Ajax has seen a long line of top forward players in their history. Legends of the beautiful game, such as Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, have pulled on the famous white and red jersey.
The latest prolific forward to feature for the team from the Dutch capital is highly-rated young striker Brian Brobbey, who has earned himself a reputation as a bright starlet in recent seasons.
Brobbey is prolific but has never scored a hat-trick
At the time of writing, Brobbey has scored 15 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch giants. The 22-year-old has been on a particularly hot streak in front of goal of late, scoring seven goals in his last five appearances for Ajax.
Included in that stellar run of goalscoring is three braces, which takes his tally of braces for the club up to nine. In a quirky stat, Brobbey has scored nine braces for Ajax during his career but has never scored a hat-trick.
The forward looked set to break that rather strange duck against RKC Waalwijk on the occasion of his eighth brace for the club. However, the forward missed a penalty in a 4-1 win. He has since scored another brace in a 4-2 win at Heracles.
He also broke a record held for 50 years last time out in a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven, as he became the first Ajax player in half a century to either assist or score a goal in 12 straight games.
The previous record was held by 1970s hero Ruud Geels, but setting up Steven Berghuis for his team’s goal saw the striker grab his own little piece of history.
Will he ever get the much-wanted hat-trick at Ajax?
Ajax, of course, have become adept at producing or developing talented players. The club is a breeding ground for talented youngsters who they polish and shine before selling off for a considerable profit to a club in the Premier League, La Liga or previously Serie A.
Brobbey, whose ability and strength have earned comparisons with former Ajax star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, among others, is understandably attracting admiring glances from elsewhere.
When a striker scores the number of goals and puts in the sorts of performances that Brobbey has this season, he is bound to attract the attention of elite clubs elsewhere in Europe.
Premier League Manchester United are the latest club linked with a big-money move for the youngster.
Since the appointment of former Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag in Manchester, the Red Devils have signed Argentinian centre-back Lisandro Martinez and Brazilian winger Antony from the Amsterdammers.
The pair have enjoyed mixed fortunes since their arrival at Old Trafford. Despite some injury issues, Martinez has been dubbed a success, winning over the United faithful with his fiery defensive displays.
On the other hand, Winger Antony has struggled to recapture the form he displayed in an Ajax shirt, and many are already writing him off as a flop.
The signs suggest that Brobbey would likely be more of a Martinez than an Antony if he did make the move to United in the near future.
Any transfer moves in the summer will be orchestrated by United’s new director of football. However, despite links to the likes of Paul Mitchell and Dan Ashworth, the Red Devils have not yet decided on who will take on the thankless task.
Brobbey still has a job to do in Amsterdam
At 22, Brobbey is unlikely to be in a rush to leave Ajax. The club’s fans will be hopeful he can continue his current hot streak of form and continue firing the team up the table.
As a striker, Brian Brobbey will want to keep scoring goals and do his job for his home city club.
After a torrid start to the season that led to the dismissal of head coach Maurice Steijn after a very short period, Ajax now looks like they are back on track under interim boss John van Schip.
The Amsterdam giants are now 12 games unbeaten in the Dutch top flight and are steadily moving back up the table. In recent months, Brobbey’s goals have played a crucial role in the team’s renaissance.
Considering his form this season, it seems just a matter of time before the highly talented young forward player scores that elusive hat trick. Only time will tell whether that is in an Ajax shirt or the jersey of another club.
However, for now, he is enjoying his football in the Dutch capital, and long may his goalscoring exploits continue.
Will Brian Brobbey ever get an Ajax hat trick?