Youngest and Least Experienced Ajax Ever in Sem Final

Youngest and Least Experienced Ajax Ever in Sem Final

05/04/2017

We have added an overview of All European Semi-Finals to the website.
What stands out is that the average age of the team that played against Olympique Lyon is over two years younger that the youngest starting lineup of the other semi finals. The youngest team before was the team that played against Real Zaragoza on April 8, 1987. Special about this team is that the at that time almost 36 year old Arnold Mühren was part of the lineup. After this one the teams with which Ajax beat Bayern Munchen in 1995 were the youngest. Lets hope it is a good sign that both these times Ajax went on to reach and win the final.
Besides that it is also noteworthy that the starting lineup of the game against Olympique Lyon combined only had 811 official matches of experience in Ajax 1. This is also significantly less than any of the other semi finals. If you consider that Ajax already played 51 matches this season, which in theory could have given the starting lineup already 561 (11x51) matches of experience, you realize how little matches this group of players has played for Ajax 1 before the current season. The experience of players like Klaassen and Schöne is compensated by De Ligt, Sanchez, Onana, Dolberg, Ziyech and Traore, who have played less than 50 matches for Ajax 1.

Filed under: Ajax - Olympique Lyon 4 - 1 (5/3/2017)