# 2008–09 AFC Ajax season

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
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Eredivisie | Eredivisie | UEFA Cup | UEFA Cup | KNVB Cup | KNVB Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | NED | Maarten Stekelenburg | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | URU | Bruno Silva | 13 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Oleguer | 37 | 1 | 26+1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | BEL | Thomas Vermaelen | 41 | 5 | 31 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | BEL | Jan Vertonghen | 35 | 5 | 23+3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | SWE | Rasmus Lindgren | 32 | 2 | 15+7 | 2 | 6+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 7 | DF | SWE | Kennedy Bakircioglü | 12 | 2 | 5+3 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | NED | Urby Emanuelson | 42 | 4 | 31+1 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | SRB | Miralem Sulejmani | 34 | 10 | 23+4 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | MAR | Ismaïl Aissati | 11 | 1 | 8+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | NED | Kenneth Vermeer | 31 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | NED | Gregory van der Wiel | 43 | 2 | 31+1 | 2 | 8+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | URU | Luis Suárez | 43 | 28 | 30+1 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 17 | DF | NED | Rob Wielaert | 16 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Gabri | 21 | 1 | 12+4 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ARG | Darío Cvitanich | 23 | 9 | 14+4 | 9 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | CMR | Eyong Enoh | 25 | 2 | 17+2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | NED | Siem de Jong | 16 | 1 | 5+5 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | BRA | Leonardo | 33 | 4 | 5+19 | 2 | 0+8 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | NED | Jan-Arie van der Heijden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | NED | Evander Sno | 15 | 1 | 4+6 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | NED | Jeffrey Sarpong | 14 | 1 | 6+4 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ANT | Vurnon Anita | 21 | 1 | 12+4 | 0 | 3+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | NED | Mitchell Donald | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | NED | Dennis Gentenaar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | CRO | Darko Bodul | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | ANT | Javier Martina | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | NED | Robbert Schilder | 18 | 0 | 7+4 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | BEL | Toby Alderweireld | 8 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | NED | Daley Blind | 6 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | FW | NED | Marvin Zeegelaar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players sold or loaned out after the start of the season: ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | NED | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 15 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | DEN | Kenneth Perez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | DEN | Dennis Rommedahl | 3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | BEL | Laurent Delorge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | FW | NED | John Goossens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | GK | RSA | Hans Vonk | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
As of 31 October 2011

### 2008-09 selection by nationality

| Nationality | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total Players |
| Current squad selection | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 27 |
| Youth/reserves squad in AFC Ajax selection | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| Players out on loan | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 |

## Team statistics
### Eredivisie standings 2008-09

| Standing | Matches played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 3 | 34 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 68 | 74 | 41 | 60 | 6 |

#### 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 | Amsterdam Tournament | KNVB Cup | UEFA Cup | Eredivisie | Total |
| Matches | 7 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 34 | 55 |
| Wins | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 31 |
| Draws | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Losses | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 14 |
| Home | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 25 |
| Away | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 30 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 60 | 83 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 2 x yellow in 1 match | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Number of substitutes used | 47 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 89 | 177 |
| Goals for | 24 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 74 | 118 |
| Goals against | 8 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 41 | 64 |
| Balance | +16 | -2 | +1 | +6 | +33 | +54 |
| Clean sheets | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 22 |
| Penalties for | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
| Penalties against | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |

### 2008-09 team records

| Description | Competition | Result |
| Biggest win | Friendly match | Excelsior '31 - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 8 ) |
| Biggest win | KNVB Cup | AFC Ajax - FC Utrecht ( 2 - 0 ) |
| Biggest win | UEFA Cup | FK Borac Čačak - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 4 ) |
| Biggest win | Eredivisie | AFC Ajax - Willem II ( 7 - 0 ) |
| Biggest loss | Friendly match | VfB Stuttgart - AFC Ajax ( 3 - 2 ) |
| Biggest loss | KNVB Cup | FC Volendam - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 0 ) |
| Biggest loss | UEFA Cup | Olympique de Marseille - AFC Ajax ( 2 - 1 ) |
| Biggest loss | Eredivisie | PSV - AFC Ajax ( 6 - 2 ) |
| Most goals in a match | Friendly match | Excelsior '31 - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 8 ) |
| Most goals in a match | KNVB Cup | AFC Ajax - FC Utrecht ( 2 - 0 ) |
| Most goals in a match | UEFA Cup | FK Borac Čačak - AFC Ajax ( 1 - 4 ) |
| Most goals in a match | Eredivisie | PSV - AFC Ajax ( 6 - 2 ) |

#### Top scorers

| Nr. | Name | |
| 1. | Luis Suárez | 5 |
| 2. | Darío Cvitanich | 4 |
| 3. | Gabri | 3 |
| 4. | Leonardo | 2 |
| 4. | Kenneth Perez | 2 |
| 6. | Jeffrey Sarpong | 1 |
| 6. | Albert Luque | 1 |
| 6. | Jan-Arie van der Heijden | 1 |
| 6. | Kennedy Bakircioglü | 1 |
| 6. | Javier Martina | 1 |
| 6. | Siem de Jong | 1 |
| 6. | Vurnon Anita | 1 |
| 6. | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 1 |
| Total | Total | 24 |
| Nr. | Name | |
| 1. | Luis Suárez | 22 |
| 2. | Darío Cvitanich | 9 |
| 3. | Miralem Sulejmani | 8 |
| 4. | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 6 |
| 5. | Thomas Vermaelen | 4 |
| 5. | Jan Vertonghen | 4 |
| 5. | Urby Emanuelson | 4 |
| 8. | Leonardo | 2 |
| 8. | Rasmus Lindgren | 2 |
| 8. | Gregory van der Wiel | 2 |
| 11. | Jeffrey Sarpong | 1 |
| 11. | Oleguer | 1 |
| 11. | Siem de Jong | 1 |
| 11. | Evander Sno | 1 |
| 11. | Kennedy Bakircioglü | 1 |
| 11. | Gabri | 1 |
| 11. | Rob Wielaert | 1 |
| 11. | Ismaïl Aissati | 1 |
| 11. | Eyong Enoh | 1 |
| Own goals | Erik Pieters (PSV) | 1 |
| Own goals | Fernández (N.E.C.) | 1 |
| Total | Total | 74 |
| Nr. | Name | |
| 1. | Luis Suárez | 1 |
| 1. | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 1 |
| Total | Total | 2 |
| Nr. | Name | |
| 1. | Luis Suárez | 5 |
| 2. | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 2 |
| 2. | Miralem Sulejmani | 2 |
| 2. | Leonardo | 2 |
| 5. | Jeffrey Sarpong | 1 |
| 5. | Thomas Vermaelen | 1 |
| 5. | Jan Vertonghen | 1 |
| 5. | Kennedy Bakircioglü | 1 |
| 5. | Eyong Enoh | 1 |
| Total | Total | 16 |
| Nr. | Name | |
| 1. | Luis Suárez | 1 |
| 1. | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 1 |
| Total | Total | 2 |

## Placements

| | Friendlies | Amsterdam Tournament | KNVB Cup | UEFA Cup | Eredivisie |
| Status | 7 played, 4 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses | 4th place | Eliminated in Third Round Last opponent: FC Volendam | Eliminated in Round of 16 Last opponent: Olympique de Marseille | 3rd place 68 points in 34 matches qualified 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

### UEFA Cup
#### First round
#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | HSV | AJA | AST | ZIL | SLA |
| 1 | Hamburger SV | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 0–1 | 3–1 | — | — |
| 2 | Ajax | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage | — | — | — | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–1 | — | 1–2 | — |
| 4 | Žilina | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 | | 1–2 | — | — | — | 0–0 |
| 5 | Slavia Prague | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 | | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | — | — |

#### Final phase
##### Round of 16
### Amsterdam Tournament
#### Final standings of the LG Amsterdam Tournament 2008

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | Pts |
| Arsenal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Internazionale | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Sevilla FC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Ajax | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |

### 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.
| Name | Position | Transfer type | Previous club | Fee |
| Return from loan spell | Return from loan spell | Return from loan spell | Return from loan spell | Return from loan spell |
| Kenneth Vermeer | Goalkeeper | 30 June 2008 | Willem II | - |
| Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer |
| Darío Cvitanich | Midfielder | 28 April 2008 | Banfield | €6,5 million |
| Miralem Sulejmani | Forward | 4 July 2008 | SC Heerenveen | €16,25 million |
| Ismaïl Aissati | Midfielder | 19 July 2008 | PSV | €4,1 million |
| Oleguer | Defender | 29 July 2008 | FC Barcelona | €3 million |
| Evander Sno | Midfielder | 21 August 2008 | Celtic | €1,5 million |
| Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer |
| Darko Bodul | Forward | 14 June 2008 | SC Heerenveen | - |
| Eyong Enoh | Midfielder | 31 August 2008 | Ajax Cape Town | - |
| Hans Vonk | Goalkeeper | 31 August 2008 | Ajax Cape Town | - |

#### Departures

* The following players moved from AFC Ajax.
| Name | Position | Transfer type | New club | Fee |
| Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan |
| Donovan Slijngard | Defender | 27 July 2008 | Sparta Rotterdam | - |
| George Ogăraru | Defender | 30 August 2008 | Steaua București | - |
| Albert Luque | Forward | 31 August 2008 | Málaga CF | - |
| Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer |
| Rydell Poepon | Forward | 30 May 2008 | Sparta Rotterdam | €1 million |
| John Heitinga | Defender | 15 August 2008 | Atlético Madrid | €12 million |
| Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer |
| Edgar Davids | Midfielder | 20 May 2008 | — | - |
| Marco van Duin | Goalkeeper | 21 June 2008 | HFC Haarlem | - |
| Erik Heijblok | Goalkeeper | 30 June 2008 | De Graafschap | - |
| Ismael Urzaíz | Forward | 15 July 2008 | — | - |
| Jurgen Colin | Defender | 20 August 2008 | Sporting de Gijón | - |
| Michael Krohn-Dehli | Midfielder | 29 August 2008 | Brøndby IF | - |
| Nicolae Mitea | Forward | 31 August 2008 | Dinamo București | - |
| Samuel Kuffour | Defender | 1 September 2008 | Asante Kotoko | - |
| Vito Wormgoor | Defender | 2 September 2008 | FC Utrecht | - |
| Kenneth Perez | Midfielder | 4 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.
| Name | Position | Transfer type | Previous club | Fee |
| Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer |
| Rob Wielaert | Defender | 22 January 2010 | FC Twente | €3,15 million |

#### Departures

* The following players moved from AFC Ajax.
| Name | Position | Transfer type | New club | Fee |
| Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan |
| Dennis Rommedahl | Forward | 20 January 2009 | N.E.C. | - |
| Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer | Transfer |
| Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | Forward | 1 January 2009 | Real Madrid | €27 million |
| John Goossens | Forward | 1 February 2009 | N.E.C. | €900,000 |
| Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer | Free Transfer |
| Laurent Delorge | Midfielder | 6 January 2008 | Roda JC | - |
| Hans Vonk | Goalkeeper | 20 January 2009 | SC Heerenveen | - |