1997–98 AFC Ajax season

AFC Ajax
1997–98 season
Manager	Morten Olsen
Stadium	Amsterdam Arena
Eredivisie	1st
KNVB Cup	Winners
UEFA Cup	Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer	League: Shota Arveladze (25); All: Shota Arveladze (37)

During the 1997–98 Dutch football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie.

Season summary

After the previous season's disappointing fourth place, Ajax regrouped to win the Eredivisie, finishing 17 points ahead of runners-up PSV Eindhoven, and the KNVB Cup, thrashing PSV 5–0 in the final.

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season

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


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	NED	Fred Grim
—	GK	NED	Casper Nelis
—	GK	NED	Edwin van der Sar
—	DF	NED	Danny Blind (captain)
—	DF	NED	Tim de Cler
—	DF	NED	Frank de Boer
—	DF	NED	Mario Melchiot
—	DF	NED	Tom Sier
—	DF	DEN	Ole Tobiasen
—	DF	NGA	Christopher Kanu
—	DF	GHA	Kofi Mensah[notes 1]
—	MF	NED	Ronald de Boer
—	MF	NED	Peter Hoekstra
—	MF	NED	Richard Knopper
—	MF	NED	Andy van der Meyde


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	NED	Richard Witschge
—	MF	DEN	Michael Laudrup
—	MF	POR	Dani
—	MF	POL	Andrzej Rudy
—	MF	ARG	Mariano Juan
—	MF	SUR	Dean Gorré
—	MF	NGA	Tijani Babangida
—	MF	NGA	Sunday Oliseh
—	FW	NED	Gerald Sibon
—	FW	NED	Rody Turpijn
—	FW	FIN	Jari Litmanen
—	FW	RUS	Andriy Demchenko[notes 2]
—	FW	GEO	Shota Arveladze
—	FW	RSA	Benni McCarthy

Left club during season

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


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	NED	Martijn Reuser (on loan to Vitesse)

Jong Ajax

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


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	NED	Serginho Greene
—	DF	NED	Quido Lanzaat
—	DF	NED	Mitchell Piqué


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	NED	Cedric van der Gun
—	MF	USA	John O'Brien

Transfers

In

Ole Tobiasen - Heerenveen, 26 June, DKK7,500,000[1]
Michael Laudrup - Vissel Kobe
Dean Gorré - Groningen
Andrzej Rudy - Lierse
Sunday Oliseh - 1. FC Köln
Shota Arveladze - Trabzonspor
Gerald Sibon - Roda JC
Benni McCarthy - Seven Stars

Out

References

(in Danish) Sten Henriksen, "Ajax køber Tobiasen fri", Ekstra Bladet, 26 June 1997

Notes

Mensah was born in Koforidua, Ghana, but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and represented the Netherlands at U-21 level.
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.
Veldman was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and made his international debut for the Netherlands in April 1996.
Musampa was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and represented the Netherlands at U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-21 level.

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[3] (in Danish) Sten Henriksen, "Ajax køber Tobiasen fri", Ekstra Bladet, 26 June 1997

[1] Mensah was born in Koforidua, Ghana, but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and represented the Netherlands at U-21 level.

[2] 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.

[4] Veldman was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and made his international debut for the Netherlands in April 1996.

[5] Musampa was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and represented the Netherlands at U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-21 level.