He was fairly terrible, against FC Utrecht. Sloppy in possession, chasing the ball a lot. He actually almost gave away a goal to Haller, or Barazite or god knows which mediocre player who turns into Jesus every time he faces Ajax. And when he missed that penalty, it just seemed to be one of those days for Lasse Schone. But what he did in that 83rd minute, after a free kick that was cleared quite easily… That, kids, was magic. And it is just another addition to the year in which Schöne is proving one thing and one thing only: he is a modern day Ajax legend.
Ajax doesn’t have a history of calling players legends very fast. I mean, we’re not Feyenoord. One of their most beloved players of the 21st century is a pacey Japanese kid who got thrown out of the Arsenal-academy, and a fat Swedish striker who scored a hattrick once and can’t shut up about it four years later. Obviously, this has to do with Ajax’ rich history, whom I have a love-hate relationship with. I mean, I’m proud of Ajax’ history, and our great achievements in the past, but I also feel it’s often holding us back from truly enjoying the present.
That’s the reason I’m writing this article. Today, it’s time for us to stop celebrating the past or the future. It’s time to start thinking about the present. And not like I usually do, complaining about Marc Overmars for not buying a f*cking winger (I mean, come on Marc, seriously?). I am going to be a little more positive. And who else to talk about then Schone, who I think is the greatest Ajacied we have seen in the last five or six years.
When Schone signed, I was moderately enthusiastic. I was aware of his abilities as a footballer, but didn’t expect that much of him. But ever since signing, Schone has proved everybody wrong day in, day out. Not only as an exceptional footballer, but also as a model professional. He always seems a little grateful for being able to play for Ajax, and even when he gets benched, he never loses respect for the club or its employees. No, he just keeps his head down and gets back into the starting eleven. Again and again.
Ever since signing, he contributed to two league-titles and one failed title-run. In 2014, he even was the best player in an admittedly fairly mediocre season. And now, once again after being written off completely, he’s having the best season of his career as a defensive midfielder. His goal against Utrecht was another signal that in this day and age, where teenage midfielders think they’re too high and mighty for a spot on the bench, Schone is a gift from God. And if he retires here (and I hope he does, I truly do), I want only one thing for our Danish hero: for us to remember him as a modern Ajax-great.
I sure as hell will.
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