This weekend, Ajax and Feyenood clash in another Klassieker. However, this one is special. When the two sides line up against each other in the Eredivisie on Sunday it will be for the 200th time. There have been some special moments throughout the years, and ESPN have looked back at some of the historic numbers from the 199 games so far.
The first recorded Klassieker took place back in 1921 in Rotterdam. The game was played at the Kromme Zandweg/Dordtsestraatweg stadium. After 90 minutes Ajax had won 3-2, yet the result was registered as being 2-2 in the old First Division West due to a successful protest from Feyenoord. They argued that Theo Brokmann Srโs goal for Ajax hadnโt crossed the line, and the referee was unable to confirm 100% that he had seen the ball cross the line. Clearly, goal line technology could have been quite useful back in 1921.
Another interesting stat unearthed by ESPN is that this will be the first Klassieker since 1985 in which the coach of Ajax was born in Amsterdam and the coach of Feyenoord was born in Rotterdam. Back then, it was Johan Cruyff in charge of Ajax and Ab Fafie in charge of Rotterdam. The game in October 1985 finished 2-1 to Feyenoord.
Last season Ajax took the spoils in the Klassieker. The side won 2-0 away from home and 2-1 at home. However, in Arne Slotโs final year as head coach of Feyenoord, he crushed Ajax at home and away. The side won 4-0 on the road before a resounding 6-0 victory in Rotterdam. Feyenoord managed an incredible 30 shots on goal to Ajaxโs one.
The two sides have shared their fair amount of goals in that time. Those 10 goals Feyenoord put past Ajax under Slot were just a handful of the 723 that we have seen in the Klassieker. Despite the 2023/2024 season, Ajax lead the way in terms of goals with 415, while they also have an impressive 94 wins. Of these 415 goals, Sjaak Swart has scored the most for Ajax. Swart, who holds the record for appearances for Ajax, scored 18 goals against Feyenoord. The great Jari Litmanen scored 12 for Ajax in this fixture and is one of the top three scorers in the 199 games that have been played so far.
For the Rotterdam club, they have scored 308 goals in Klassiekers. They have only won 59 matches though, so have a long way to go to catch Ajax. Their top scorer is Cor van der Gijp, who scored 14 goals in the fixture and sadly passed away as recently as 2022.
Coming into Sunday, the two sides are in differing form. Despite a struggling season so far, Ajax have put together three wins in a row. After a great start, Feyenoord are trending in the other direction. The side have won two of their previous five games and are losing touch with PSV at the top of the Eredivisie table. A win on Sunday afternoon would certainly help them regain some confidence.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
