Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn is the new captain of Ajax following Dusan Tadic’s departure from the Eredivisie giants.
As far as Ajax’s new head coach Maurice Steijn is concerned, Steven Bergwijn was the obvious choice to inherit the armband Tadic wore with pride during a trophy-laden spell at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
And, after a rather hit-and-miss debut season at Ajax, time will tell whether the captaincy lights a fire under Bergwijn’s stuttering career. Or instead whether it provides an extra element of pressure the club’s £26 million record signing – who joined from Tottenham Hotspur just one year ago – could do without.
“Steven is now of a good age and has experience,” Steijn tells ESPN, shortly after confirming Edson Alvarez’s impending £35 million move to West Ham United.
“(Bergwijn) is a permanent fixture (in the starting XI). He is an international, and a boy of the city. That is why I chose him.”
Tottenham sold Steven Bergwijn to Ajax
Amsterdam-born Bergwijn started his career at Ajax all the way back in 2005. Ironically enough, he made his name at bitter rivals PSV Eindhoven instead before returning to where it all began after struggling to force his way into the Tottenham team on a consistent basis.
“We already talked about (me becoming captain) once at the training camp,” Bergwijn explains. “I told him it was an honour and that I wanted to do it. I think I am an example for a lot of guys in this young team, and I think I can take them in tow.”
Bergwijn scored 16 goals and set up six more in 2022/23, though his performances often left a lot to be desired; Ajax losing their Eredivisie crown to Der Klassiker rivals Feyenoord.
The one-time Spurs benchwarmer, meanwhile, is determined to captain Ajax in his own way. Rather than simply copy-and-pasting Tadic’s approach to the armband.
“I do it my own way,” he adds. “We are all professionals, and everyone knows what their body needs.
“We want to become champions again and compete for trophies. I just want to have a better season for myself too. I know I can do much more.”
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