Ajax comeback for Lindenbergh
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Article summary
Midfield player Olaf Lindenbergh has completed a move from AZ Alkmaar to AFC Ajax, where he was a trainee.
Article body
Former trainee
The former Ajax trainee, who spent nine years in the youth and reserve teams at the Amsterdam club before moving to De Graafschap in 1994, has agreed a three-year deal at the Amsterdam ArenA. "It is a dream come true," said Lindenbergh. "Now I will be able to play in the Ajax first team after all.
Useful experience
"At the time I was just not good enough, but after playing for De Graafschap and AZ I made it," added the player, whose contract at Alkmaar was due to expire in the summer of 2007. "Last season I played UEFA Cup football with AZ - now I will be playing [UEFA] Champions League football with Ajax, which is a level higher."
First call-up
It has been an excellent season for the player who joined Alkmaar midway through the 1999/00 campaign. He helped his side finish third in the Eredivisie and reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals as well as receiving his first call-up to the national team for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Finland.