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Ajax Football Formation

Creation DateOctober 15, 2025

Starting Lineup

Oberkampf (Germany (age : 27)) · Gutenberg (Germany (Age : 31)) · K.Üxinhi (Kosovo (Age : 33)) · Veljdoonk (Netherlands (age :18)) · Stankovic (Serbia (Age : 28)) · Schneijder (Austria (Age : 29)) · Costa (Portugal (age : 24)) · Aldo (Brazil (age : 34)) · Russell (Australia (Age : 32)) · Kamara (France (age : 37)) · Van Roef (Netherlands (Age : 40))

Ajax focuses on a high press and verticality through a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup aims to control the center of the pitch while using the wings to stretch the opposition. By pushing players high up the pitch, the team looks to win the ball back quickly in the final third and launch immediate attacks.

Van Roef starts between the posts to organize the defensive line. The back three consists of Kamara, Russell, and Aldo, who must maintain a high line to keep the team compact. Kamara and Aldo act as the wide central defenders to cover the space behind the wing backs, while Russell holds the center and uses his physical presence to block crosses. The unit works to step up together to catch attackers offside and intercept long balls.

The midfield relies on a central trio to dominate the middle of the park. K.Üxinhi plays as the attacking midfielder to connect the lines and provide passes into the final third. Schneijder and Stankovic work as the central pair to shield the defense and drive the ball forward through the middle. On the flanks, Costa and Veljdoonk operate as wing backs, providing the width needed to stretch the opposition. They must track back to defend and overlap to create chances.

In the attacking phase, Ajax uses two forwards to pressure the opposition defense. Oberkampf and Gutenberg lead the line, with Oberkampf playing as the left striker and Gutenberg as the right striker. They push high to force mistakes and work together to hold up the ball. The wing backs, Costa and Veljdoonk, provide the width, while K.Üxinhi finds pockets of space between the lines to deliver through balls. The movement is designed to pull defenders out of position and create gaps.

This formation provides significant tactical advantages, especially in midfield. The presence of Schneijder, Stankovic, and K.Üxinhi allows for numerical superiority in the central zone. Additionally, the ability of Costa and Veljdoonk to overlap creates wide overloads that isolate defenders. This setup also allows for a coordinated high press, where the forwards and midfielders hunt in waves to win the ball near the opponent's goal.

The 3-5-2 formation is built for teams that want to control the game through central dominance and aggressive pressing. It is best suited for matches against opponents who play with a narrow midfield or struggle to cope with high intensity.