During the 2008–09 season AFC Ajax participated in the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup and the UEFA Cup. The first training took place on Monday July 14, 2008. The traditional AFC Ajax Open Day was on Tuesday August 5, 2008, followed by a testimonial match for the retired former Ajax defender Jaap Stam.
Pre-season The first training for the 2008–09 season was held on July 14, 2008. In preparation for the new season Ajax organized a training camp in De Lutte, Netherlands at the De Thij Sportpark. During the pre-season, the squad from manager Marco van Basten played friendly matches against VV Noordwijk, CVV Germanicus and Excelsior '31 before traveling to the United Kingdom to play against Cardiff City and Sunderland, then traveling to Spain to play Real Murcia. They then returned to Amsterdam to play Arsenal and Internazionale in the annual Amsterdam Tournament.
Player statistics Appearances for competitive matches only
|colspan="14"|Players sold or loaned out after the start of the season:
As of 31 October 2011
2008-09 selection by nationality Nationality Total Players Current squad selection1122221111111--27 Youth/reserves squad in AFC Ajax selection31---1--------5 Players out on loan1-1---------114
Team statistics
Eredivisie standings 2008-09 StandingMatches playedWinsDrawsLossesPointsGoals forGoals againstYellow cardsRed cards 3342158687441606
Points by match day Match day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Total Points 0 3 1 3 0 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 1 3 3 3 3 3 0 0 1 0 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 0 1 0 3 68
Total points by match day Match day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Total Points 0 3 4 7 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 25 26 29 32 35 38 41 41 41 42 42 45 48 51 52 55 58 61 64 64 65 65 68 68
Standing by match day Match day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Standing Standing 12th 9th 12th 6th 10th 9th 5th 5th 2nd 2nd 1st 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd
Goals by match day Match day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Total Goals 1 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 2 5 4 0 1 2 3 6 3 4 0 0 2 1 2 2 2 1 3 3 2 7 2 1 0 1 74
Statistics for the 2008-09 season This is an overview of all the statistics for played matches in the 2008-09 season. Friendlies AmsterdamTournament KNVB Cup UEFA Cup Eredivisie Total Matches722103455 Wins40152131 Draws100359 Losses2212814 Home02151725 Away70151730 Yellow cards 222176083 Red cards 000268 2 x yellow in 1 match 000134 Number of substitutes used 47862789177 Goals for 24221674118 Goals against 841104164 Balance +16-2+1+6+33+54 Clean sheets 30141422 Penalties for 2002812 Penalties against 000033
2008-09 team records Description Competition ResultBiggest win Friendly match Excelsior '31 - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 8 ) KNVB Cup AFC Ajax - FC Utrecht ( 2 - 0 ) UEFA Cup FK Borac Čačak - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 4 ) Eredivisie AFC Ajax - Willem II ( 7 - 0 )Biggest loss Friendly match VfB Stuttgart - AFC Ajax ( 3 - 2 ) KNVB Cup FC Volendam - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 0 ) UEFA Cup Olympique de Marseille - AFC Ajax ( 2 - 1 ) Eredivisie PSV - AFC Ajax ( 6 - 2 )Most goals in a match Friendly match Excelsior '31 - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 8 ) KNVB Cup AFC Ajax - FC Utrecht ( 2 - 0 ) UEFA Cup FK Borac Čačak - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 4 ) Eredivisie PSV - AFC Ajax ( 6 - 2 )
Top scorers Friendlies Nr. Name 1. Luis Suárez 5 2. Darío Cvitanich 4 3. Gabri 3 4. Leonardo 2 Kenneth Perez 2 6. Jeffrey Sarpong 1 Albert Luque 1 Jan-Arie van der Heijden 1 Kennedy Bakircioglü 1 Javier Martina 1 Siem de Jong 1 Vurnon Anita 1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 1 Total 24
Eredivisie Nr. Name 1. Luis Suárez 22 2. Darío Cvitanich 9 3. Miralem Sulejmani 8 4. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 6 5. Thomas Vermaelen 4 Jan Vertonghen 4 Urby Emanuelson 4 8. Leonardo 2 Rasmus Lindgren 2 Gregory van der Wiel 2 11. Jeffrey Sarpong 1 Oleguer 1 Siem de Jong 1 Evander Sno 1 Kennedy Bakircioglü 1 Gabri 1 Rob Wielaert 1 Ismaïl Aissati 1 Eyong Enoh 1 Own goals Erik Pieters (PSV) 1 Fernández (N.E.C.) 1 Total 74
KNVB Cup Nr. Name 1. Luis Suárez 1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 1 Total 2
UEFA Cup Nr. Name 1. Luis Suárez 5 2. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 2 Miralem Sulejmani 2 Leonardo 2 5. Jeffrey Sarpong 1 Thomas Vermaelen 1 Jan Vertonghen 1 Kennedy Bakircioglü 1 Eyong Enoh 1 Total 16
Amsterdam Tournament Nr. Name 1. Luis Suárez 1 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 1 Total 2
Placements Friendlies Amsterdam Tournament KNVB Cup UEFA Cup Eredivisie Status 7 played, 4 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses4th place Eliminated in Third RoundLast opponent: FC VolendamEliminated in Round of 16Last opponent: Olympique de Marseille3rd place68 points in 34 matchesqualified for UEFA Europa League Qualifying rounds
Luis Suárez is voted Player of the year by the supporters of AFC Ajax. Gregory van der Wiel is voted Talent of the year by the supporters of AFC Ajax.
Results All times are in CEST
Eredivisie
KNVB Cup
UEFA Cup
First round
Group stage
Final phase
Round of 32
Round of 16
Amsterdam Tournament
Final standings of the LG Amsterdam Tournament 2008 Team Arsenal211048 Internazionale211015 Sevilla FC202013 Ajax200222
Friendlies
Transfers for 2008-09
Summer transfer window For a list of all Dutch football transfers in the summer window (1 July 2008 to 1 September 2008) please see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2008.
Arrivals The following players moved to AFC Ajax. NamePositionTransfer typePrevious clubFee Return from loan spell Kenneth VermeerGoalkeeper30 June 2008 Willem II- Transfer Darío CvitanichMidfielder28 April 2008 Banfield €6,5 million Miralem SulejmaniForward4 July 2008 SC Heerenveen €16,25 million Ismaïl AissatiMidfielder19 July 2008 PSV €4,1 million OleguerDefender29 July 2008 FC Barcelona €3 million Evander SnoMidfielder21 August 2008 Celtic €1,5 million Free Transfer Darko BodulForward14 June 2008 SC Heerenveen- Eyong EnohMidfielder31 August 2008 Ajax Cape Town- Hans VonkGoalkeeper31 August 2008 Ajax Cape Town-
Departures The following players moved from AFC Ajax. NamePositionTransfer typeNew clubFee Out on loan Donovan SlijngardDefender27 July 2008 Sparta Rotterdam- George OgăraruDefender30 August 2008 Steaua București- Albert LuqueForward31 August 2008 Málaga CF- Transfer Rydell PoeponForward30 May 2008 Sparta Rotterdam €1 million John HeitingaDefender15 August 2008 Atlético Madrid €12 million Free Transfer Edgar DavidsMidfielder20 May 2008—- Marco van DuinGoalkeeper21 June 2008 HFC Haarlem- Erik HeijblokGoalkeeper30 June 2008 De Graafschap- Ismael UrzaízForward15 July 2008—- Jurgen ColinDefender20 August 2008 Sporting de Gijón- Michael Krohn-DehliMidfielder29 August 2008 Brøndby IF- Nicolae MiteaForward31 August 2008 Dinamo București- Samuel KuffourDefender1 September 2008 Asante Kotoko- Vito WormgoorDefender2 September 2008 FC Utrecht- Kenneth PerezMidfielder4 September 2008 FC Twente-
Winter transfer window For a list of all Dutch football transfers in the winter window (1 January 2009 to 1 February 2009) please see List of Dutch football transfers winter 2008–09.
Arrivals The following players moved to AFC Ajax. NamePositionTransfer typePrevious clubFee Transfer Rob WielaertDefender22 January 2010 FC Twente €3,15 million
Departures The following players moved from AFC Ajax. NamePositionTransfer typeNew clubFee Out on loan Dennis RommedahlForward20 January 2009 N.E.C.- Transfer Klaas-Jan HuntelaarForward1 January 2009 Real Madrid €27 million John GoossensForward1 February 2009 N.E.C. €900,000 Free Transfer Laurent DelorgeMidfielder6 January 2008 Roda JC- Hans VonkGoalkeeper20 January 2009 SC Heerenveen-
External links Ajax Amsterdam Official Website in Nederlandse UEFA Website