1971–72 AFC Ajax season

AFC Ajax 1971–72 football season

AFC Ajax1971–72 season

Ajax playing Internazionale in the 1972 European Cup Final

Chairman| Jaap van Praag
Manager| Stefan Kovacs
Stadium| Olympic Stadium
Eredivisie| 1st
KNVB Cup| Winners
European Cup| Winners
Top goalscorer| League:
Johan Cruyff (25)
All:
Johan Cruyff (33)

Home colours

Away colours

|

<- 1970–71

1972–73 ->

During the 1971–72 Dutch football season, AFC Ajax competed in the Eredivisie. Ajax won the treble that season, winning the Eredivisie, the 1971–72 KNVB Cup and the 1971–72 European Cup. It was the club's first season without Rinus Michels since 1965.

## First-team squad

[edit]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  NED | Heinz Stuy
2  | MF |  AUT | Heinz Schilcher
3  | DF |  NED | Wim Suurbier
4  | DF |  NED | Barry Hulshoff
5  | DF |  NED | Ruud Krol
6  | DF |  NED | Ruud Suurendonk
7  | MF |  NED | Johan Neeskens
8  | FW |  NED | Sjaak Swart
9  | DF |  NED | Gerrie Mühren
10  | FW |  NED | Dick van Dijk
11  | FW |  NED | Piet Keizer
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

12  | DF |  GER | Horst Blankenburg
13  | GK |  NED | Sies Wever
14  | FW |  NED | Johan Cruyff
15  | MF |  NED | Arie Haan
16  | FW |  NED | Johnny Rep
-- | GK |  NED | Bob Hoogenboom
-- | DF |  NED | Louis Donkers
-- | DF |  NED | Cor ten Bosch
-- | MF |  NED | Henk Heijt
-- | MF |  NED | Arnold Mühren
-- | FW |  NED | Gerrie Kleton

## Transfers

[edit]

### In

[edit]

Position  | Player  | From  | Type | Fee  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

FW |  Arnold Mühren |  RKSV Volendam | Transfer | €79,113  |
MF |  Heinz Schilcher |  SK Sturm Graz | Transfer |  |
FW |  Johnny Rep |  Jong Ajax | Transfer | Free  |
FW |  Gerrie Kleton |  Jong Ajax | Transfer | Free  |

### Out

[edit]

Position  | Player  | To  | Type | Fee  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

MF |  Nico Rijnders |  Royal FC Brugeois | Transfer | Free  |
DF |  Velibor Vasović | Retired  |  |  |

#### Out mid season

[edit]

Position  | Player  | To  | Type | Fee  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

DF |  Ruud Suurendonk |  AS Monaco |  |  | [1]

## Results

[edit]

In the 1971–72 season Ajax lost just one game. They were unbeaten at home in both domestic and European competitions. The season included a 12-1 victory over Vitesse at the De Meer Stadion. A result which set a record for the largest win in Eredivisie history. It would stand until 2020, when Ajax beat VVV-Venlo 13–0.[2]

### Eredivisie

[edit]

Main article: 1971–72 Eredivisie

Twente v Ajax 15 August 1971 1|  Twente | 0–2|  Ajax | Enschede

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|  | Report | Suurendonk 41'
van Dijk 52' | Stadium: Diekman Stadion
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft

Ajax v FC Den Haag 22 August 1971 2|  Ajax | 1–0|  FC Den Haag | Amsterdam

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| Swart 90' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Jef Dorpmans

Rotterdam v Ajax 29 August 1971 3|  Rotterdam | 1–1|  Ajax | Rotterdam

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| Klijnjan 33' (pen.) | Report | Swart 82' | Stadium: Het Kasteel
Attendance: 31,000
Referee: Ad Boogaerts

Ajax v Excelsior 5 September 1971 4|  Ajax | 1–0|  Excelsior | Amsterdam

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| Hulshoff 12' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Joop Vervoot

Groningen v Ajax 11 September 1971 5|  Groningen | 0–0|  Ajax | Groningen

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| Hovenkamp 84' | Report | Keizer 84' | Stadium: Oosterpark
Attendance: 17,500
Referee: Koen Hoppenbrouwer

Ajax v Breda 19 September 1971 6|  Ajax | 5–0|  Breda | Amsterdam

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| van Dijk 16' (pen.)
Schilcher 67'
Cruyff 90' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Henk Pijper

Eindhoven v Ajax 25 September 1971 7|  Eindhoven | 1–1|  Ajax | Eindhoven

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| Devrindt 43' | Report | van Dijk 49' | Stadium: Philips Stadion
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Theo Boosten

Ajax v Nijmegen 3 October 1971 8|  Ajax | 1–0|  Nijmegen | Amsterdam

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| van Dijk 68' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Koen Brouwer

Amsterdam v Ajax 15 October 1971 9|  Amsterdam | 0–2|  Ajax | Amsterdam

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|  | Report | Keizer 16'
Neeskens 61' | Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 26,410
Referee: Joop Vervoort

Ajax v Go Ahead Eagles 24 October 1971 10|  Ajax | 4–1|  Go Ahead Eagles | Amsterdam

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| Hulshoff 14', 35'
Haan 40'
Neeskens 74' | Report | Geels 29' (pen.) | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Charles Corver

MVV v Ajax 31 October 1971 11|  MVV | 0–3|  Ajax | Maastricht

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|  | Report | Neeskens 16'
Cruyff 27'
Swart 45' | Stadium: De Geusselt
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft

Ajax v Feijenoord 7 November 1971 12|  Ajax | 2–1|  Feijenoord | Amsterdam

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| Swart 67'
Israël 76' (o.g.) | Report | Israël 88' | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Laurens Van Ravens

Utrecht v Ajax 14 November 1971 13|  Utrecht | 2–3|  Ajax | Utrecht

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| Steen Olsen 31'
Bonsink 83' | Report | Keizer 55', 75'
Rep 80' | Stadium: Stadion Galgenwaard
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Arie Van Germert

Ajax v Telstar 21 November 1971 14|  Ajax | 5–2|  Telstar | Amsterdam

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| Cruyff 1', 39', 77'
Keizer 16'
van Dijk 45' | Report | van Essen 24' (pen.)
Manders 75' | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 13,500
Referee: Koen Brouwer

Volendam v Ajax 28 November 1971 15|  Volendam | 0–1|  Ajax | Volendam

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|  | Report | Swart 7' | Stadium: Kras Stadion
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Charles Corver

Ajax v FC Den Bosch 5 December 1971 16|  Ajax | 5–0|  FC Den Bosch | Amsterdam

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| Keizer 13'
Cruyff 26', 54'
Mühren 59' (pen.), 72' (pen.) | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Henk Pijper

Vitesse Arnhem v Ajax 12 December 1971 17|  Vitesse Arnhem | 1–3|  Ajax | Arnhem

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| Gerritsen 20' | Report | Swart 8'
Keizer 35'
Cruyff 60' | Stadium: Nieuw Monnikenhuize
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Frans Derks

Ajax v Twente 19 December 1971 18|  Ajax | 1–0|  Twente | Amsterdam

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| Haan 63' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Jan Keizer (referee)

FC Den Haag v Ajax 2 January 1972 19|  FC Den Haag | 1–2|  Ajax | The Hague

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| Roodnat 40' | Report | Keizer 50'
Cruyff 53' | Stadium: Zuiderpark
Attendance: 28,500
Referee: Ad Boogaerts

Ajax v Rotterdam 16 January 1972 20|  Ajax | 2–1|  Rotterdam | Amsterdam

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| Cruyff 34'
Mühren 75' | Report | Kowalik 51' | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 29,500
Referee: Laurens Van Ravens

Breda v Ajax 6 February 1972 21|  Breda | 2–5|  Ajax | Breda

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| Schrijvers 43' (pen.),  79'
van Dijk 68' | Report | Keizer 10'
Suurbier 17'
van Dijk 19', 23'
Mühren 66'
Cruyff 79' | Stadium: NAC Stadion
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Charles Corver

Excelsior v Ajax 26 February 1972 22|  Excelsior | 0–4|  Ajax | Rotterdam

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|  | Report | Cruyff 30', 40'
van Nierop 68' (o.g.)
van der Heijden 87' (o.g.) | Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 23,640
Referee: Koen Hoppenbrouwer

Ajax v Groningen 3 March 1972 23|  Ajax | 7–0|  Groningen | Amsterdam

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| Cruyff 1', 33', 42'
Swart 5'
Mühren 35', 63'
Keizer 60' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft

Ajax v PSV Eindhoven 12 March 1972 24|  Ajax | 4–1|  PSV Eindhoven | Amsterdam

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| Keizer 44', 49'
Mühren 51' (pen.)
Strik 61' (o.g.) | Report | Hoekema 18' | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 23,500
Referee: Ad Boogaerts

Nijmegen v Ajax 19 March 1972 25|  Nijmegen | 0–1|  Ajax | Nijmegen

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|  | Report | Neeskens 45' | Stadium: De Goffert
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Jef Dorpmans

Ajax v Amsterdam 26 March 1972 26|  Ajax | 2–0|  Amsterdam | Amsterdam

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|
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| Muller 82' (o.g.)
Neeskens 90' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Henk Pijper

Go Ahead Eagles v Ajax 1 April 1972 27|  Go Ahead Eagles | 3–2|  Ajax | Deventer

|
|
|
|

| Smid 7'
Geels 56', 62' | Report | Neeskens 27'
Cruyff 30' | Stadium: De Adelaarshorst
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Leonardus van der Kroft

Ajax v MVV 9 April 1972 28|  Ajax | 8–0|  MVV | Amsterdam

|
|
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| Keizer 12', 35'
Swart 31', 82'
van Dijk 38', 74'
Neeskens 41'
Mühren 64' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Charles Corver

Feijenoord v Ajax 15 April 1972 29|  Feijenoord | 1–5|  Ajax | Rotterdam

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|
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| Posthumus 23' | Report | Haan 9'
Mühren 19'
Cruyff 40', 58'
Keizer 83' | Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 62,257
Referee: Ad Boogaerts

Ajax v Utrecht 23 April 1972 30|  Ajax | 4–0|  Utrecht | Amsterdam

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| Swart 50'
van Dijk 60'
Mühren 68' (pen.)
Cruyff 75' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Theo Boosten

Telstar v Ajax 30 April 1972 31|  Telstar | 1–2|  Ajax | Velsen

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| Jonker 24' | Report | Swart 28'
Hulshoff 72' | Stadium: Sportpark Schoonenberg
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Jef Dorpmans

Ajax v Volendam 7 May 1972 32|  Ajax | 2–0|  Volendam | Amsterdam

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|
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| Cruyff 8'
van Dijk 70' | Report |  | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Arie Van Gemert

Den Bosch v Ajax 14 May 1972 33|  Den Bosch | 0–1|  Ajax | 's-Hertogenbosch

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|  | Report | Cruyff 86' | Stadium: De Vliert
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Koen Brouwer

Ajax v Vitesse 19 May 1972 34|  Ajax | 12–1|  Vitesse | Amsterdam

|
|
|
|

| Neeskens 10', 28', 88'
Cruyff 32', 42', 47', 78'
van Dijk 49', 51', 81'
Mühren 63'
Hulshoff 70' | Report | Veenendaal 75' | Stadium: De Meer
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Joop Vervoort

### KNVB Cup

[edit]

Main article: 1971–72 KNVB Cup

Ajax v Zwolle 9 January 1972 Round 1|  Ajax | 8–3|  Zwolle | Amsterdam

|
|
|
|

| Swart
Cruyff
Mühren
Rorije (o.g.)
Keizer
Neeskens |  |

| Stadium: De Meer

Ajax v Go Ahead Eagles 20 February 1972 Round of 16|  Ajax | 3–0|  Go Ahead Eagles | Amsterdam

|
|
|
|

| Haan
Swart
Hulshoff |  |  | Stadium: De Meer

Ajax v Nijmegen 29 March 1972 Quarter finals|  Ajax | 1–0|  Nijmegen | Amsterdam

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|
|
|

| Keizer |  |  | Stadium: De Meer

Ajax v Volendam 11 April 1972 Semi–finals|  Ajax | 2–0|  Volendam | Amsterdam

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|

| van Dijk
Neeskens |  |  | Stadium: De Meer

Ajax v FC Den Haag 11 May 1972 Final|  Ajax | 3–2|  FC Den Haag | Rotterdam

|
|
|
|

| Cruyff
Mühren (pen.)
Keizer |  | Van Eeden
Mansveld (pen.) | Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 60,000

### European Cup

[edit]

Main article: 1971–72 European Cup

Ajax v  Dynamo Dresden 15 September 1971 Round 1|  Ajax | 2–0|  Dynamo Dresden | Amsterdam

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|
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19:15 | Swart 2'
Keizer 18' | Report |  | Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 45,027
Referee: Milivoje Gugulović

Dynamo Dresden v  Ajax 29 September 1971 Round 1|  Dynamo Dresden | 0–0
(0–2 agg.)|  Ajax | Dresden

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|
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18:30 | Sammer 14' | Report | Haan 28' | Stadium: Dynamostadion
Attendance: 32,307
Referee: Ken Burns (referee)

Marseille v  Ajax 20 October 1971 Round of 16|  Marseille | 1–2|  Ajax | Marseille

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19:30 | Gress 9' | Report | Keizer 39'
Cruyff 68' | Stadium: Stade Vélodrome
Attendance: 48,039
Referee: Robert Schaut

Ajax v  Marseille 3 November 1971 Round of 16|  Ajax | 4–1
(6–2 agg.)|  Marseille | Amsterdam

|
|
|
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19:15 | Cruyff 32', 64'
Swart 37'
Haan 80'
Neeskens | Report | Couécou 10' 17'
Skoblar 44' | Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 53,785
Referee: Alisair McKenzie

Ajax v  Arsenal 8 March 1972 Quarter finals|  Ajax | 2–1|  Arsenal | Amsterdam

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19:15 | Mühren 26', 70' (pen.) | Report | Kennedy 14' 44' | Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 53,754
Referee: Leonidas Vamvakopoulos

Arsenal v  Ajax 22 March 1972 Quarter finals|  Arsenal | 0–1
(1–3 agg.)|  Ajax | London

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|
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18:30 | Storey 60' | Report | Graham 15' (o.g) | Stadium: Arsenal Stadium
Attendance: 56,155
Referee: Ferdinand Marschall

Ajax v  Benfica 5 April 1972 Semi finals|  Ajax | 1–0|  Benfica | Amsterdam

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19:15 | Swart 64' | Report |  | Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 53,921
Referee: Karlo Kruashvili

Benfica v  Ajax 19 April 1972 Semi finals|  Benfica | 0–0
(0–1 agg.)|  Ajax | Lisbon

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21:45 |  | Report | Keizer 53' | Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 58,983
Referee: Norman Burtenshaw

Ajax v  Internazionale 31 May 1972 Final|  Ajax | 2–0|  Internazionale | Rotterdam

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19:30 | Cruyff 48', 77' | Report
MatchCentre | Boninsegna 79' | Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 61,354
Referee: Robert Héliès

## Statistics

[edit]

### Goals record

[edit]

Rank | Nat. | Po. | Name | Eredivisie | European Cup | KNVB Cup | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  | FW | Johan Cruyff | 25 | 5 | 3 | 33
2  |  | FW | Piet Keizer | 14 | 2 | 3 | 19
3  |  | FW | Dick van Dijk | 16 | 0 | 1 | 17
| FW | Sjaak Swart | 11 | 3 | 2 | 17
5  |  | DF | Gerrie Mühren | 9 | 2 | 2 | 13
6  |  | MF | Johan Neeskens | 10 | 0 | 2 | 12
7  |  | DF | Barry Hulshoff | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6
8  |  | MF | Arie Haan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5
9  |  | MF | Arnold Mühren | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2
10  |  | FW | Johnny Rep | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1
| MF | Heinz Schilcher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1
| DF | Wim Suurbier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1
| DF | Ruud Suurendonk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ruud Suurendonk". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
2. ^ "Ajax thrash VVV Venlo 13-0 to break Eredivisie record". ESPN. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* RSSSF
* Eredivisie official website – info on all seasons (in Dutch)
* Netherlands Cup Full Results 1970–1994 by the RSSSF

* v
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* e

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* v
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1971–72 in Dutch football

« 1970–71

1972–73 »

| League competitions|

* Eredivisie
* Eerste Divisie
* Eerste Klasse

|

Cup competitions|

* KNVB Cup (Final)

European competitions|

* European Cup
* Cup Winners' Cup
* UEFA Cup

Club seasons

Eredivisie|

* Ajax
* Den Bosch
* DWS
* Excelsior
* Feijenoord
* Go Ahead Eagles
* Groningen
* FC Den Haag
* MVV
* NAC
* NEC
* PSV
* Sparta Rotterdam
* Telstar
* Twente
* Vitesse
* Volendam
* Utrecht

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[Type]: Type of transfer
*[Ref.]: Reference
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template