Riding High In Football Fame Wth Ajax Amsterdam

Amsterdam is known for being one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It exudes the charm of an old European city and at the same time, exerts the bustling energy of a modern city. Aside from its historic sites and unique attractions, Amsterdam also became popular because of its tolerant attitude towards prostitution and sale of soft drugs. In fact, its Red Light District is very famous, or infamous depending on one's views, for its sex club industry. Moreover, Amsterdam also gained fame in the field of sports through AFC Ajax Amsterdam.

Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax, or in short, AFC Ajax Amsterdam, is one of the most popular and successful football teams in the Netherlands and in the world, as well. Formed on March 18, 1900, it is one of only three football teams that had consistently reigned supreme in Eredivisie, the Dutch national football league. One of the finest accomplishments of AFC Ajax Amsterdam was capturing the championship of the European Cup for three consecutive years from 1971 to 1973.

AFC Ajax Amsterdam did not become successful immediately after it was founded. Their accomplishments during the first few weeks were in fact, uneventful. The team tasted their 1st national championship victory only in 1918. Through the twenties, AFC Ajax Amsterdam won minor titles and regional titles. The thirties proved to be such a highlight for the team. In fact, many people tagged this decade as "the golden century" for the club. During this decade, this Amsterdam football team grabbed six regional titles and five national championships. By all accounts, the most notable player for AFX Ajax Amsterdam is Johan Cruijiff who is considered a legend in the football world. During the 2007-2008, the football club retired the number 14 to pay tribute to Cruijiff on his sixtieth birthday.

The old AFC Ajax Amsterdam football uniform consisted of a red and white striped shirt with black shorts. These three colors can be found in the flag of Amsterdam. However, the team was forced to change its uniform colors because they were identical to that of another team, Sparta Rotterdam. Since then, AFC Ajax Amsterdam had used white shorts paired with white shirts that have a vertical red stripe along the back and chest area. Since 1996, the team considers the Amsterdam Arena as its home field. Located in the southeast part of the city, this modern stadium has a capacity of an estimated fifty two thousand (52,000) spectators. The construction cost of this stadium is pegged at $134 million and this sports arena features a retractable roof that has been copied by many other European stadiums built after.

Aside from their stellar performance as a football club, AFC Ajax is also very popular because of its youth sports program through which many great footballers had been discovered and trained. Presently, the team has expanded its search for potential football stars in the United States and South Africa through the satellite teams, Ajax America and Ajax Cape Town.

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