Aegon Ltd. (stylized as AEGON ) is a Dutch public company for life insurance , pensions and asset management . It is headquartered in The Hague , Netherlands and has 26,000 employees as of July 21, 2020. Aegon is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and is a constituent of the AEX index . It operates a direct bank under the brand name "Knab" in the Netherlands. In October 2022, it was announced that AEGON's Dutch operations would be acquired by ASR Nederland (29.99% of which is owned by AEGON). To the extent they had the AEGON trade name, it will become ASR; Knab and TKP will keep their names. Subsequently, AEGON reincorporated in Bermuda .
74-502: Aegon was founded in 1983 from the merger of AGO Holding N.V. (created by the merger of A lgemeene Friesche , G root-Noordhollandsche and O lveh ( O nderlinge Verzekeringsmaatschappij Eigen Hulp) in 1968) and Ennia N.V. (formed by the merger of E erste Nederlandsche and N illmij ( N ederlandsch-Indische Levensverzekering- en Lijfrente-Maatschappij) in 1969). Aegon acquired Scottish Equitable in 1994. In 1998 it formed Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd to create and market
148-567: A UK based investment and administration service in 2016. In May 2016 Aegon announced that it would acquire BlackRock's UK defined contribution platform (including Master Trust) and administration business, with the transfer completing in 2018. The Master Trust was authorised by The Pensions Regulator in September 2019. In March 2020, Mike Holliday-Williams became the new CEO following the retirement of Adrian Grace after 10 years with Aegon. In April 2021, Aegon acquired Pension Geeks. Aegon
222-628: A capacity of 5,000. The team was promoted from the Eerste Klasse to the Hoofdklasse ahead of the 2011–12 season, the league in which it is currently competing. The team has won the Eerste Klasse title twice, as well as the * KNVB District Cup West I on two occasions as well. Furthermore, Ajax Zaterdag has also managed to qualify for the KNVB Cup on its own accord on three occasions, namely in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2021. Even advancing to
296-491: A double of the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup two years later. The early 1980s saw the return of Cruyff to the club, as well as the emergence of young players Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard . The team won back-to-back Eredivisie titles in 1982 and 1983 , with all three playing a significant role in the latter. After Cruyff's sale to rivals Feyenoord in 1983, van Basten became Ajax's key player, top scoring in
370-485: A fourth Dutch league championship and second league and cup double in five seasons, winning 27 out of 34 league matches and scoring 100 goals. The 1970–71 season saw Ajax retain the KNVB Cup and reach the 1971 European Cup final , where they defeated Panathinaikos 2–0 with goals from Dick van Dijk and Arie Haan to become continental champions for the first time, with Cruyff being named European Footballer of
444-408: A launch price of ƒ25,- (Guilders) the club managed to a bring its total revenue up to €54 million (converted) in its first year on the market. After short-lived success, however, the rate dropped, at one point as low as €3.50. Criticism was brought forth that the legal grid for a naamloze vennootschap would not be suitable for a Football club, and that the sports related ambitions would suffer from
518-1176: A marketing graduate scheme. In 2021, Aegon was formally recognised as a Living Wage Employer. It is also a signatory of the Women in Finance Charter and the Race at Work Charter. Chief Executive Officer, Mike Holliday-Williams , appointed 2019 Chief Financial Officer, Jim Ewing , appointed 2021 Chief Risk Officer, Alison Morris , appointed 2022 Chief Marketing Officer, Andy Manson , appointed 2016 Chief Technology Officer, Nick Rodway , appointed 2019 Chief Internal Auditor, Mohit Dhingra , appointed 2023 Chief HR Officer, Arlene Stokes , appointed 2022 General Counsel and Company Secretary, James Mackenzie , appointed 2012 Chief Service Officer, Dougy Grant , appointed 2020 Chief Distribution Officer, Ronnie Taylor , appointed 2018 Transformation Director, Sarah Barry , appointed 2021 AFC Ajax Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈaːjɑks] ), also known as AFC Ajax , Ajax Amsterdam , or commonly Ajax ,
592-458: A picture of an Ajax player. The crest was slightly altered following the club's promotion to the top division in 1911 to match the club's new outfits. In 1928, the club logo was introduced with the head of the Greek hero Ajax . The logo was once again changed in 1990 into an abstract version of the previous one. The new logo still sports the portrait of Ajax, but drawn with just 11 lines, symbolizing
666-428: A range of personal insurance products, providing accident, health and unemployment cover to its own customers and via business partners. In 1999 it acquired the life assurance business of Guardian Royal Exchange . That year it also bought Transamerica Corporation . On August 13, 2007, Aegon and Merrill Lynch announced a strategic business partnership in the areas of life insurance and investment products. As part of
740-694: A semi-final loss to Utrecht in a Penalty shoot-out after extra time, which saw Utrecht advance, and thus preventing an Ajax–Jong Ajax Dutch Cup final. The 2013–14 season marked the Jupiler League debut of the Ajax reserves' squad, Jong Ajax. Previously playing in the Beloften Eredivisie (a separate league for reserve teams, not included in the Dutch professional or amateur league structure), players were allowed to move around freely between
814-515: A third KNVB Cup in 1961. In 1965, Rinus Michels , who had played for the club between 1946 and 1958, was appointed manager of Ajax, implementing his philosophy of Total Football which was to become synonymous with both Ajax and the Netherlands national team . A year earlier, Johan Cruyff , who would go on to become widely regarded as the greatest Dutch footballer of all time, made his debut. Between them, Michels and Cruyff led Ajax through
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#1732790986417888-620: A total of 50 years at the top flight of Baseball in the Netherlands from 1922 to 1972. The dissolution of Ajax baseball club resulted in the players finding a new sponsor in a mustard manufacturing company called Luycks, while merging with the Diemen Giants to become the Luycks Giants, thus replacing both former clubs. In 2016, Ajax launched an esports team, with Koen Weijland as the club's first signing, making its debut on
962-512: A trend for other modern stadiums built in Europe in the following years. In the Netherlands, the Arena earned a reputation for a terrible grass pitch caused by the removable roof that, even when open, takes away too much sunlight and fresh air. During the 2008–09 season, ground staff introduced an artificial lighting system that finally reduced this problem considerably. The much-loved De Meer Stadion
1036-548: Is a Dutch professional football club based in Amsterdam , that plays in the Eredivisie , the top tier in Dutch football. Historically, Ajax (named after the legendary Greek hero ) is the most successful club in the Netherlands , with 36 Eredivisie titles and 20 KNVB Cups . It has continuously played in the Eredivisie since the league's inception in 1956, and along with Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven , it
1110-419: Is a financial services provider with products designed for individuals and business customers. Its products are available through financial advisers or in the case of workplace pensions, made available via an employer. It offers a range of pensions, individual savings accounts (ISAs), life insurance and investment products for individual customers. It offers workplace pensions, including a Master Trust option. In
1184-419: Is known in Dutch as het Olympisch Stadion . In 1934, Ajax moved to De Meer Stadion in east Amsterdam, close to the location of Het Houten Stadion. It was designed by architect and Ajax-member Daan Roodenburgh , who had also designed the club's first stadium. It could accommodate 29,500 spectators and Ajax continued to play there until 1996. For big European and national fixtures, the club would often play at
1258-535: Is one of the country's " big three " clubs that have dominated that competition. Ajax was one of the most successful clubs in the world in the 20th century. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics , Ajax was the seventh-most successful European club of the 20th century and The World's Club Team of the Year in 1992. According to German magazine Kicker , Ajax
1332-448: Is the reserve team of AFC Ajax. The team is composed mostly of professional footballers, who are often recent graduates from the highest youth level (Ajax A1) serving their first professional contract as a reserve, or players who are otherwise unable to play in the first team. Since 1992, Jong Ajax competed in the Beloften Eredivisie , competing against other reserve teams such as Jong PSV , Jong FC Groningen or Jong AZ . They have won
1406-840: The Eredivisie title and was the top scorer in the division in 1990–91 , 1991–92 and 1992–93 . Under the management of Louis van Gaal , Ajax won the UEFA Cup in 1992 to become the second club, after Juventus , to have won all three major European club competitions . After the sale of Bergkamp to Internazionale in 1993, van Gaal re-signed the experienced Rijkaard to complement his young Ajax team featuring academy graduates Frank and Ronald de Boer , Edwin van der Sar , Clarence Seedorf , Edgar Davids , Michael Reiziger and Winston Bogarde , as well as mercurial foreign talents Finidi George , Nwankwo Kanu and Jari Litmanen , and veteran captain Danny Blind . The team regained
1480-479: The 1995 Intercontinental Cup , 1995 UEFA Super Cup and the 1995 Champions League , where they defeated Milan in the final ; they lost the 1996 Champions League final on penalties to Juventus . In 1995, Ajax was crowned as World Team of the Year by World Soccer magazine. Ajax is also one of four teams to win the continental treble and the Intercontinental Cup or Club World Cup in
1554-580: The 1995 UEFA Champions League final 1–0, with the winning goal scored by 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert . Ajax again reached the final one year later, and was defeated on penalties by Juventus . Ajax's return as a European force was short-lived, as van Gaal and several members of the squad soon departed to some of the continent's biggest clubs. The 2000s was a lean decade for the club, with only two Eredivisie championships won. However, Ajax's academy continued to produce star players such as Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart . In 2010, Frank de Boer
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#17327909864171628-539: The Ajax Hellas Youth Academy . The offices are based in Nea Smyrni , Attica , with the main training facility located on the island of Corfu , hosting a total of 15 football youth academies throughout Greece and Cyprus. Eddie van Schaik heads the organization as coach and consultant, introducing the Ajax football philosophy at the various Greek football training camps. In 2016, Ajax launched
1702-510: The Dutch government and De Nederlandsche Bank agreed to give Aegon a €3 billion capital injection to create a capital buffer in exchange for convertible bonds to ease the group through the 2007–2008 financial crisis . On June 15, 2011, Aegon fulfilled its key objective of repurchasing all of the €3 billion core capital securities issued to the Dutch State. The total amount Aegon has paid to
1776-519: The Eredivisie for four seasons between 1983–84 and 1986–87 . In 1985, Cruyff returned to Ajax as manager and the team ended his first season in charge with 120 goals from 34 matches. However, Ajax still finished as runner-up to PSV by eight points. The following season, Ajax again lost out on the Eredivisie title to PSV, but won the European Cup Winners' Cup , its first continental trophy in 14 years. After this, Cruyff left
1850-655: The KNVB Beker , the Netherlands' national cup. The following season , Ajax became national champion for the first time. The club defended its title in 1918–19 , becoming the only team to achieve an unbeaten season in the Netherlands Football League Championship. Throughout the 1920s, Ajax was a strong regional power, winning the Eerste Klasse West division in 1921, 1927 and 1928, but could not maintain its success at
1924-525: The UEFA Champions League . Due to their runner-up finish in the 2017–18 Eredivisie , Ajax entered the tournament in the second qualifying round. After successive victories against Sturm Graz , Standard Liège and Dynamo Kyiv , they qualified for the group stage. Ajax was drawn in a group with German champions Bayern Munich , Portuguese side Benfica and Greek champions AEK Athens . Ajax finished runner-up in this group, qualifying for
1998-521: The first season of the Netherlands' new professional league, the Eredivisie , was played with Ajax participating as a founding member. The Amsterdam club became the first national champions under the new format and made its debut in the European Champion Clubs' Cup the following year , losing to Hungarian champions Vasas SC 6–2 on aggregate at the quarter-final stage. The team was again Eredivisie champions in 1960 and won
2072-436: The flag of Amsterdam . Under manager Jack Kirwan , however, the club earned promotion to the top flight of Dutch football for the first time in 1911 (then the Eerste Klasse or 'First Class', later named the Eredivisie ), Ajax was forced to change its colours because Sparta Rotterdam already had exactly the same outfit. Special kits for away fixtures did not exist at the time and according to football association regulations
2146-417: The 11 players of a football team. On 17 November 2024, Ajax announced on its official website that the classic logo of 1928 will return for the 2025-26 season, making a comeback after 34 years. Ajax originally played in an all-black strip with a red sash tied around the players' waists, but that strip was soon replaced by a red/white striped shirt and black shorts. Red, black and white are the three colours of
2220-480: The 35th time, but still qualified for the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League . The club is also particularly famous for its renowned youth programme that has produced many Dutch talents over the years – Johan Cruyff , Edwin van der Sar , Gerald Vanenburg , Frank Rijkaard , Dennis Bergkamp , Rafael van der Vaart , Patrick Kluivert , Marco van Basten , Wesley Sneijder , Maarten Stekelenburg , Nigel de Jong , Frenkie de Jong , and Matthijs de Ligt have come through
2294-528: The ACA (Ajax Coaching Academy) with the intention of sharing knowledge, and setting up a variety of camps and clinics for both players and coaches. Ajax's first stadium was built in 1911 out of wood and was called Het Houten Stadion (English: The Wooden Stadium). Ajax later also played in the Olympic Stadium built for the 1928 Summer Olympics hosted in Amsterdam . This stadium, designed by Jan Wils ,
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2368-632: The Amsterdam club in its maiden season in women's professional football. The team won its first piece of silverware when they defeated PSV/FC Eindhoven 2–1 in the final of the KNVB Women's Cup . AFC Ajax Amateurs , better known as Ajax Zaterdag , is a Dutch amateur football club founded 18 March 1900. It is the amateur team of the professional club AFC Ajax, playing its home matches at the Sportpark De Toekomst training grounds to
2442-603: The Beloften Eredivisie title a record eight times, as well as the KNVB Reserve Cup three times, making them the most successful reserve squad in the Netherlands. By winning the Beloften Eredivisie title, Jong Ajax was able to qualify for the actual KNVB Cup, even advancing to the semi-finals on three occasions. Its best result in the Dutch Cup was under manager Jan Olde Riekerink in 2001–02, when
2516-516: The CEO of Aegon N.V.. Aegon's businesses focus on life insurance and pensions, savings and asset management products. The group is also active in accident and supplemental health insurance and general insurance, and has limited banking activities. Aegon has major operations in the United States (where it is heavily represented through World Financial Group and Transamerica ), the Netherlands and
2590-531: The Dutch State amounts to €4.1 billion. Of this amount, €3 billion covered the original issue of core capital securities, while an additional €1.1 billion was paid in premium and interest. On August 3, 2011, Aegon USA announced that all its various businesses will be grouped under a single brand name: Transamerica. Transamerica's key businesses are life insurance, investments and retirement. The group includes companies whose history goes back over 100 years and whose products and services have become well known throughout
2664-399: The Dutch championship in 1993–94 , and won it again in 1994–95 and 1995–96 to become the first Ajax side to win three back-to-back championships since 1968. The height of van Gaal's success came in 1994–95, where Ajax became the first, and to date only, team to complete an entire Eredivisie season unbeaten. The team also won its first European Cup since its 1970s era, defeating Milan in
2738-545: The Eerste Divisie by Jong Twente and Jong PSV , reserve teams who have also moved from the Beloften Eredivisie to the Eerste Divisie, in place of VV Katwijk , SC Veendam and AGOVV Apeldoorn , increasing the total number of teams in the Jupiler League from 18 to 20. Ajax reserve squad Jong Ajax left the Beloften Eredivisie in 2013, having held a 21-year tenure in the reserves league, having also won
2812-604: The Olympic Stadium, which could accommodate about twice the number of spectators. In 1996, Ajax moved to a new home ground in the southeast of the city known as the Amsterdam Arena, since 2018 known as the Johan Cruyff Arena . This stadium was built by the Amsterdam city authority at a cost of $ 134 million. The stadium is capable of holding 55,865 spectators. The Arena has a retractable roof and set
2886-610: The UEFA Champions League, the Netherlands national team was almost entirely composed of Ajax players, with van der Sar in goal; players such as Michael Reiziger, Frank de Boer and Danny Blind in defence; Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids and Clarence Seedorf in midfield; and Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars in attack. In 2011, Ajax opened its first youth academies outside the Netherlands when the club partnered up with George Kazianis and All Star Consultancy in Greece to open
2960-831: The UK, Aegon has over 3.8 million customers and manages around £214bn of customers’ savings (as at 31 December 2021). Retiready is a free digital retirement, saving and planning service provided by pension, insurance and investment company Aegon UK. It is designed to help people assess what their income needs will be in retirement and choose suitable products to achieve them. Aegon UK launched Retiready in April 2014. Aegon has over 2,000 UK employees (as at 31 December 2021) working from offices in Edinburgh, London, Lytham St Annes, Peterborough and Witham. It offers employees career opportunities including graduate apprenticeships while working and
3034-527: The US, including founding companies Life Investors Insurance Company of America and Monumental Life Insurance Company. In June 2018 AEGON was criticized by Greenpeace for its investments in oil sand companies and pipelines. Aegon reacted by stating that it was developing a new policy with regards to the oil and gas sector. In 2019, they decided to discontinue their oil sand investments. On 15 May 2020, Lard Friese (former CEO of NN Group) succeeded Alex Wynaendts as
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3108-536: The United Kingdom. In addition, the group is present in a number of other countries including Canada , Brazil , Mexico , Hungary , Poland , Romania , Slovakia , Czech Republic , Turkey , Spain , China , Japan , North America and India . Aegon's world headquarters are in The Hague , Netherlands AEGON also operates a direct bank under the brand name "Knab" in the Netherlands. Soon after it
3182-565: The Year . After this success, Michels departed to become manager of Barcelona and was replaced by the Romanian Ștefan Kovács . In Kovács' first season, Ajax completed a treble of the European Cup , the Eredivisie and a third consecutive KNVB Cup . The following season, the team beat Argentine Club Atlético Independiente to win the 1972 Intercontinental Cup and retained their Eredivisie and European Cup titles, becoming
3256-500: The building as their headquarters. Scottish Equitable Aegon UK (Aegon) is an Edinburgh based financial services provider specialising in pensions, investments and insurance. Aegon is the brand name for Scottish Equitable plc and it is a subsidiary of Aegon N.V. , a multi-national life insurance, pension and asset management company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society
3330-410: The club and led them to the 2017 UEFA Europa League final , their first European final in 21 years. They lost to Manchester United with a lineup that was the youngest ever in a European final, averaging an age of 22 years and 282 days. For the third consecutive season, they finished runner-up in the Eredivisie , this time to Feyenoord . The 2018–19 season for Ajax involved a remarkable run in
3404-442: The club to become manager of Barcelona and Rijkaard and van Basten were sold to Sporting CP and Milan respectively. Despite these losses, Ajax reached a second consecutive Cup Winners' Cup final in 1988 , where they lost to Belgian club KV Mechelen . The 1988–89 season saw Dennis Bergkamp , a young forward who had first appeared under Cruyff in 1986, establish himself as a regular goalscorer for Ajax. Bergkamp helped Ajax to
3478-471: The event since 1979. Since 2004, Transamerica has been the primary sponsor of the American golfer Zach Johnson . AEGON is one of the strategic industry partners with Duisenberg school of finance . The headquarters office of Aegon is located in The Hague and designed by OTH Architects. Initially AEGON wanted to redesign only the conference rooms, but while working on it they decided to improve and redesign
3552-452: The first club to win three consecutive European Cups since Real Madrid in the 1950s. In 1973, Michels' Barcelona broke the world transfer record to bring Cruyff to Catalonia . Kovács also departed to become manager of the France national team , signalling the end of this period of international success. In 1976–77 , Ajax won its first domestic championship in four seasons and recorded
3626-455: The first leg of the semi-final, Ajax beat Tottenham 1–0 away from home. In the second leg, Ajax scored twice in the first half to generate a 3–0 lead on aggregate. However, in the second half, Lucas Moura scored three times, including in the 6th minute of added time, resulting in Ajax losing via the away goals rule . Ajax was in first place on goal difference when the Eredivisie was declared void, preventing them being Dutch champions for
3700-416: The full building. The office spaces, the main hall and the restaurant were redesigned. The new design has a lot of glass like glass walls manufactured by SI-X. The restaurant has a main helical staircase with a full glass balustrade manufactured by Eestairs and did win the prize for the best staircase of the year in 2008. In 2009 Aegon decided to buy this building from real estate fund Unibail-Rodamco and keep
3774-473: The knockout stages, where it was drawn against three-time defending champions Real Madrid . After losing 1–2 in the first leg, they defeated Real Madrid 4–1 in the away match, stunning the defending champions in their own stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu , with an aggregate score of 5–3. Dušan Tadić was awarded a perfect score of 10 by L'Équipe following the match. Thus, Ajax progressed to
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#17327909864173848-467: The league title a record eight times (1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009). AFC Ajax Vrouwen ( English: AFC Ajax Women ) is the women's team of AFC Ajax, competing in the women's eredivisie , the highest level of women's football in the Netherlands. Founded on 18 May 2012, the women's team saw Ajax attracting many of the Netherlands top talents, with International players such as Anouk Hoogendijk , Daphne Koster and Petra Hogewoning joining
3922-426: The most successful period in its history, winning seven Eredivisie titles, four KNVB Cups and three European Cups . Ajax won the Dutch championship in 1966 , 1967 and 1968 , and reached the 1969 European Cup final , losing to Milan . During the 1966–67 season, Ajax scored a record 122 goals in an Eredivisie season and also won the KNVB Cup to achieve its first league and cup double . In 1969–70 , Ajax won
3996-469: The national level. This changed in the 1930s, with the club winning five national championships ( 1931 , 1932 , 1934 , 1937 , 1939 ), making it the most successful Dutch team of the decade. Ajax won its second KNVB Cup in 1942–43, and an eighth Dutch title in 1946–47 , the last season the club was managed by Englishman Jack Reynolds , who, up to this point, had overseen all of its national championship successes as well as its 1917 KNVB Cup win. In 1956,
4070-583: The new commercial interests of the now listed Ajax. Shares of the company in the year 2008 were valued at approximately €5.90 per share. In 2008, a Commission under guidance of honorary member Uri Coronel concluded that the IPO was of no value to the club, and that measures should be taken to exit the stock exchange by purchasing back all public shares. Ajax remain on the stock exchange. Ajax's shirts have been sponsored by TDK from 1982 to 1991, and by ABN AMRO from 1991 to 2008. AEGON then replaced ABN AMRO as
4144-449: The new head sponsor for a period of seven years. On 1 April 2007, Ajax wore a different sponsor for the match against Heracles Almelo , Florius . Florius is a banking programme launched by ABN AMRO who wanted it to be the shirt sponsor for one match. The shirts have been manufactured by Le Coq Sportif (1973–1977), Puma (1977–1979), Cor du Buy (1979–1980), Le Coq Sportif (1980–1984), Kappa (1985–1989) and Umbro (1989–2000) in
4218-435: The newcomers had to change their colours if two teams in the same league had identical uniforms. Ajax opted for white shorts and white shirt with a broad, vertical red stripe over chest and back, which still is Ajax's outfit. AFC Ajax is the only Dutch club with an initial public offering (IPO). The club is registered as a Naamloze vennootschap (N.V.) listed on the stock exchange Euronext Amsterdam , since 17 May 1998. With
4292-400: The only period in which players are able to move between squads are during the transfer windows, unless the player has made less than 15 appearances for the first team, then he is still eligible to appear in both first team and second team matches during the season. Furthermore, the team is not eligible for promotion to the Eredivisie or to participate in the KNVB Cup. Jong Ajax was joined in
4366-535: The past, and by Adidas since 2000 (until at least 2025). At the conclusion of the 2013–14 season , Ajax won the Football shirt of the Year award for its black and rose colored away shirt by Adidas. The annual award was presented by Subside Sports, which had previously given the award to Internazionale , Juventus and the Belgium national team . It was Ajax's first time winning the award. On 7 November 2014, it
4440-557: The quarter-finals and was drawn with Italian champions Juventus . In the first leg in the Johan Cruyff Arena, they drew 1–1. In the second leg at the Juventus Stadium , Ajax came from behind to win 2–1 and 3–2 on aggregate. Matthijs de Ligt scored the winning goal for Ajax to help the team advance to its first Champions League semi-final since 1997 . There, they would face English side Tottenham Hotspur . In
4514-653: The ranks and are just some of the talents who have played for Ajax. Ajax also regularly supplies the Dutch national youth teams with local talent. Due to mutual agreements with foreign clubs, the youth academy has also signed foreign players as teenagers before making first team debuts, such as Belgian defensive trio Jan Vertonghen , Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen along with winger Tom De Mul , all of whom are full internationals, as well as Dutch international Vurnon Anita and Javier Martina , representing Curaçao . Ajax has also expanded its talent searching programme to South Africa with Ajax Cape Town . Ajax Cape Town
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#17327909864174588-462: The relationship, Aegon acquired two of Merrill Lynch's life insurance companies for US$ 1.3 billion. On April 23, 2008, Alex Wynaendts succeeded the retiring Donald J. Shepard as chairman of the executive board and CEO of Aegon N.V. following the group's annual general meeting of shareholders: Donald Shepard announced his retirement in November 2007, after six years as chairman. On October 28, 2008,
4662-422: The reserve team and the first team during the season. This is no longer the case as Jong Ajax now registers and fields a separate squad from that of Ajax first team for the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of professional football in the Netherlands. Its home matches are played at Sportpark De Toekomst, except for the occasional match in the Johan Cruyff Arena. Now regarded a semi-professional team in its own respect,
4736-670: The same season/calendar year; this was achieved in the 1971–72 season. Ajax is one of five clubs to have won all three major UEFA club competitions. They have also won the Intercontinental Cup twice, the 1991–92 UEFA Cup , as well as the Karl Rappan Cup , a predecessor of the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1962. Ajax plays at the Johan Cruyff Arena , which opened as the Amsterdam ArenA in 1996 and
4810-536: The second round before bowing out to Vitesse on 24 September 2008. Ajax HVA (1922–1972) was the baseball team of AFC Ajax founded in 1922, and competed as founding members of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse , the top flight of professional baseball in the Netherlands. Ajax won the national baseball title a total of four times (1924, 1928, 1942, 1948) before the club opted to no longer field a baseball team, and to focus solely on football in 1972. Ajax spent
4884-810: The third sponsor of Ajax ( TDK sponsored Ajax since 1982 until 1991, and ABN AMRO sponsored the team from 1991 till 2008). As of late 2008, Aegon also sponsor the Lawn Tennis Association . A sponsorship package was agreed with the LTA and Aegon's name will appear on all four pillars of British Tennis, including many professional tournaments, one of which is the AEGON Championships , an ATP grasscourt professional tennis tournament in June in London , taking over from Stella Artois , who had sponsored
4958-483: Was announced that Ajax had agreed to a four-and-a-half-year contract worth €8 million annually with Dutch cable operating company Ziggo as the new shirt sponsor for the club. Having extended its contract with AEGON for half a season until December, the club featured Fonds Gehandicaptensport , a charitable fund for handicapped sports on its away shirts for a six-month period before transitioning to Ziggo in 2015. Jong Ajax ( formerly more commonly known as Ajax 2 )
5032-597: Was appointed manager of Ajax and led the club to its first league title in seven years, and record 30th title overall, in the 2010–11 season . This was followed by back-to-back wins in 2011–12 and 2012–13 to match his three consecutive titles as a player in the 1990s. In 2013–14 , Ajax was again Eredivisie champions, winning four consecutive league titles for the first time in club history. After finishing as runner-up to PSV in both 2014–15 and 2015–16 , de Boer resigned as Ajax head coach in May 2016. Peter Bosz took over
5106-467: Was founded in 2012 the bank came under criticism for having the highest cost for any transaction account compared to other Dutch banks. Knab responded by saying that other banks hid many of its costs in other products. In 2008, Aegon became the official sponsor of the Dutch football team AFC Ajax , in a deal which lasted for seven years. Ajax's uniform featured the Aegon logo across the chest. Aegon became
5180-452: Was founded in Edinburgh in 1831 and in 1861 it began paying out its first pension to a customer. In 1994, the company became Scottish Equitable plc with Aegon N.V. buying a 40% stake in the business. Aegon NV increased that stake to 100% by 1998. In 2006 Scottish Equitable plc was rebranded as Aegon Scottish Equitable and in 2009 this was shortened to Aegon, although the legal entity is still Scottish Equitable plc. Aegon acquired Cofunds,
5254-556: Was renamed in 2018. They previously played at De Meer Stadion and the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium (for international matches). Throughout their history, Ajax have cultivated a reputation for scouting, spotting and developing young talent, and have remained focused on developing a youth system . Ajax was founded in Amsterdam on 18 March 1900. The club achieved promotion to the highest level of Dutch football in 1911 and had its first major success in 1917, winning
5328-406: Was set up with the help of Rob Moore. Ajax has also had a satellite club in the United States under the name Ajax America , until it filed for bankruptcy. There are some youth players from Ajax Cape Town that have been drafted into the Eredivisie squad, such as South African internationals Steven Pienaar and Thulani Serero and Cameroonian international Eyong Enoh . In 1995, the year Ajax won
5402-506: Was the second-most successful European club of the 20th century. The club is one of five teams that have earned the right to keep the European Cup and to wear a multiple-winner badge. In 1972, they completed the continental treble by winning the Eredivisie , KNVB Cup , and the European Cup . They also won the first (albeit unofficial) European Super Cup against Rangers in January 1973. Ajax's most recent international trophies are
5476-400: Was torn down and the land was sold to the city council. A residential neighbourhood now occupies the area. The only thing left of the old stadium are the letters "AJAX", which nowadays is in place on the façade of the entrance at the Johan Cruyff Arena and a replica of the letters are at De Toekomst , near the Johan Cruyff Arena. In 1900, when the club was founded, the emblem of Ajax was just
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