Ajax faced Hajduk’s 'robbers' only once in Split

Friday September 17, 1993: Hajduk Split – Ajax 1-0 (Bezigrad Stadium, Ljubljana)
The first official meeting between the two clubs is played at a neutral venue. The Balkan War makes Split too dangerous to host the match. Although no fighting takes place in Croatia in the autumn of 1993, the Croatian port city is close to the front line. Representatives of UEFA designate Zagreb as a safer alternative.

A bomb explodes in a suburb of Zagreb during the weekend before the first-round encounter in what was then the European Cup Winners’ Cup, changing the situation. Both Split and Zagreb are subsequently declared war zones. Hajduk Split is given just a few days to find a new venue for its ‘home match’ against Ajax.

Alternative venue
An alternative venue is found in Slovenia. The Bežigrad Stadium, home of Olimpija Ljubljana, is where Hajduk Split host Louis van Gaal’s Ajax side. Because the search has taken extra time, the European tie is moved from Wednesday to Friday. Accompanied by a handful of fans, the Ajax squad travels to the Balkans feeling somewhat apprehensive. To their relief, the Ajax players discover on arriving in Slovenia that the threat of war is far away. The small stadium in Ljubljana looks somewhat ostentatious. This is mainly due to the main stand, which is conspicuously situated behind one of the goals and features kitschy classical columns.

Fortunately, Ajax therefore does not have to worry about the civil war raging nearby. Nevertheless, the Amsterdam side are not quite on the ball when the first match of the Cup Winners' Cup campaign gets under way. Ajax are not sharp enough. Frank Rijkaard, who has only just begun his second spell at Ajax, misses a big chance. Like the experienced former AC Milan player, Jari Litmanen, Ronald de Boer – brought back from FC Twente after a loan spell – and Marc Overmars subsequently squander excellent opportunities too.

Wasted chances
Van Gaal grits his teeth on the touchline. Ajax are the better side, but their profligacy in front of goal could yet prove costly. The Amsterdam side struggle to maintain their focus on this Friday evening. They lack the necessary hunger. Just before half-time, things go wrong. Midfielder Michel Kreek can only clear the ball half-heartedly. It remains dangerously close to Edwin van der Sar’s goal. Ivica Mornar, half-lying on the ground, turns the chance into a goal by prodding the ball past the goalkeeper: 1-0.

After the break, Ajax search for an equaliser with slightly greater concentration. But even with substitutes Stefan Pettersson and Peter van Vossen on the pitch, they fail to score. The visitors are fortunate when Stipe Andrijašević’s effort hits the crossbar. Ajax lose 1-0, and afterwards Van Gaal grumbles mainly about his forwards. They, in particular, have not been sharp enough. Too many missed chances and a defeat are the result. Ajax’s first-ever meeting with Hajduk Split leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Wednesday September 29, 1993: Ajax – Hajduk Split 6-0 (Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam)
Just under a fortnight after the trip to Slovenia, it is time to restore some sporting pride. Or to exact footballing revenge after the Dutch record champions put in such a poor performance in Ljubljana. Ajax are allowed – no, required! – to show what they are really capable of at the Olympic Stadium. The 33,000 supporters in the old stadium colossus certainly create a wonderful European Cup atmosphere.

Determination and intensity
The meek performance in the first leg has been replaced by determination among the Ajax players. Timidity has given way to intensity. The spectators at the Olympic Stadium and viewers watching the live broadcast on NOS see an Ajax side that launch an all-out attack from the kick-off this time. When Ronald de Boer scores in the eleventh minute, the aggregate score is level again.

Ajax keep surging forward, although they must remain wary of conceding a goal. Away goals still count double in 1993/1994, making them particularly significant. When Edgar Davids makes it 2-0 in the 37th minute, Ajax are well and truly in control. What follows is a sparkling display of football. One in which Frank de Boer scores his first European goal. His magnificent free-kick is a highlight of a celebratory evening. 'You couldn’t have squeezed a hair between them,' the future Ajax manager enthuses afterwards.

Hajduk Split’s nicknames
The 'bandits' or 'robbers', as Hajduk Split are nicknamed, find their rare attacks thwarted by Van der Sar. The names refer to the ‘freedom fighters’ who fought against their Ottoman Turkish overlords in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Croatian fighters have to watch on hallowed Amsterdam footballing ground as Ajax extend their lead to 6-0. Jari Litmanen, Pettersson and Davids (again) also send the fans into raptures.

Van Gaal is satisfied this time, unsurprisingly. A six-goal haul certainly makes an impression in Europe. Ajax emerge from these two legs a little wiser and more experienced. European success this season is still a utopian prospect. But the following season, 1994/1995, will usher in a golden era…

Wednesday March 1, 1995: Hajduk Split – Ajax 0-0 (Poljud Stadium, Split)
Ajax’s first and, until this week, only match in Split, away to Hajduk’s 'robbers', is a UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Ajax make their Champions League debut in 1994/1995. The Amsterdam side have surprisingly finished top of their group in the group stage. After the winter break comes a visit to the tourist city of Split, beautifully situated on the Dalmatian coast. Beautiful though it is, the bloody Balkan War is still raging in the spring of 1995. Split, however, is considered safe enough to host a football match in a competition reserved exclusively for domestic league champions.

Before the match, Ajax’s official photographer, Louis van de Vuurst, took a walk around the old town and captured the atmosphere of Split in his photographs. These images, like some of the match photographs, have never been published before.

At the distinctive Poljud Stadium, beautifully constructed in the shape of a shell, Ajax quickly take control. Hajduk mainly retreat towards their own goal. Their dominance is reminiscent of a year and a half earlier. Ajax dictate the pace and rhythm of this match too. However, the result Ajax take back to Amsterdam at the end of the evening needs to be better.

Hajduk Split’s hardcore supporters, the Torcida, do everything they can to roar their favourites forward. The ultras create an intimidating atmosphere in the beautiful stadium. Although Ajax are the stronger side, the visitors are also reluctant to take too many risks. Conceding a goal could prove an obstacle, especially ahead of the return leg. Patrick Kluivert, Litmanen and a free-kick from Frank de Boer all narrowly miss the target. Ajax are also unfortunate that goalkeeper Tonči Gabrić produces an outstanding performance.

In the closing stages, Damir Vuica goes in with an especially brutal challenge, catching Kluivert full on the ankle from behind. With a loud scream that can be clearly heard in the stands, the striker collapses to the turf in agony. The Ajax player has been brutally kicked out of the game. To the astonishment of many, Polish referee Ryszard Wojcik simply waves play on. Winston Bogarde replaces the injured Kluivert, who is hobbling badly, during the final fifteen minutes. It later emerges that the striker will be sidelined for several weeks.

In numerical terms, the damage is limited to a goalless draw. That leaves Ajax with a promising outlook for the return leg at the Olympic Stadium against ‘the Ajax of the Balkans’. Hajduk Split have been known by this nickname since the 1970s because, over many years, they have developed top talents and consistently produced new international players. Just like Ajax.

Wednesday March 15, 1995: Ajax – Hajduk Split 3-0 (Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam)
Ajax know, once again, that they are better than Hajduk Split. Despite their superior individual quality, the 0-0 draw in the first leg is a dangerous scoreline. Van Gaal reminds his Ajax players of their group matches against the stubborn Casino Salzburg. Ajax were unable to overcome the Austrians. As Kluivert has only just recovered from his ankle injury, Nwankwo Kanu starts up front. In an attempt to cause confusion, the Nigerian wears the number eight shirt normally associated with midfielders. Midfielder Ronald de Boer wears the number nine shirt usually worn by a striker.

As it turns out, Ajax do not really need that trick at all in the atmospheric Olympic Stadium. The 41,000 Ajax supporters see Kanu, who is in scintillating form, strike brilliantly just before half-time. From Litmanen’s pass, the striker heads the ball powerfully past Gabrić while falling forwards. Shortly before that, the goalkeeper had once again proved an obstacle to Ajax, just as he had in Split.

The opening goal carries historical significance: it is Ajax’s 150th goal in the European Cup, known as the Champions League since 1992/1993.

Backward header
Kanu has broken the deadlock and Ajax press on. When Frank de Boer scores with a backward header in the 43rd minute (2-0), the home side have virtually secured the victory. The Croatians no longer believe they can turn things around. After the break, Hajduk mainly play in the hope of preventing the deficit from growing further. When De Boer once again demonstrates his superb technique and curls a free-kick straight past Gabrić, the euphoria among players and fans reaches its peak. The defender lets out a triumphant roar amid his deliriously happy team-mates. 'I could even have scored a third goal,' he says after the match. 'I was quite disappointed that I didn’t manage it.'

Kluivert makes his comeback twenty minutes from time, replacing Kanu. The African star is also over the moon afterwards: 'I’ve played a great game!' Hajduk Split have been beaten 3-0. It is a celebration in the dilapidated Amsterdam stadium, which will make way for what is then still called the Amsterdam ArenA a year later.

Ajax reach the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 1979. It is an achievement to be proud of. Ultimately, that season they reach the Champions League final at the expense of Bayern Munich. Nine weeks after the euphoric home victory over Hajduk Split, AC Milan are also beaten on 24 May 1995. In Vienna, Van Gaal and his Ajax players secure the fourth European title in their club’s history.

A success story in which the valuable lessons learned against Hajduk Split also played their part.