72 season
ChairmanJaap van Praag
ManagerStefan Kovacs
StadiumOlympic Stadium
Eredivisie1st
KNVB CupWinners
European CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague:
Johan Cruyff (25)

All:
Johan Cruyff (33)

First-team squad

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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 Heinz Stuy
2 MF   AUT Heinz Schilcher
3 DF   NED Wim Suurbier
4 DF   NED Barry Hulshoff
5 DF   NED Ruud Krol
6 DF   NED Ruud Suurendonk
7 MF   NED Johan Neeskens
8 FW   NED Sjaak Swart
9 DF   NED Gerrie Mühren
10 FW   NED Dick van Dijk
11 FW   NED Piet Keizer
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF   GER Horst Blankenburg
13 GK   NED Sies Wever
14 FW   NED Johan Cruyff
15 MF   NED Arie Haan
16 FW   NED Johnny Rep
GK   NED Bob Hoogenboom
DF   NED Louis Donkers
DF   NED Cor ten Bosch
MF   NED Henk Heijt
MF   NED Arnold Mühren
FW   NED Gerrie Kleton

Transfers

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Position Player From Type Fee Ref.
FW   Arnold Mühren   RKSV Volendam Transfer €79,113
MF   Heinz Schilcher   SK Sturm Graz Transfer
FW   Johnny Rep   Jong Ajax Transfer Free
FW   Gerrie Kleton   Jong Ajax Transfer Free
Position Player To Type Fee Ref.
MF   Nico Rijnders   Royal FC Brugeois Transfer Free
DF   Velibor Vasović Retired

Out mid season

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Position Player To Type Fee Ref.
DF   Ruud Suurendonk   AS Monaco [1]

Results

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In the 1971–72 season Ajax lost just one game. They were unbeaten at home in both domestic and European competitions. The season included a 12-1 victory over Vitesse at the De Meer Stadion. A result which set a record for the largest win in Eredivisie history. It would stand until 2020, when Ajax beat VVV-Venlo 13–0.[2]

Eredivisie

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15 August 1971 1 Twente 0–2 Ajax Enschede
Report Suurendonk   41'
van Dijk   52'
Stadium: Diekman Stadion
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft
22 August 1971 2 Ajax 1–0 FC Den Haag Amsterdam
Swart   90' Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Jef Dorpmans
29 August 1971 3 Rotterdam 1–1 Ajax Rotterdam
Klijnjan   33' (pen.) Report Swart   82' Stadium: Het Kasteel
Attendance: 31,000
Referee: Ad Boogaerts
5 September 1971 4 Ajax 1–0 Excelsior Amsterdam
Hulshoff   12' Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Joop Vervoot
11 September 1971 5 Groningen 0–0 Ajax Groningen
Hovenkamp   84' Report Keizer   84' Stadium: Oosterpark
Attendance: 17,500
Referee: Koen Hoppenbrouwer
19 September 1971 6 Ajax 5–0 Breda Amsterdam
van Dijk   16' (pen.)
Schilcher   67'
Cruyff   90'
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Henk Pijper
25 September 1971 7 Eindhoven 1–1 Ajax Eindhoven
Devrindt   43' Report van Dijk   49' Stadium: Philips Stadion
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Theo Boosten
3 October 1971 8 Ajax 1–0 Nijmegen Amsterdam
van Dijk   68' Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Koen Brouwer
15 October 1971 9 Amsterdam 0–2 Ajax Amsterdam
Report Keizer   16'
Neeskens   61'
Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 26,410
Referee: Joop Vervoort
24 October 1971 10 Ajax 4–1 Go Ahead Eagles Amsterdam
Hulshoff   14', 35'
Haan   40'
Neeskens   74'
Report Geels   29' (pen.) Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Charles Corver
31 October 1971 11 MVV 0–3 Ajax Maastricht
Report Neeskens   16'
Cruyff   27'
Swart   45'
Stadium: De Geusselt
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft
7 November 1971 12 Ajax 2–1 Feijenoord Amsterdam
Swart   67'
Israël   76' (o.g.)
Report Israël   88' Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Laurens Van Ravens
14 November 1971 13 Utrecht 2–3 Ajax Utrecht
Steen Olsen   31'
Bonsink   83'
Report Keizer   55', 75'
Rep   80'
Stadium: Stadion Galgenwaard
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Arie Van Germert
21 November 1971 14 Ajax 5–2 Telstar Amsterdam
Cruyff   1', 39', 77'
Keizer   16'
van Dijk   45'
Report van Essen   24' (pen.)
Manders   75'
Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 13,500
Referee: Koen Brouwer
28 November 1971 15 Volendam 0–1 Ajax Volendam
Report Swart   7' Stadium: Kras Stadion
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Charles Corver
5 December 1971 16 Ajax 5–0 FC Den Bosch Amsterdam
Keizer   13'
Cruyff   26', 54'
Mühren   59' (pen.), 72' (pen.)
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Henk Pijper
12 December 1971 17 Vitesse Arnhem 1–3 Ajax Arnhem
Gerritsen   20' Report Swart   8'
Keizer   35'
Cruyff   60'
Stadium: Nieuw Monnikenhuize
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Frans Derks
19 December 1971 18 Ajax 1–0 Twente Amsterdam
Haan   63' Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Jan Keizer (referee)
2 January 1972 19 FC Den Haag 1–2 Ajax The Hague
Roodnat   40' Report Keizer   50'
Cruyff   53'
Stadium: Zuiderpark
Attendance: 28,500
Referee: Ad Boogaerts
16 January 1972 20 Ajax 2–1 Rotterdam Amsterdam
Cruyff   34'
Mühren   75'
Report Kowalik   51' Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Laurens Van Ravens
6 February 1972 21 Breda 2–5 Ajax Breda
Schrijvers   43' (pen.),   79'
van Dijk   68'
Report Keizer   10'
Suurbier   17'
van Dijk   19', 23'
Mühren   66'
Cruyff   79'
Stadium: NAC Stadion
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Charles Corver
26 February 1972 22 Excelsior 0–4 Ajax Rotterdam
Report Cruyff   30', 40'
van Nierop   68' (o.g.)
van der Heijden   87' (o.g.)
Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 23,640
Referee: Koen Hoppenbrouwer
3 March 1972 23 Ajax 7–0 Groningen Amsterdam
Cruyff   1', 33', 42'
Swart   5'
Mühren   35', 63'
Keizer   60'
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft
12 March 1972 24 Ajax 4–1 PSV Eindhoven Amsterdam
Keizer   44', 49'
Mühren   51' (pen.)
Strik   61' (o.g.)
Report Hoekema   18' Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 23,500
Referee: Ad Boogaerts
19 March 1972 25 Nijmegen 0–1 Ajax Nijmegen
Report Neeskens   45' Stadium: De Goffert
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Jef Dorpmans
26 March 1972 26 Ajax 2–0 Amsterdam Amsterdam
Muller   82' (o.g.)
Neeskens   90'
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Henk Pijper
1 April 1972 27 Go Ahead Eagles 3–2 Ajax Deventer
Smid   7'
Geels   56', 62'
Report Neeskens   27'
Cruyff   30'
Stadium: De Adelaarshorst
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft
9 April 1972 28 Ajax 8–0 MVV Amsterdam
Keizer   12', 35'
Swart   31', 82'
van Dijk   38', 74'
Neeskens   41'
Mühren   64'
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Charles Corver
15 April 1972 29 Feijenoord 1–5 Ajax Rotterdam
Posthumus   23' Report Haan   9'
Mühren   19'
Cruyff   40', 58'
Keizer   83'
Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 62,257
Referee: Ad Boogaerts
23 April 1972 30 Ajax 4–0 Utrecht Amsterdam
Swart   50'
van Dijk   60'
Mühren   68' (pen.)
Cruyff   75'
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Theo Boosten
30 April 1972 31 Telstar 1–2 Ajax Velsen
Jonker   24' Report Swart   28'
Hulshoff   72'
Stadium: Sportpark Schoonenberg
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Jef Dorpmans
7 May 1972 32 Ajax 2–0 Volendam Amsterdam
Cruyff   8'
van Dijk   70'
Report Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Arie Van Gemert
14 May 1972 33 Den Bosch 0–1 Ajax 's-Hertogenbosch
Report Cruyff   86' Stadium: De Vliert
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Koen Brouwer
19 May 1972 34 Ajax 12–1 Vitesse Amsterdam
Neeskens   10', 28', 88'
Cruyff   32', 42', 47', 78'
van Dijk   49', 51', 81'
Mühren   63'
Hulshoff   70'
Report Veenendaal   75' Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Joop Vervoort

KNVB Cup

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9 January 1972 Round 1 Ajax 8–3 Zwolle Amsterdam
Swart  
Cruyff    
Mühren  
Rorije   (o.g.)
Keizer  
Neeskens  
 
 
 
Stadium: De Meer
20 February 1972 Round of 16 Ajax 3–0 Go Ahead Eagles Amsterdam
Haan  
Swart  
Hulshoff  
Stadium: De Meer
29 March 1972 Quarter finals Ajax 1–0 Nijmegen Amsterdam
Keizer   Stadium: De Meer
11 April 1972 Semi–finals Ajax 2–0 Volendam Amsterdam
van Dijk  
Neeskens  
Stadium: De Meer
11 May 1972 Final Ajax 3–2 FC Den Haag Rotterdam
Cruyff  
Mühren   (pen.)
Keizer  
Van Eeden  
Mansveld   (pen.)
Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 60,000

European Cup

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15 September 1971 Round 1 Ajax   2–0   Dynamo Dresden Amsterdam
19:15 Swart   2'
Keizer   18'
Report Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 45,027
Referee: Milivoje Gugulović
29 September 1971 Round 1 Dynamo Dresden   0–0
(0–2 agg.)
  Ajax Dresden
18:30 Sammer   14' Report Haan   28' Stadium: Dynamostadion
Attendance: 32,307
Referee: Ken Burns (referee)
20 October 1971 Round of 16 Marseille   1–2   Ajax Marseille
19:30 Gress   9' Report Keizer   39'
Cruyff   68'
Stadium: Stade Vélodrome
Attendance: 48,039
Referee: Robert Schaut
3 November 1971 Round of 16 Ajax   4–1
(6–2 agg.)
  Marseille Amsterdam
19:15 Cruyff   32', 64'
Swart   37'
Haan   80'
Neeskens  
Report Couécou   10'   17'
Skoblar   44'
Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 53,785
Referee: Alisair McKenzie
8 March 1972 Quarter finals Ajax   2–1   Arsenal Amsterdam
19:15 Mühren   26', 70' (pen.) Report Kennedy   14'   44' Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 53,754
Referee: Leonidas Vamvakopoulos
22 March 1972 Quarter finals Arsenal   0–1
(1–3 agg.)
  Ajax London
18:30 Storey   60' Report Graham   15' (o.g) Stadium: Arsenal Stadium
Attendance: 56,155
Referee: Ferdinand Marschall
5 April 1972 Semi finals Ajax   1–0   Benfica Amsterdam
19:15 Swart   64' Report Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 53,921
Referee: Karlo Kruashvili
19 April 1972 Semi finals Benfica   0–0
(0–1 agg.)
  Ajax Lisbon
21:45 Report Keizer   53' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 58,983
Referee: Norman Burtenshaw
31 May 1972 Final Ajax   2–0   Internazionale Rotterdam
19:30 Cruyff   48', 77' Report
MatchCentre
Boninsegna   79' Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 61,354
Referee: Robert Héliès

Statistics

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Goals record

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Rank Nat. Po. Name Eredivisie European Cup KNVB Cup Total
1   FW Johan Cruyff 25 5 3 33
2   FW Piet Keizer 14 2 3 19
3   FW Dick van Dijk 16 0 1 17
  FW Sjaak Swart 11 3 2 17
5   DF Gerrie Mühren 9 2 2 13
6   MF Johan Neeskens 10 0 2 12
7   DF Barry Hulshoff 5 0 1 6
8   MF Arie Haan 3 1 1 5
9   MF Arnold Mühren 2 0 0 2
10   FW Johnny Rep 1 0 0 1
  MF Heinz Schilcher 1 0 0 1
  DF Wim Suurbier 1 0 0 1
  DF Ruud Suurendonk 1 0 0 1

References

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  1. ^ "Ruud Suurendonk". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Ajax thrash VVV Venlo 13-0 to break Eredivisie record". ESPN. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
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