On 22 November the team coached by Louis van Gaal defeat Real Madrid 0–2 in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Six days later Ajax win the Intercontinental Cup by beating the Brazilian side Grêmio on penalties in Tokyo. The footage from Madrid and Tokyo was recorded, among others, by Ajax supporters Guus and Naomi from Zeeland and the retired snack bar owner Gerrit Eegdeman from Stolwijk.
Close to the team
The latter had a unique position close to the team. From the seventies onwards, Eegdeman travelled after Ajax and always had his camera with him. The entire squad knew him; he was also called ‘Uncle Gerrit’. He belonged to the small group of supporters who travelled with the team by plane and were allowed to attend training sessions.
He filmed the squad up close during training sessions, matches and travels. Eegdeman passed away in 2018 at the age of eighty-four and left his film material to Ajax Heritage.
Wedding ceremony
This Ajax Special features much of his material. We see remarkable footage of a walk in Tokyo, during which the first team suddenly finds itself in the middle of a wedding ceremony. Edgar Davids seizes his chance there too. The passionate amateur photographer constantly has his camera at the ready.
There are also beautiful, never-before-seen images of the final in the National Stadium – which was broadcast in 151 countries. But in this special we see the historic footage from a slightly different perspective. The match, Danny Blind’s famous penalty, and the wonderful celebrations afterwards – you have never seen or experienced Ajax – Grêmio quite like this before. A must-watch.
