FOOTBALL DAILY: Shels face Ajax test | Bohs welcome FC Midtjylland to Tallaght | Rodri to Barca?
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Why is Shelbourne’s Europa Conference League tie against Ajax a historic moment for Irish football?
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Off The Ball's Football Daily Podcast.
Welcome along to Thursday's Football Daily, I'm David Wilson. Coming up today, Shelburne take on the might of Ajax in Amsterdam in the Europa Conference League. Bohemians welcome FC Midtjylland to Tallestidium in their European clash and Gianni Infantino and FIFA come out fighting as the wagons are circled. Tonight, Shelburne take on Ajax in the Europa Conference League qualifier at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Shells saw off Estonian side Nomakalu 6-4 in aggregate in the second qualifying round despite suffering a 2-1 loss in the second leg away from home. Last Sunday, Shelburne made three changes to the squad and lost 1-0 at Waterford. While an injury crisis is starting to calm down within the club, strikers John Martin and Mipu Odabeku remain on the comeback trail.
Although they have 36 league titles to their name, Ajax have struggled in recent years domestically. In a league where two teams have historically been dominant, PSV have a strong grip on the title, having won the last three in succession. Ahead of the game, Shell's boss John Russell said it is great to come to play football at a place like this.
What did Shelbourne manager John Russell say about playing at the Johan Cruyff Arena?
Yeah, amazing occasion, really looking forward to the game tomorrow, cello crowd, yeah, real history here, Johan Cruyff Arena, for me as a kid growing up, watching the Champions League in the 90s, that Ajax team from 95, I was 10 years of age and in my room in Galway watching that on the telly and seeing Clive come off the bench and get the winner, but all those players back then, Overmars and Reisiger and the De Boers and all this, and you come into the stadium tonight and you see the people on the walls and for us now as an Irish club, coming to represent the league and the country against one of the European powerhouses, it's a special occasion.
Ben Symes will be there for us at the game tonight in Amsterdam. Ajax, who have won four European Cups in their history, would usually not be playing at this stage of Europe's third-tier competition, but a fifth-place finish in the Eredivisie put pains to that. And in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, Ben caught up with Dutch football writer Elke Kok to speak about where it all has gone wrong for the Dutch giants.
How has it ended up like this?
uh well it it all started with uh with a dick pic uh it's true it's true sorry for that it's okay isn't the truth the truth happens yes so and that's um and because that that was um you know uh and uh the mark mark overmarcy he was a brilliant very successful director of Ajax, technical director, and he was trapped with that. Hey man, what are you doing? No, no, nothing, nothing. And then it all came up and he was, of course, kicked out of Ajax.
So this was Mark Overmars, who was technical director, and he was found sending unsolicited pictures to people.
Right, and before that, for years, he had a wonderful harmony relationship with Erik ten Hag, coach and this this really really was a really brilliant uh com a combination of things and and and then suddenly you know um mark over as much was was gone and he had there was no in information about his deals with with players and clubs etc because he was brilliant in getting players and making promises to players stay stay for one year and then i'll get you a wonderful club etc etc but he had it all in his head so he was gone one hour after another and there and then there was nothing left and there was panic in the club and then there were some there came some new new managers who were young and not so experienced and they didn't know what to do and therefore you know like like a pile of cards it all tumbled down and and then the club made some silly uh
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why is Shelbourne’s Europa Conference League tie against Ajax a historic moment for Irish football?
0:01–1:24
2
What did Shelbourne manager John Russell say about playing at the Johan Cruyff Arena?
1:24–4:42
3
How did Ajax’s off‑field scandal involving Mark Overmars affect their European campaign?
4:42–6:54
4
What insights did Dutch writer Auke Kok give about Ajax’s recent struggles?
6:54–8:35
5
How did Bohemians win their dramatic penalty shoot‑out against Balkany of Kosovo?
8:35–10:07
6
Who is the new manager Derry City are linked with and what could he bring?
10:07–11:58
7
What are the latest rumors surrounding Manchester City midfielder Rodri’s future?
11:58–13:42
8
Why did FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologise and what does it mean for the sport?
13:42–14:51
Speakers
8 identifiedMore from OTB Football
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