IndiGoal invites you on a journey into the silver-laden history of Ajax — a club whose trophy cabinet sparkles in both domestic and European arenas. Football fans often ask: how many trophies has Ajax won? The answer depends on which competitions you count —, we’ll break down their titles, celebrate standout achievements, compare with rivals, and help you grasp just how decorated the “Godenzonen” truly are.
Deciphering “Trophies” — What Counts?
When asking how many trophies has Ajax won, we must first clarify categories. Generally, trophies fall into:
- Domestic titles — league championships (Eredivisie / earlier national championships), domestic cups (KNVB Cup), and super cups (Johan Cruyff Shield).
- European / international titles — Champions League (and historic European Cup), UEFA Cup / Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Su. Intercontinental / world-level trophies — Intercontinental Cup, official world championship equivalents (if applicable).
- Other official tournaments — sanctioned minor competitions or historical cups (e.g. Intertoto, International Football Cup).
For clarity, this article will focus on Ajax’s official senior trophies in categories 1–3, excluding youth, reserve, or unofficial friendlies. That gives you a clean, widely accepted metric for comparison.
Ajax’s Domestic Trophy Haul
Ajax dominates Dutch football and their domestic haul is nothing short of remarkable.
Eredivisie / National Championships
- Total titles: 36 Eredivisie championships
They also won 8 pre-professional era national championships.
- This brings their total top-division league titles to 44 in combined eras.
- The 36 Eredivisie titles alone is the all-time record in the Netherlands.
KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup)
- Ajax has captured the KNVB Cup 20 times.
- Their most recent triumph came in the 2020-21 season.
Super Cup / Johan Cruyff Shield
- Ajax has won the Dutch Super Cup / Johan Cruyff Shield 9 times.
- These victories typically occur by virtue of winning both the league and cup (or via runner-up) in preceding seasons.
Thus, in the domestic senior category (league + cup + super cup), Ajax’s total is:
36 (Eredivisie) + 20 (KNVB Cup) + 9 (Super Cup) = 65 domestic trophies
If you also include the 8 early-era national championships, that count becomes 73 domestic titles.
European & International Triumphs
Ajax’s brilliance is not confined to the Netherlands — the club has left an indelible mark on European football.
Champions League / European Cup
- Ajax has won the European Cup / UEFA Champions League 4 times: 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73, and 1994-95.
- In the early 1970s, Ajax became one of just a few to win three consecutive European Cups.
UEFA Cup / Europa League
- Ajax won the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) once, in 1991-92.
- They were also runners-up in 2016-17.
Cup Winners’ Cup
- Ajax claimed the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup once, in the 1986-87 season.
UEFA Super Cup
- The club won the UEFA Super Cup 3 times.
Intercontinental / World-Level Titles
- Ajax won the Intercontinental Cup twice: in 1972 and 1995.
- Additionally, Ajax won the International Football Cup (a historically significant competition) once in 1961-62.
So counting just the major international trophies:
4 (Champions League) + 1 (UEFA Cup) + 1 (Cup Winners’ Cup) + 3 (UEFA Super Cup) + 2 (Intercontinental Cup) + 1 (International Football Cup) = 12 international trophies
Combining Domestic and International: Total Trophies
To answer how many trophies has Ajax won (senior, official):
- Domestic (league + cup + super cup): 65
- International / European / world: 12
- → Total = 77 trophies
If one includes the historic national championships (pre-Eredivisie) and select minor tournaments, you could see interpretations ranging 80–85, depending on counting conventions. But 77 is a solid baseline accepted by many statisticians.
Highlight Moments in Ajax’s Trophy History
The Golden Era of the Early ’70s
Winning three straight European Cups.
The 1995 Renaissance
After a lull, Ajax reclaimed European glory in 1995 under Louis van Gaal. That same year, they also captured the Intercontinental Cup, cementing their status globally.
Domestic Dominance
In recent decades, Ajax has consistently challenged for—and often claimed—Eredivisie and KNVB Cup honors, reinforcing their claim as the most successful Dutch club historically.
Comparisons With Rival Clubs
- In the Netherlands, PSV and Feyenoord trail Ajax in domestic honors, with fewer league and cup titles.
- In Europe, Ajax’s 4 Champions League titles place them behind the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Barcelona — but still among the continent’s heavyweight clubs.
- Few clubs can match Ajax’s combination of domestic and continental success, especially given their history of youth development and producing world-class talent.
Caveats & Counting Nuances
- Some records include youth, reserve, or unofficial cup competitions; our total excludes those.
- Some smaller tournaments (regional cups, pre-UEFA era cups) may or may not be counted by different sources.
- As seasons progress and Ajax may win more trophies, these numbers evolve.
Final Thoughts
How many trophies has Ajax won? In the realm of senior, official competitions, the answer lies at 77 trophies combining domestic dominance and international conquest. This total underscores Ajax’s legacy as one of football’s most decorated clubs.
IndiGoal hopes this breakdown helps you grasp the depth and breadth of Ajax’s trophy legacy. If you’re curious about how Ajax stacks against specific clubs, want a decade-by-decade trophy chart, or want player-by-player contributions to those trophies — just ask.
