Expectations were high at Ajax going into the 2009-10 campaign after the arrival of new head coach Martin Jol, especially after the capture of Dutch international Demy de Zeeuw, who has immediately developed into a key player with a string of classy performances. Furthermore, Jeroen Verhoeven, Thimothee Atouba and Marko Pantelic were added to the Ajax squad, while Uruguayan youngster Nicolas Lodeiro was purchased in the winter transfer window.
