On Tuesday, Klaassen signed a contract until the end of the season. With his return to the squad, a great deal of experience immediately joins Francesco Farioli's team. The die-hard Ajacied has played a total of 321 matches for Ajax. This has placed the midfielder, over two periods at Ajax, into the top twenty of the Club of 100. He shares the twentieth spot in that prestigious gallery of Ajax players with retired goalkeeper Stanley Menzo. Only Daley Blind has played more matches for Ajax since the turn of the century: 332.
Klaassen first appeared as an Ajax player in the UEFA Champions League match against Olympique Lyon (0-0) in November 2011. Less than a month after his debut in Europe’s biggest club competition, he officially made his starting debut for Ajax. Frank de Boer had him in the starting lineup for the away match against RKC: 0-1. He started from the bench in just 58 of his 321 games for Ajax.
After the 2016/2017 season, which culminated in a place in the Europa League final, Klaassen ended his first spell at Ajax. After periods with England's Everton and Germany's Werder Bremen, the Hilversum native returned to familiar surroundings in 2020.
Mr. 1-0
Especially in the first period after his return, Klaassen became a crucial player in the Ajax squad. He regularly lived up to his nickname 'Mister 1-0'. In total, Klaassen scored 93 goals for Ajax, 31 of which were the opening goals (either 1-0 or 0-1).
In his second stint at Ajax, he was statistically most successful under Erik ten Hag. With Ten Hag at the helm, he won 74% of his matches. Specifically, he won 67 of the 90 matches he played under the Twente-born coach. Klaassen played the most matches under coach Frank de Boer: 131 times.
Goals, goals, goals
If Klaassen scores at least seven more goals during his new stint at Ajax, he will reach the milestone of 100 goals for the club. Only Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (158), Luis Suárez (111), and Dušan Tadić (105) have surpassed this century mark in all competitions this century.
There are some more interesting statistics about Ajax’s new number 18 his goals. Klaassen scored his last goal in an Ajax shirt in August 2023 against Excelsior: a 2-2 draw. The midfielder made a neat run in front of his marker and volleyed the equaliser into the net with his right foot. It was one of 60 goals he scored with his right foot, 22 with his head, and 11 with his left foot.
Now that the midfielder is back in Amsterdam, he could make his return against Fortuna Sittard. However, his favourite opponent on paper is AZ. Klaassen has scored the most goals (seven) against the Alkmaar club.
Thus, Ajax and Klaassen are inseparable. His list of honours is admirable, and his number of matches played in an Ajax shirt is impressive.
Klaassen: 321 times an Ajacied
- Eredivisie: 221 matches (74 goals)
- Dutch Cup: 23 matches (3 goals)
- European matches: 73 matches (16 goals)
- Johan Cruijff Shield: 4 matches
Klaassen has been Dutch champion with Ajax five times: in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2021, and 2022. He won his only Dutch Cup in 2021. In 2013, Klaassen claimed his only Johan Cruijff Shield. With this collection of trophies, Klaassen has firmly placed himself among history’s most loyal and successful Ajax players.
