Ireland buzzes over Ajax ahead of Conference League clash

Ajax travel to Ireland tonight for the first‑round Conference League tie against Shelbourne, and the Irish press already have plenty to say about the Amsterdam side. The match, scheduled for this evening, marks the Dutch champions' return to European competition after a disappointing domestic campaign.

The Irish Independent points to an earlier confrontation between the two clubs in the 1987‑88 season, noting that Ajax won the two‑legged tie 6‑0, but adds that “it was absolutely no walk in the park.”

The newspaper continued: “Tegen Dundalk was het pover, en de rest van het seizoen was afschuwelijk. De grootste schande was dat het tweede elftal het verder schopte in het bekertoernooi dan het eerste.” The quote underscores the difficulty Ajax faced even in that historic victory.

That same season saw Frank Rijkaard leave Amsterdam, while Johan Cruijff was dismissed midway through the campaign. The Irish Independent wrote: “Als dat seizoen het annus horribilis van Ajax is, was het afgelopen seizoen een gevalletje van hold my beer.”

The publication also highlighted that Ajax has been in a free fall since the departure of Mark Overmars in 2022, after he admitted to inappropriate approaches toward female colleagues.

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Fast‑forward to 2026, Jordi Cruijff, as technical director, has overseen two high‑profile signings: Champions League winner Marc‑André ter Stegen and German international Julian Brandt, underscoring the gap between Ajax and Shelbourne.

Shelbourne, meanwhile, lost its first‑choice goalkeeper after his parent club in the United States recalled him, only to loan him to Dutch second‑tier side Almere City.

The Irish Independent reported that Ajax are weighing a €60 million sale of star forward Mika Godts to Paris Saint‑Germain, after which they would target Barcelona prospect Jan Virgili for €12 million.

The Irish Examiner describes Ajax as a “sleeping giant,” noting that despite being four‑time European champions and long‑standing leaders of Dutch football, they are in the Conference League after finishing fifth in the Eredivisie, 28 points behind PSV.

Shelbourne’s new manager John Russell is still finding his footing, but can cling to the 6‑4 aggregate win over Nomme Kalju, even though the two‑leg tie was riddled with mistakes.