Johan Cruijff and Ajax' youth coaches feel they are winners after the court's decision that the appoitment of Van Gaal and Sturkenboom were unlawful. "The court has been quite clear: the behavior of the board was wrong," says the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, which representend Cruyff, Jonk, Bergkamp, [read more]

Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams are squaring up for a head-to-head clash – with the winner securing a coaching role at the Emirates.

The former Gunners are frontrunners to replace Steve Bould within the coaching staff at the club at the end of the season.

Bould is poised to replace the retiring Pat Rice as Arsene Wenger's No.

Trademark volley from the non-flying Dutchman Bergkamp still got it by soccermr Ajax's coaching team like to roll back the years from time to time. Take this video, for instance. Frank De Boer play a lovely Hollywood pass, Dennis Bergkamp gets on the end of it and works his magic by firing in a glorious [.

Trademark volley from the non-flying Dutchman Bergkamp still got it by soccermr Ajax's coaching team like to roll back the years from time to time. Take this video, for instance. Frank De Boer play a lovely Hollywood pass, Dennis Bergkamp gets on the end of it and works his magic by firing in a glorious [.

By Chris Wright

In which former Arsenal saint Dennis Bergkamp rattles off a beautiful first-timer, latching onto Frank De Boer's (not a bad coaching set-up they've got there!) enticing cross-field arc during an Ajax training session yesterday afternoon.

Granted, it's not the finest goal he's ever scored and it's not really the finest camera angle of 'not the finest goal he's ever scored' but it's Bergkamp, and I'm all over anything that graceful Dutch silkworm does like a sticky paste.

By Chris Wright

In which former Arsenal saint Dennis Bergkamp rattles off a beautiful first-timer, latching onto Frank De Boer's (not a bad coaching set-up they've got there!) enticing cross-field arc during an Ajax training session yesterday afternoon.

Granted, it's not the finest goal he's ever scored and it's not really the finest camera angle of 'not the finest goal he's ever scored' but it's Bergkamp, and I'm all over anything that graceful Dutch silkworm does like a sticky paste.

Eredivisie: 19° Giornata, Analisi e commento Di Stefano Lazzarato Cade la capolista Az scavalcata dal Psv e raggiunta dal Twente. Male anche l'Ajax con un solo punto nelle ultime tre trasferte tra campionato e coppa. In coda 17esima sconfitta consecutiva in trasferta per il Vvv (contando lo scorso torneo).

Kickoff from White Hart Lane at 7:00PM GMT/2:00PM EST

Liverpool's youngsters return to NextGen Series action today, with their quarterfinal matchup with Tottenham's U19s taking place in London. The brief break in senior squad action allows for attentions to turn to a competition that, on the whole, has been a terrific advertisement for youth football on the continent.

Barcelona have been the scourge of Manchester United in Europe over recent campaigns but now the Spanish giants will not have the chance to scupper the Red Devils' chances of bring home silverware from the continent.
United fans will be disappointed their side failed to make the knockout stages of the Champions League but based on their performances in the group stage, the Premier League title holders did not really deserve to get through.

how appropriate

Happy mad-libbing!

_______________ (Possession/4-3-3/Passing out of the back) like __________________ (F.C. Barcelona/Spain/Ajax) would never work for a __________________ (Mid-low table Premier League/Major League Soccer/NCAA Division I) team. The __________________ (British/American/American College) game is too ____________ (Fast/Physical/Aggressive) for a ________________ (British/MLS/College) team to play like that.

They say that play acting and feining injury has become rife in football and when videos like this emerge it is no wonder why. We at In The Stands can only shake our heads and laugh. For the record his name is Narcisse Ekanga Amia, a 24-year-old Cameroonian-Equatoguinean midfielder who currently plays for TP Mazembe [.

For the first time in 16 meetings, Ajax lost to F-word. This will have me under a dark cloud and ill-mannered for upwards of a week, but don't worry, I'll find a way to carry on in the meantime. Just know all along that, no matter how calm I seem, it actually looks like this...- Greg Seltzer

The Teaser: The Classic

When Barca and Real Madrid meet in Spain, we could well witness the two best football teams on the planet. When Feyenoord and Ajax meet in Holland, we're not even seeing the best teams of the Netherlands go head to head. But, that is all here nor [read more]

Saturday, January 28

England FA Cup, Liverpool-Manchester United (7:30amET FSC): The most heated of English rivalries?

African Cup, Ghana-Mali (2pmET Al Jazeera Sports USA)

Italy, Juventus-Udinese (2:30pmET FSC, ESPN3.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists that he is not the right man to discuss a potential deal for Genk youngster Kevin De Bruyne and also feels that "certain issues" will prevent the club from signing Brazil international Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup visit to cross-town rivals QPR a fixture that Villas-Boas desperately wants to win in order to get one step closer to silverware the Blues gaffer told reporters that neither De Bruyne nor Willian were in his immediate plans.

Generation 2022: Al-Kass Under-17 International Cup Scouting Report is a post from: Just Football

Always on the lookout for new talent here at Just Football, we sent our man in Qatar to check out the inaugural Al-Kass International Under-17 tournament. A warm welcome to Raphael Nawari, who reports on a competition full of promising youngsters:

In a small secluded part of the world, the new stars of tomorrow are taking part in a newly formed tournament, which in years to come will be considered as one of the better known youth tournaments, rivalling the Milk Cup and others where the likes of Wayne Rooney, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi have graced us with their precocious talents.

Sportsmail strikes again. Though we may have to start giving the masked man/woman/thing a little more credit on the back of breaking the Willian negotiations last week. This time around, the Daily Mail's journo in the field, with a little help from the Mirror, suggests Chelsea are ready to make key moves for both Paul Pogba and Gregory van der Wiel.

Of all the defensive targets (allegedly) pursued by Newcastle United, Ajax's 24 year old Belgian defender and captain, Jan Vertonghen, is by far the most interesting proposition. At a potential cost that will almost certainly be over £10 million along with the abilty to command a Coloccini sized salary package he shpuld be really However [.

Johan Cruyff. Who doesn't know him. People all over the world know his name ( and can't pronounce it). He revolutionised football as a player, as a coach and as a union-leader ( of sorts). Now, he wants to put Ajax back on the international map as an executive.

The man [read more]

What a time to be a Tottenham Hotspur fan! Sitting third in the English Premier League and very close to being able to topple the current league leaders should they win this weekend at the Ethiad Stadium in Manchester, the chances are that some of the more hardened and cynical Spurs fans may well be thinking that something dodgy is going on!

A draw against Ajax was enough to keep Jozy Altidore and AZ atop the Eredivisie while a late equalizer by Maastricht denied Charles Kazlauskas and Helmond a spot in the top half of the Eerste Divisie.

Suddenly, there was this transfer at the end of Summer: Ricky van Wolfswinkel to Sporting. Not Ajax. Not Feyenoord. But Portugal. Of all places.

People ( also on this blog) said: that is not a smart move.... But six months later, Ricky scored prolifically, has been named player of the month [read more]

Kids day at the Amsterdam Arena

After a KNVB cup match between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar was suspended because a fan ran on to the pitch and attacked AZ's keeper, Ajax were able to replay the match, but with one caveat: only kids (and a few supervisors) would be allowed into the Amsterdam Arena.

Kids day at the Amsterdam Arena

After a KNVB cup match between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar was suspended because a fan ran on to the pitch and attacked AZ's keeper, Ajax were able to replay the match, but with one caveat: only kids (and a few supervisors) would be allowed into the Amsterdam Arena.

Jozy Altidore hopes to return to AZ's starting lineup when they look for a second straight win over Ajax while Charles Kazlauskas and Helmond can continue their hot streak against MVV Maastricht.

Jozy Altidore was a late sub in AZ's rescheduled cup game with Ajax on Thursday, however the team's berth the quarterfinal was already sewn up thanks to a fine attacking display within the first hour.

Jozy Altidore subbed on in the 78th minute for AZ in their rescheduled KNVB Beker (aka the KNVB Cup) game on Thursday. The game was played during the day to allow school children to attend, a compromise after the original game was abandoned due to a fan attacking AZ's goalkeeper and rescheduled to be played without fans present.

As if there was not enough drama the last time Ajax and AZ Alkmaar played.

AZ advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dutch Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Ajax in their rescheduled round of 16 match on Thursday morning. A second-half penalty kick goal would be the decisive finish in a game that saw each team take and squander leads.

The KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) clash between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar, which was suspended due to an attack on AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado in the initial encounter, was completed today in the Amsterdam ArenA with the home side going down to a 3-2 defeat.

Siem de Jong gave Ajax the lead as early as the 10th minute only for the visitors to restore parity fourteen minutes later through Maarten Martins.

Jozy Altidore and AZ return from the winter break with the first of two straight games against Ajax, with a trip to the final eight of the Dutch Cup on the line when the teams meet in Amsterdam on Thursday.

Who was it that said Fact is sometimes stranger than Fiction? In the case of Cruyff vs Ajax vs the Board of Directors vs Louis van Gaal there was another court case... I'm telling you, when you are an Ajax fan this is a nightmare!

When you are neutral you wonder [read more]

FOOTBALL ACADEMIES: LOGGING IN THE FOOTBALLFOREST

Recently the PSSI has adopted a Youth Development Program. Timo Scheunemann, Indonesia's undisputed authority of youth development is appointed Director of this Program. It is a system of regional scouting of young promising players and bringing them into an intensive program of further development of their skills.

FOOTBALL ACADEMIES: LOGGING IN THE FOOTBALLFOREST

Recently the PSSI has adopted a Youth Development Program. Timo Scheunemann, Indonesia's undisputed authority of youth development is appointed Director of this Program. It is a system of regional scouting of young promising players and bringing them into an intensive program of further development of their skills.

With Howard Webb's inconsistencies, Jamie Carragher's likely contract extension, and finally some news about the next stages of the NextGen Series, there's plenty to talk about that probably doesn't need to devolve into wild screeching about why three at the back against Stoke means Kenny Dalglish should be fired.

Danish wonderkid Lucas Andersen could be on his way out of Aalborg in the winter transfer window, with Liverpool keen on a move for the teenager.
The highly rated youngster made his official first team debut for Aalborg in March 2011 at the tender age of 16, and has since developed into an important member of Aab's squad.

Premier League duo Liverpool and Newcastle are both interested in signing FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong but neither side has made an offer, according to the player's agent.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a number of clubs around Europe after impressing for Twente, with Italian side Fiorentina already having declared their interest.

The January 19th replay between Jozy Altidore's AZ and Ajax will be a romping room indeed, as children will be comprising 85% of the audience at Amsterdam ArenA. At this point, Ajax are basically telling schools to bring all the kids for the afternoon do-over. I may need to go witness this for myself.

By Chris Wright

You may remember, not so very long ago, when the KNVB Cup match between Ajax and Alkmaar had to be abandoned after just 38 minutes when Alkmaar 'keeper Esteban Alvarado was red-carded (it was later rescinded) for knocking a drunken pitch-invader on his arse and then belting the living daylights out of the 19-year old hoodlum as he sprawled on the turf.

The Ajax Experience x Sid Lee Architecture

Aside from my unwillingness to experience an angry pre-match speech from Frank de Boer, the new Ajax Experience museum is one of the freshest things I've seen.

The city is completely related to its club: Amsterdam is Ajax, Ajax is Amsterdam.

The Ajax Experience x Sid Lee Architecture

Aside from my unwillingness to experience an angry pre-match speech from Frank de Boer, the new Ajax Experience museum is one of the freshest things I've seen.

The city is completely related to its club: Amsterdam is Ajax, Ajax is Amsterdam.