1998–99 AFC Ajax season

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

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

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 win the KNVB Cup.

Players

First-team squad

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

Left club during season

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

Jong Ajax

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

Transfers

In

Out

Results

Champions League

Group stage

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification OLY CZG POR AJX
1 Greece Olympiacos 6 3 2 1 8 6 +2 11 Advance to knockout stage — 2–0 2–1 1–0
2 Croatia Croatia Zagreb 6 2 2 2 5 7 −2 8 1–1 — 3–1 0–0
3 Portugal Porto 6 2 1 3 11 9 +2 7 2–2 3–0 — 3–0
4 Netherlands Ajax 6 2 1 3 4 6 −2 7 2–0 0–1 2–1 —
Source: UEFA
16 September 1998 Croatia Zagreb Croatia 0–0 Netherlands Ajax Maksimir, Zagreb
Report Attendance: 33,000
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
30 September 1998 Ajax Netherlands 2–1 Portugal Porto Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Rudy 57'
Litmanen 86' (pen.)		 Report Zahovič 68' Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Piero Ceccarini (Italy)
21 October 1998 Olympiacos Greece 1–0 Netherlands Ajax Spiridon Louis, Athens
Alexandris 39' Report Attendance: 73,250
Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega (Spain)
4 November 1998 Ajax Netherlands 2–0 Greece Olympiacos Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Witschge 33'
Gorré 88'		 Report Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Stefano Braschi (Italy)
25 November 1998 Ajax Netherlands 0–1 Croatia Croatia Zagreb Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Report Šimić 68' Attendance: 46,000
Referee: Marc Batta (France)
9 December 1998 Porto Portugal 3–0 Netherlands 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.

Notes

  1. ^ Mensah was born in Koforidua, Ghana, but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and represented the Netherlands at U-21 level.
  2. ^ Hosé was born in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles (now Curaçao), but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and represented the Netherlands at U-21 level before making his international debut for the Netherlands Antilles in 2004.
  3. ^ Demchenko was born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine), but also qualified to represent Russia internationally and represented Russia at U-19, U-20 and U-21 level.