Hello, I'm from Amstelveen, a small town near Amsterdam. All of my life I have been watching A.F.C.Ajax play and saw them win or loose. It still is a great experience to watch them play in "De Arena" although I enjoyed "De Meer" more. I think the "De Meer" stadium was a stadium that suited the Ajax mentallity: Soccer for the public. Since their move to "De Arena" it is more bussines for them, making money seems more important. This upcoming season will be a good one though, with cracks such as Aron Winter, Brian Laudrup, Nikos Machlas and Stanley Menzo (of course). The new talents will also get their chances to play in a well balanced team and win all available prizes.

Ajax has always been in my life I can't think of a life without it, it was frustrating to see a dissapointing '98-'99 season.

You see...for someone being a Dutchman, living near Amsterdam and loving to watch good soccer there is a good reason to be a Ajax supporter, but what makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens? I'm not saying I don't want you to be Ajax supporters, the more the better, but can you describe the feeling you have with Ajax? Being from a not as soccer-minded country as the USA?

By the way, congratulations USA Women National team!!! Good for you and your country!!! This will probably boost the interest in soccer, albeit as a women sport.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 1999

Answers

Jake the Troll writes:

Let´s just hope that (real) football never becomes a big hit amongst the majority of Americans. They would immediately ruin the sport in the same way as they have with other sports. All the best players would be bought to their league. You would certainly have difficulties to find a channel that would show the games and if this wasn´t enough you´d also get commercials every 5 minutes to disturb the game.

Making sense was never for you, was it, Troll Boy? Only you could imagine a Lewis Carrol-reality where soccer "becomes a big hit amongst the majority of Americans" and yet "You would certainly have difficulties to find a channel that would show the games".

By which we can deduce that Americans only watch unpopular sports on T.V. D-oh!

And would you like to explain (with your own special brand of logic) how Americans "would immediately ruin the sport in the same way as they have with other sports"? What other sports have we taken over and ruined? Baseball? Basketball? American Football? Volleyball? No, we actually invented those. Cricket? Don't play it. Rugby? Don't play it.

I know: Ice hockey! Yeah, we turned that into a real dull affair...

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2003

Well Vincent, USA is a big country so you´ll obviously find all sorts of people with interests you couldn´t even dream of. Let´s just hope that (real) football never becomes a big hit amongst the majority of Americans. They would immediately ruin the sport in the same way as they have with other sports. All the best players would be bought to their league. You would certainly have difficulties to find a channel that would show the games and if this wasn´t enough you´d also get commercials every 5 minutes to disturb the game.

-- Anonymous, December 30, 2002

Ajax has been my favorite team since I started watching them on ESPN in the mid 90's. At that time, I loved their style of play, the intricate passing game, and the enthusiasm of the players and fans. After 96, I didn't get to see them at all for three years while my family lived in Germany. Now, I'm very excited to hear that Litmanen is returning to Ajax and I hope I can find some televised games here in Texas. Why do Americans love Ajax so much? I think it's because the Dutch people are so friendly and show alot of love to America, and of course, because of the high level of skill displayed by the team.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2002

Somebody sent me the (old but) very interesting story about the ambivalence of British fans (at least those living in Holland) toward Dutch football. (But then how to explain Bill Bryden?)

Expats and the Ajax Test

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2002

Hello Worldwide Ajax Fans!!!!

MY STORY:

I am from Amsterdam, and I have always lived there. My father is a modest Ajax fan and fifteen years ago, when I was four, my dad took me to De Meer to see Ajax against Volendam, my first Ajax game. The game was won by Ajax 4-0. It was the best experience of my life. Ever since then I have gone to as many Ajax games as possible. At first with my Dad, and then, after ten years, for the first year in the ArenA, my Dad didn't even order a season ticket. So I would have to make the new twenty five minute tram and metro journey by myself, for the first time ever. What a sloppy game that was too. 1-0 against NAC with a late goal by Musampa. I didn't mind being alone, and after a while I had made friends there. After six months, A friend who is a 17 year old guy, told me he had a little sister who was coming with him next week. He said I would like her. He was right. We are still together, I am 19, she is 18. There are plans for us to move in together and just as Ajax is getting better, so am I. Steady girlfriend, accepted into a good university...new coach, good football, even the double! It is good to be an Ajax fan. Such a rich history and a promising future. We all have the right to be proud because Ajax is the greatest club of the world, in the greatest city in the world!!! I have to admit though, every night, before I go to sleep (next to her), I wonder...what if Dad was a Feyenoord fan?

It makes me even prouder of Ajax to see this website, where Ajax fans from all over the world can exchange ideas and their passion for Ajax. Although I haven't exactly answered the question (as I've never even been to America), in a way I did. Ajax has been there for me, and me for it for fourteen years. Over a decade. It has brought me and my Dad closer, and introduced me to a whole new world of people. Even though Ajax is often called a cold hard bussiness rather than a football club by many. I still feel it, the warmth of Ajax, and the love for Amsterdam and good, attaking fooball...

...or it could be that the warmth and love I feel isn't actually all around me, but just around me and the person I sit next to, my girlfriend.

I am in love with two things, one of them is my fiancee (since yesterday, her birthday), the other one is Ajax. If you'd ask me which one I'm more proud of, I'd have to choose her because I'm scared that she'd leave me if I told the truth.

AJAX FOR EVER, JAN

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2002

Bill,

After the terrible mistake of having the Dutch sell New Amsterdam to the English, of course !

Realising what a mess the 'blokes would make of New York, they'd inspired a revolution ...and the rest is history ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2002

Gentlemen

Please help me out on this puzzle that has been troubling me for years, namely how on earth could anybody celebrate becoming independent from little old England ? ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2002

Here's what I posted in this thread exactly one year ago. Only two messages have been added since...

"There's not really a thread for this, but anyway...

Happy 4th, folks!!

I am currently wearing my brand-new Old Navy 2001 T-shirt, which Jim sent me as a present. Last year, he gave me the Old Navy 2000 one for Independence Day, when I was visiting them in California. Sweet memories..."

Not much has changed. Once again, I am wearing a brand-new Old Navy tee (red this time; the 2002 version). Once again it's a gift Jim sent me (thanks, dude!). And, once again, I wish all of you Happy 4th Of July. Propose a toast to Ajax before the fireworks show tonight :-)

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2002

Hello this is Manasse from vaassen Holland. I want to send this email to our fans all over the world {especialy in the States]. When I heard about the atacks on the 11th of september I was shocked. Our memory is with all the victems and their families. I hope this will never happen again. I would like to know if there are some our fans who died on September 11th. If you get this email please send a reply to Rhomapa@hetnet.nl

May God bless all the american people

Much love from manasse pattipeilohy

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2001

Hallo everybody,

well - this question is not quiet my part, because I'm from Germany (Mönchengladbach). My favourite soccer team is Borussia Mönchengladbach, but since 1993 I love the game and play, that ist celebrated by the AFC Ajax.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

There's not really a thread for this, but anyway...

Happy 4th, folks!!

I am currently wearing my brand-new Old Navy 2001 T-shirt, which Jim sent me as a present. Last year, he gave me the Old Navy 2000 one for Independence Day, when I was visiting them in California. Sweet memories...

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Dan, I know the feeling. The warmth and friendliness of the Dutch people in general,and AJAX supporters and Amsterdammers in particular,has made the Netherlands and Amsterdam my number 1 destination. Being an AJAX supporter has made everything else,the great friendships,etc. possible. Excuse the mushy posting on this Manly Website but there you are.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2001

I recently visited Amsterdam on a way too short european trip and i totally fell in love with the city. i was only there for 4 days but am already planning to move there!! i dont know how, but being there and loving the city so much made me a fan i guess. kind of hard to explain. im just starting to figure out european futbol, but i love it and i love AJAX!

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2001

There really isn't an appropriate forum for this remark, but it's kind of relevant to American support for Ajax, so I'll post it here.

I sent a picture of my car and license plate ("HUP AJAX") to Ajax, and they're featuring it currently in the "Fanzone" of the nicely re-designed Ajax.nl website. Go to http://www.ajax.nl/fanzone/ and follow the link to the "Digitaal Plakboek".

For the record, this is the third time a McGough has been the subject of the "Digitaal Plakboek". First was me and my guests from Amsterdam, Ronald and Janny, in the photo titled "Barbecue at the Ajax-USA fanclub". Second was the photo of my son Sean at a San Jose Clash game, titled "The Hooligan." You can find them both linked from the "Digitaal Plakboek" page.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2001

I became an AJAX fan originally as a result of ESPN showing Dutch League games on Mondays in the early to mid 90s.The attractive football played by the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Jari Litmanen, The DeBoer twins, etc..as well as a chance to watch the brain and skill of Danny Blind(My favourite alltime player)was too good for any fan to ignore.Now, I am fortunate to have found the woman(and AJAX fan!!!) of my dreams.Great football, great tradition and class, and love too.Three cheers for the Godenzonen!!!

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

First off I would like to send a sincere hello to all Ajax fans across the globe! I was born and raised in Hawaii, although I am currently living in New Jersey. Growing up in american society helped me develop my love of the "big time" sports in the U.S. I came to love both american football, and basketball. Although I spent more time bodyboarding than playing either sport, the passion for these sports had been deeply ingrained in my head as a youngster. I first got into soccer during the '94 World Cup. Being a devoted patriot, made watching the U.S. national team both exciting and enjoyable. Although the quality of play was nowhere near that of other more established countries, I still get chills every time they take the field. After that I started searching for any and all soccer that I could find on T.V. Although MLS started soon after, I needed to see genuine high quality play. As a fan I knew in order to learn anything, I would have to watch established teams to truly appreciate the beauty of the game. I always found the English Premier on the tube, but I could not relate to any of the teams. One day I turned on ESPN and found the Champions League. This is when my love affair with Ajax began. I liked their aggresive- attack minded play, and even more beautiful was the teams confidence on the ball. In any situation, especially in the defensive third I came to love their dominance and demeanor. Beyond the soccer field I also agree with and relate to the liberal attitudes of the Dutch people. I always thought that such attitudes were and still are lacking in this country. As a gift to myself I then went to Amsterdam to meet a friend in the winter of '96. I fell in love with the people and the city. I bought my scarf before I left and haven't looked back since. Nowadays with the play in MLS slowly improving I am able to catch Metrostars games all the time, and I travel up and down the east coast for any and all national team games(I drove to Florida to see the U.S. and Holland in Miami before '98). As much as I still care about american football and basketball, currently soccer is number one in my book. I do everything I can to promote soccer to my friends and we have developed a nice tight group of americans, irish, italians, anyone who loves the game and loves a good time. Although not everyone understands my devotion, I can't wait until the day when soccer in the U.S. is appreciated the way it should be. It may never be as big the "other" sports here, but I know where my heart lies. I am also a devoted Metrostars fan, but I do know if they ever play Ajax I will break the scarf out and pay homage to the best soccer club in the world! I'm sorry this got so long, but there aren't enough words to explain my passion for the beautiful game of "futbol" and my passion for the U.S. national team and for that of Ajax. Forward and upward to the boys in red and white. Aloha

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2000

First off I would like to send a sincere hello to all Ajax fans across the globe! I was born and raised in Hawaii, although I am currently living in New Jersey. Growing up in american society helped me develop my love of the "big time" sports in the U.S. I came to love both american football, and basketball. Although I spent more time bodyboarding than playing either sport, the passion for these sports had been deeply ingrained in my head as a youngster. I first got into soccer during the '94 World Cup. Being a devoted patriot, made watching the U.S. national team both exciting and enjoyable. Although the quality of play was nowhere near that of other more established countries, I still get chills every time they take the field. After that I started searching for any and all soccer that I could find on T.V. Although MLS started soon after, I needed to see genuine high quality play. As a fan I knew in order to learn anything, I would have to watch established teams to truly appreciate the beauty of the game. I always found the English Premier on the tube, but I could not relate to any of the teams. One day I turned on ESPN and found the Champions League. This is when my love affair with Ajax began. I liked their aggresive- attack minded play, and even more beautiful was the teams confidence on the ball. In any situation, especially in the defensive third I came to love their dominance and demeanor. Beyond the soccer field I also agree with and relate to the liberal attitudes of the Dutch people. I always thought that such attitudes were and still are lacking in this country. As a gift to myself I then went to Amsterdam to meet a friend in the winter of '96. I fell in love with the people and the city. I bought my scarf before I left and haven't looked back since. Nowadays with the play in MLS slowly improving I am able to catch Metrostars games all the time, and I travel up and down the east coast for any and all national team games. As much as I still care about american football and basketball, currently soccer is number one in my book. I do everything I can to promote soccer to my friends and we have developed a nice tight group of americans, irish, italians, anyone who loves the game and loves a good time. Although not everyone understands my devotion, I can't wait until the day when soccer in the U.S. is appreciated the way it should be. It may never be as big the "other" sports here, but I know where my heart lies. I am also a devoted Metrostars fan, but I do know if they ever play Ajax I will break the scarf out and pay homage to the best soccer club in the world! I'm sorry this got so long, but there aren't enough words to explain my passion for the beautiful game of "futbol" and my passion for the U.S. national team and for that of Ajax. Forward and upward to the boys in red and white. Aloha

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2000

I'm Canadian. We don't have ESPN. Our newpapers only include international soccer standings, rather than actual stories...and the standings are usually at the bottom right corner of the last page of the sports section because apparently golf is just so goddamn interesting all of a sudden. What I'm saying is this: despite a practical media black-out in Canada on all things soccer (despite some grass-roots movements), despite the fact that I will admit that I've never seen an entire Ajax game in my life (how could I?), I proudly say that I am an Ajax supporter. Why? I'm sure purists will say: silly North American bastard! Hij is gek! How could he? I lived in Holland for a few months, my first visit there in '95. I'm half-Dutch, and the country was calling me in my early twenties. I came home to Toronto three months later in love with the place: the people, the towns and cities (and villages like Zoeterwoude, where stayed), the food...but the passion for soccer...it clinged onto me like a pleasant disease. I came home, not knowing what hit me, to a predominantly Portuguese/Italian neighbourhood...only to discover their passion for soccer was just as strong. I felt inducted into a family...not the family of Ajax necessarily (Christ, my family's from Leiden!), but the family of football/voetbal/futebal/calcio/soccer. And, like a haunting, the name "Ajax" was the one that spoke loudest in my heart...for I did not seek it. Someone once told me: "You don't choose your team...it chooses you." To this day, and till the day I die, despite poor seasons, despite losing to Sparta Rotterdam in 99-00, despite my own questioning of my faith...myself...I will hold Ajax in my heart when I think of soccer. It all means too much.

P.S. For those with ICQ, I'm running an Ajax Active List...it's only reliably online on the weekends (or I should say: I'm only reliably online...) for news and gossip updates. Active List number: #47428684. It ain't perfect, but I try.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

I can not answer the question "What makes Ajax so special for Americans?" because... I am not American. I am a so-called 'cloggy'. A 'cheesehead'. Therefore, I'd like to ask a similar question.

WHAT MAKES AJAX USA SO SPECIAL FOR A DUTCHMAN?

Know what? I'll answer it myself. Here we go.

The USA is known as a country in which people don't care about football. According to the average European, Americans don't know how to play it and they don't know how to twaddle about it. Twaddling about football is a special art, see, which the English and Dutch are particularly good at: being deadly cynical about your own club, drinking beers with fellow supporters and just grouse - hating your own club with all the love you've got. "Hey Laudrup! Why don't you play in a f***ckin skirt next time!" Man, do we hate our own clubs here in Europe. And don't even get us started about our rivals... Anyway: those Americans? They don't understand that. They won't waste their time watching a sport in which there's a risk of getting to see no goals in 90 minutes time. They prefer basketball, where every shot's a goal: Lakers 112, Bulls 83 or whatever... They don't even call our football 'football', but invented a hilariously funny, weird word for it, which means nothing. Weird guys, those Yanks.

I was very surprised to discover an American Ajax fansite on the web. Why Ajax? Why choosing for a club from the midget-country of Holland, usually playing against clubs you've never heard of? A club that does not have the money to buy players like Batistuta, Rivaldo or Zidane? A club that wins a trophy every now and then, but demands a hell of a lot of patience from its fans after another succesful team was plundered by Spanish and Italian clubs? A club with a website on which the most recent information in English is over two years old? A club that refuses to help foreigners to obtain game tickets? Why on earth would an American fall in love with Ajax - and stay faithful in dismal times? We are flabbergasted by your support...

So what I did, was trying to sort of analyze the remarkable bunch of Americans you guys are. Trying to fathom the mystery.

Ajax USA fans were probably interested in European football, but for some reason did not just choose for the clubs they got to see the most on ESPN, or the club playing in the most impressive stadiums. Ajax had (and has) no international marketing strategy to convince 'buy' their support. They intuitively made a somewhat extravagant, slightly sophisticated choice, thereby displaying exactly that intangible understanding of European football culture we'd always thought Americans lacked.

In a way, the small but very devoted group of American Ajax fans are the purest fans in the world. They do not support the club because they were born in Amsterdam, or because all their friends supported Ajax as well, or because they were seduced by superficial or commercial promo-campaigns. They just saw Ajax perform in those small, amateuristic looking Dutch football stadiums - and apparently, it felt good to them.

That's my answer to the question what makes Ajax USA so special, so precious, to me. I sense sincerity and pure love for football on this website. You see: on F-Side.nl I sense devotion as well, but not my kind of devotion. And on Ajax.nl I sense nothing, no matter how hard I try. After 1996, Ajax seemed to have completely forgotten about the things that made the club big: sincerity and love for the game. It was nice to re-discover those things on this website.

See?

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

Apart from the tradition associated with Ajax, I believe the # 1 reason Americans are In tune with the Ajax way, stems from the subconscious. I dont want to go off on a tangent, but America has been greatly influenced by Dutch Immigrants. As we all know, much of New York City (English named after Dutch capitulation) was a Dutch Colony (New Amsterdam). The hub of the New World. So with all of the comings and goings of different nationalities and cultures, one has remained = Hollands. Perhaps it is an innate phenomenon? Yes, No? For some reason I have this intense desire to follow Dutch Football, and in particular, Ajax. This might stem from my cultural background, my ancestors are Dutch, or it might stem from some otherworldly place.

Mat

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

That was the only suitable answer, Menno, to such an idiot. Hooligans rule their own sick mind, and that's about it.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Luckily, the 'hooligan world' is not our world.

But thanks for sharing your ideas with us anyway.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

You are some stupid jews. you are from the USA and you feel connected to AJAX. Feyenoord is much better. Feyenoord en FC Groningen rule the Hooligan world.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

AMERICANS FIND AJAX SO SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 1973 WHEN AJAX WON THE EUROPEAN CUP OR 1995 WHEN THEY WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. THERE IS NO DENYING THAT AJAX ARE THE BEST IN HOLLAND.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Hi, I'm a dutch AJAX-fan from Den Haag (The Hague) in the Netherlands. Ajax always stays the no 1 from Holland because of their kind of playing the game, type of players and the prices they have won. Also the history is one where a big spanish or italian team can dream about. I will say to everybody to all over the world that I'm proud to be a "Ajacied", for always. Oke, this season is bad, but it will change for sure. Specially for America: please remain supporting AJAX AMSTERDAM.

Greetings

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Hi ... I'm aziz and I am from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. You might think where I am but the truth is Malaysia is a beautiful country with it's beautiful beaches and interesting places to visit. And also our people are very friendly and will treat every visitors to our country with most courtesy and respects. Also you may be aware of the coming 17th Commenwealth Games which will be held in Manchester in 2000 but don't forget my country was the host of the Commenwelth Game in 1998 which most of the world acclaim the best ever Commenwealth game ever.

The truth is I also fancied AJAX in a way that everything that related to Ajax I will make a note. I become Ajax fan somewhere in early 1990 when I was 16 years old. In my school we have this kind of Registered Name that beside the real name, we also called our friends with their nick name. I even have my own name "Sir Ajax Camelot De Juanco".

I remember the best time of Ajax from mid eighties to mid nineties were legends like Van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard, Laudrup, Litmanen, De Boers', Dani, Van Der Sar are the true strength of Ajax.

But still after they are no longer with Ajax, new faces are still there to carry the spirit of Ajax and the way TOTAL FOOTBALL is played, I can say that no club in the world can match what AJAX have done in soccer and when you talk about Holland national team you always can imagine that it is not Holland who played in the previous World Cup but it is AJAX who played in an orange jersey.

Anybody who like to correspond with can send me your Email to my Email address "azizwahab2000@yahoo.com" and I would like to meet AJAX fans from Malaysia because I know there are lot of you guys out there in Kangar, Alor Setar, Ipoh, Shah Alam, Seremban, Melaka, Johor Bharu, Kuantan, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and especially Kuala Lumpur who are AJAX fans like me and who knows we can work together to form "AJAX Malaysia Football Club".

Till we meet again, AJAX 4 eva!

Aziz Wahab 1/3/2000

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2000

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

Well, all i can say is that i'm happy that more and more Americans support Ajax. 'Cause as a supporter since i was six i feel that if Americans acknowledge Ajax' skill and history and everything it just makes me proud of my team. AJAX 4 LIFE!!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 03, 1999

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

I was brought to Ajax by my Dutch wife. I always liked football, but before '94 when we had the world cup here, there was no soccer here, so I followed them because of her. Kinda like she's an Los Angeles Kings (hockey) fan because I live and die, usually die, with the team, and my passion for the team rubbed off on her, and vice versa with Ajax. Now days I follow them closer than she does. Anyways, that's why this American supports Ajax.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 1999

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

We don't get to watch all the games as you do in Holland. Once or twice a week there might be a match on television (satelite t.v.), but it is mostly English Premiere. At times we can catch a Dutch match at 2 or 3 in the morning if we are lucky.... We set our VCR to record it so that we may watch it at the first opurtunity we get.

We also follow Ajax on our computers, of coarse. It is the only up to date way to find out what has happened. Our news says nothing of international soccer so what we find out on-line is the only information we get until a magazine covers it.

Some of us in the United States have family from Amsterdam that brought the tradition of Ajax with them. My father played with Ajax in the middle to late 50's before he and his family came to the U.S. So, I have been kicking a soccerball for as long as I have been able to walk, and have been a fan of Ajax and K.N.V.B. for a long time.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 1999

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

Pretty cool that Ajax has so many fans in the USA. I saw www.ajax-usa.com on a television program. I saw a flag with www.ajax-usa.com on it :) Ennieweez , when Ajax isnt in the USA , how do you follow the matches? Do they have that on ESPN ? How do you watch it (do you watch it?)

Greetz form The Netherlands, Mark

-- Anonymous, October 27, 1999

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

Beste mijnheer Diazoni, Americans have a strong attraction to tradition, especially in sports. This is evident through the support of teams such as the NY Yankees in baseball, Notre Dame in college (American) football, just to sight a couple of examples. Currently, America lacks any soccer tradition. Therefore, it makes sense that they would be drawn to a foreign team which does have an outstanding legacy. Ajax is an excellent example of such a team. Ajax also has other attractive qualities. They play hard, and with style, and are preceived as a "peoples" team. Additionally, the large number of Ajax players on the Dutch National team brings a lot of international recognition.

Een Ajacien voor altijd!!! PM

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

Ok I see, The USA is becoming more and more soccer-minded, I understand that watching the european soccer leagues is a good example for American coaches and trainers. I never knew ESPN showed Dutch soccer games that explains a lot to me about Ajax being popular. To be honest I never understood why USA hosted the 1994 WC Soccer, but this was of course the kick-start for US Soccer leagues. Some teams are only 5 years old...Compared to Ajax being almost 100 years (in 2000 they'll be exactly 100 years)old. It is typical that USA on this is still the new country. Maybe within 30 or 40 years the US will be having Soccer Leagues with rich traditions just like the European ones already have. I'm convinced that Ajax will be playing a part in this and of course, "Eens Ajacied altijd Ajacied!!!" (Once Ajax fan always Ajax fan!!!)

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999

Response to What makes Ajax so special for Americain citizens?

I'm sure American fans have many different reasons for supporting Ajax. I'm fairly new to rooting for European football, but several things drew me to them. First, their rich tradition. Many of the greatest names in football have played there. Even as recently as the 95 team (when I first started paying attention to football) had so many young, great players. Secondly, I have great respect for their youth system. Similar to the LA Dodgers here in the US, Ajax built its greatness from within. Next, their 'total football' style of play is very entertaining. Finally, I was intrigued by the F-Side and their use of the Star of David as a symbol. As a jew I felt an instant connection to the team.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999