Top 10 Ajax Legends: Greatest Ajax Players of All Time

Ajax is one of the most legendary clubs in Europe, and its football history possesses an artful galaxy of football players and stars whose legacy outranked multiple generations of football enthusiasts to the extent of serving as a life legend. Ajax is known for its legendary youth academy and attacking ideology and has boasted some of the most prolific and classy individuals to grace the game. They have produced one of the most match-winning footballers of all time, Johan Cruyff, whose innovative style of play redefined modern football, the most deadly forward ever, Marco van Basten, and one of the most technically skilled players of all time, Dennis Bergkamp. This list is a tribute to the Ajax legends who not just dominated the Dutch Eredivisie, but also received world attention. This is a salute greatest Ajax players of all time, whose names are enshrined in the club’s successful history.

List of Ajax Greatest Players

The list of Ajax legends below presents football players who not only triumphed at the club but also had an impact on the game worldwide. The first on the list would be a Total Football visionary, Johan Cruyff, followed closely by Frank de Boer and Marco van Basten, whose contributions during the era of the Ajax reign cannot be overestimated.

Players like Dennis Bergkamp, Edgar Davids, and Jari Litmanen brought colorful brilliance to the play, and Edwin van der Sar and Ruud Krol brought calmness at the back. These Ajax greatest ever players belong to different periods yet possess a shared culture of performance, creativity, and dedication to one of the oldest establishments in the world of football. Let’s take a look at the list of the top 10 Ajax legends:

Rank	Player	Position	Tenure
10	Wesley Sneijder	Midfielder	2002–2007
9	Edwin van der Sar	Goalkeeper	1990–1999
8	Ruud Krol	Defender	1968–1980
7	Jari Litmanen	Attacking Midfielder	1992–1999
6	Edgar Davids	Midfielder	1991–1996, 2006–2007
5	Dennis Bergkamp	Forward	1986–1993
4	Frank Rijkaard	Midfielder/Defender	1980–1987, 1993–1995
3	Marco van Basten	Striker	1982–1987
2	Frank de Boer	Defender	1988–1999
1	Johan Cruyff	Forward	1964–1973, 1981–1983

How we Ranked the Ajax Greatest Ever Players?

Putting these greatest Ajax players of all time in a ranking depends on the success of individual excellence and the impact they left at the club. A number of important factors were taken into consideration so that a fair and balanced assessment could be accomplished.

• Longevity- Players that had played quite a substantial part of their careers with Ajax gained a bigger recognition. The consistency defined across the years of several seasons shows their commitment and input in the growth of the club during various generations.
• Consistency- Greatness does not lie in one or two outstanding seasons, but it is rather in providing the best performances in consecutive years. Players who had been high-standard players during their entire career in Ajax scored better in this area.
• Impact in Key matches – Matters most, having a legendary player can be quite a common thing to have. As always in this ranking, players who stood up in crunch situations definitely deserve a spot among the Ajax legends.
• Trophies/Achievements– Winning matters. Players who have won silverware during their time at Ajax were given more weight in our assessment.

Who are Ajax Legends?

On our list of Ajax legends are the players who marked the generations with their outstanding skills and devotion to the team. On the list of the most deserving Ajax representatives, the biggest names in the team’s history rank top because they have influenced, led, and performed on the biggest stages with such icons of the sport as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Frank de Boer. They were joined in this by the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Jari Litmanen and Edwin van der Sar, who were constant and important elements in Ajax taking its most national and international trophies. They are the actual Ajax greatest ever players. This is the list with complete qualitative analysis, which we worked out with the combination of longevity, consistency, contribution in main games, and trophies.

10. Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

Coming through the famous youth system at Ajax, Wesley Sneijder played in their first team at the tender age of 18 years in 2002. Brilliant with his feet, Sneijder was an innovative playmaker whose game was supported by a dominant long-range strike and a superb set-piece distributor. He is a precision player and a clear-sighted one who became the workhorse in the midfield of Ajax at the beginning of the 2000s.

Although his Ajax career did not last long, Sneijder contributed largely, as the club won, the Eredivisie and domestic cups. He created a golden path in his career where he glittered at Real Madrid, Inter Milan and the Dutch national team. Although he transferred to other countries, his history cannot be forgotten as one of the most talented and surely one of Ajax greatest ever players of this century.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
180	58	45+	1 Eredivisie, 1 KNVB Cup, 1 Johan Cruyff Shield

9. Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands)

Edwin van der Sar has been known to be one of the best goalkeepers who began his professional career with Ajax in 1990. Yet, regarded as a composed player, excellent shot-stopper and virtually an error-free keeper, van der Sar was instrumental in guiding Ajax to toe the line at both the home and European front at the middle of the 90s.

Ranking seventh on the list of Ajax legends, Van der Sar was instrumental in the 1995 UEFA Champions League by putting up some impressive displays. His composure between the posts as a goalkeeper gave him the status of one of the most reliable men during the golden years of the club. Later on, Van der Sar played at Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United, but it is at Ajax that he made his legendary reputation.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
312	0	1	4 Eredivisie, 3 KNVB Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

8. Ruud Krol (Netherlands)

Ruud Krol was arguably the best defender in the Ajax team, which reigned supreme in Europe in the early 70s. He started his career as a left-back, but also played as a sweeper and was very successful. His stability, cleverness and stylish distribution skills were important in coordinating the attacks of Ajax at the back.

Krol served more than one decade at the club, winning many titles both locally and internationally. He played in a winning team that won three European Cups in a row and is also cherished due to his consistency and leadership. His strategic abilities and soccer intellect makes him one of Ajax greatest players of all time.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
339	23	35+	6 Eredivisie, 4 KNVB Cups, 3 European Cups, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

7. Jari Litmanen (Finland)

Jari Litmanen was the master of the midfield in Ajax in the 1990s, and notably in 1994-95 during the season of their victory in the Champions League. The cleverly-positioned, cool-finishing and playmaking Litmanen gained cult status at the club and became one of all-time top footballers.

He also helped Ajax to go undefeated in the Champions League and is to date one of the most prolific midfield players in the club history. His ease at connecting the midfield to the attack won Litmanen a vital role in one of the greatest Ajax teams. He was highly respected by his teammates, coaches and fans all over Europe.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
255	129	60+	4 Eredivisie, 3 KNVB Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

6. Edgar Davids (Netherlands)

Edgar Davids was an extremely aggressive midfield player. The Pitbull as he is sharply nicknamed, made his debut with Ajax in 1991 and within no time he developed to become a key member of the team anchoring the midfield through his aggressiveness, tackling and ballast.

Davids played in the successful Champions League 1995 team that gave the ideal balance to the technically skilled forward line of Ajax. He was the fans favorite as he was not a man to fear in his then hard-nosed attitude. He subsequently joined other top clubs such as Milan, Juventus and Barcelona, but he still ranks higher on the charts of Ajax legends.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
160	12	25+	3 Eredivisie, 2 KNVB Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 Intercontinental Cup

Also Read: Top 10 Footballers with Most Assists in Premier League History (Ranked)

5. Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands)

Dennis Bergkamp was a technically exquisite striker who was also known for his creativity with the ball. Nurtured in an Ajax youth academy, he was in the senior team between 1986 and 1993 and it did not take long before he was one of the most dreaded forwards in the Netherlands league.

Bergkamp received Dutch footballer of the Year twice in a row, and he also won a number of trophies with Ajax which including UEFA Cup 1992. His tactical attributes and polished finishing were notable, and his presence at Ajax sealed his position; therefore, the stint at Arsenal became legendary.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
239	122	70+	1 Eredivisie, 2 KNVB Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, Dutch Footballer of the Year (1992, 1993)

4. Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)

Frank Rijkaard was an all round powerhouse who performed admirably in midfield as well as defense. He started his career with Ajax in 1980, quit in 1987 and moved back to Ajax in 1993 to see the club win Europe again. He was unstoppable as he was able to control the tempo of the game and dismantle attacks of the opponent.

Rijkaard ended his stint with Ajax winning the 1995 champions league. He is one of the most well rounded players in the history of Ajax, because of his football intelligence, leadership and his skills to normally fill the role of both defenders or midfielders.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
261	41	30+	3 Eredivisie, 3 KNVB Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Finalist (1987)

3. Marco van Basten ( Nethelands )

Marco van Basten is considered to be among several clinical and classy strikers in world football. In 1982, he made his debut with Ajax, scoring 152 goals in only 172 games, in some of the most spectacular finishes of the club.

Instant feel, technique and power gave Van Basten an unsurpassable impact in Amsterdam. He has won three league titles, top scorer awards on numerous occasions and put in place the background to a great career with AC Milan. His legacy at Ajax is deep nevertheless even though he served a short time.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
172	152	25+	3 Eredivisie, 3 KNVB Cups, 1 European Golden Boot, Dutch Footballer of the Year (1985)

2. Frank de Boer (Holland)

Frank de Boer was the defensive genius who had an exquisite sense of tactics, a knack of passing like a surgeon and bulky size of a specter that propelled Ajax in the 1990s ahead. He spent over a decade in the club, with nearly every conceivable award under his belt.

He was the captain of the team that won the 1995 Champions League at Ajax and was at the heart of the trophy collection in the club in his home country many years ago. His work as both a player and a coach in the future has ensured that his image as one of the greatest all-time players of the Ajax team is cemented in place. His strong traits in the face of pressure and leadership on the field served as a role model to young defenders who were being groomed through the Ajax academy. Even his post-playing years were closely associated with the club philosophy that he did whatever he could to maintain the standards he himself had set in his playing days.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
431	44	25+	5 Eredivisie, 3 KNVB Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

1. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)

Johan Cruyff is one player who can be said to have made the greatest contribution to Ajax and the world of football, probably. He acquired the experience in the youth academy of Ajax, where he brought it through to the most successful periods and the threefold title in the European Cup, and coined the idea of total football. Cruyff was a smart, technical, and visionary player who altered the definition of a forward and how a game is played. Off the pitch, his ideas influenced the academy and the playing style at Ajax, and he is the most know person in Ajax history.

In addition to his playing career, one of the greatest Ajax players of all time, Cruyff, became the manager of his former club, where he reformed the youth development system of the club to fit his attacking and possession-based style. Most of the current best talents in Ajax and even FC Barcelona have their roots in the footballing identity to the philosophy of Cruyff. His legacy is not on trophies, but in creating a culture in which intelligence, creativity and technical virtuosity are prioritized.

Appearances	Goals	Assists	Trophies Won/Achievements
276	204	85+	8 Eredivisie, 5 KNVB Cups, 3 European Cups, Ballon d’Or (1971), UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup Runner-up

Also Read: Who is the GOAT of Football? Greatest Football Players Ever

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