NINE YEARS AFTER departing Amsterdam, Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar has signed for Ajax once again, bringing an end to seven years playing in the Bundesliga.
The 33-year-old joins the Europa League finalists on a one year contract having spent seven seasons playing for Schalke.
Huntelaar spent three and a half seasons at the Amsterdam Arena between 2006 and 2008, scoring 105 goals in 136 appearances and featured alongside players such as Jaap Stam, Wesley Sneijder, Edgar Davids and Thomas Vermaelen.
On rejoining the Dutch giants, the forward said he was coming back to a club which has always been close to his heart.
“It’s no secret that Ajax is my club, so I’m very glad to return”, he told the club’s website.
“I feel very fit and I’m already looking forward to the end of June when the preseason preparation begins.
“I won trophies with Ajax, but not the title. That is the goal at the end of the season.”
Director of football Marc Overmars said that Huntelaar would bring competition to the club’s attack.
“He knows what awaits him”, said Overmars. “Kasper Dolberg is our main striker, but I am sure that Klaas Jan will play a key role, both on and off the field.”
He won the KNVB Cup twice at Ajax before departing for Real Madrid for €27 million at the end of 2009.
Huntelaar enjoyed a brief spell at the Santiago Bernabéu, making just 13 starts in an injury-ravaged season, joining AC Milan in 2009 before later securing the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup while at Schalke.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
A good manager. Great season Aston villa are having.
A great ebening for Villa fans. Manager of the year in my opinion.
@Ronnie Pickering: he has brought Villa back to the big guys table. Without the laundering.
@Ronnie Pickering: see what you did there
Funny how he was made a scapegoat and laughed out of it at Arsenal and made to look like an absolute fool… Most of the people who slagged him off and said he was useless then are probably saying he’s manager if the year now. A really good proven coach before and now after Arsenal. Just because it doesn’t work at a certain club doesn’t make you you bad manager. Movyes at Utd rings a bell too. Uefa conference winner. Ironic how Utd will most likely be in that competition next season.
@robert kelly: Another article that has nothing to do with Man Utd but someone manages to shoehorn them into the conversation. They are just never far from peoples thoughts.
@David Staed: because they make everyone laugh
@David Staed: I was making a point comparing managerial appointments and the similar situations of Unai Emery and David Moyes that were treated terribly and used as scapegoats which ultimately nearly ended each of their careers but in turn went on to be successful elsewhere… No more no less. Thanks Dave good man
A brilliant manager. A real tactician.
I was thinking of putting on a Spanish accent while giving my team talk Sunday morning, I wonder would it work?