Pasveer was surprised by starting position: ‘But I’m at Ajax to play’

Remko Pasveer became the oldest Ajax player in an official Ajax match on Thursday night. The 40-year-old goalie started in the first team against FK Vojvodina and thus played Maarten Stekelenburg out of the books. Stekelenburg held the record for over two years. He was 39 years and 231 days old in May 2022 when he last defended the goal. On the list of oldest Ajax players, Pasveer was already second behind Stekelenburg. For Pasveer, the clash with FK Vojvodina is his 51st duel in the shirt for Ajax. In the previous fifty, he kept his goal clean in more than half of the cases: 26 times. Pasveer got the most minutes under Erik ten Hag (2520) and Alfred Schreuder (1890).

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Below is the top 10 of oldest Ajax players:

1. Remko Pasveer: 40 years and 259 days
2. Maarten Stekelenburg: 39 years and 231 days
3. Arnold Mühren: 37 years and 353 days
4. André Ooijer: 37 years and 300 days
5. Danny Blind: 37 years and 288 days
6. Klaas Jan Huntelaar: 37 years and 155 days
7. Leo van Veen: 36 years and 329 days
8. Fred Grim: 36 years and 268 days
9. Ismael Urzaiz: 36 years and 224 days
10. Piet Schrijvers: 36 years and 153 days

To become the oldest player of all time in European competition, Pasveer still has a long way to go. At the top of that list is currently the name of Ilion Lika, who played for KF Tirana after his 43rd birthday. José Manuel Reina and Alan Mannus are respectively second and third.

Top 3 oldest players in Europe

1. Ilion Lika (43 years and 78 days, KF Tirana)
2. José Manuel Reina (41 years and 189 days, Villarreal CF)
3. Alan Mannus (41 years and 69 days, Shamrock Rovers)

For Remko Pasveer, his starting spot in Ajax’s European match against Serbia’s FK Vojvodina came as a surprise. The forty-year-old goalkeeper was preferred over Diant Ramaj on Thursday.
“Of course I was surprised, on the one hand,” Pasveer said after the 1-0 first leg win against Vojvodina to Ziggo Sport . “But on the other hand I also know what I do and don’t do. Then the choice falls on me. I’m not there to sit on the bench, but I’m there to play.”

After the last practice match against Greek Olympiacos, Pasveer knew he would play against Vojvodina. “That went well for me, but also as a team. We didn’t give much away, because we were in a good position. The beginning was a bit restless and it took some getting used to. But all in all we kept the clean sheet and won 1-0.”

Pasveer did not speak to coach Francesco Farioli about his starting position. “He did not say anything. It is up to the coach, but we did not speak to each other. At a certain point it was just clear.”

The veteran did not feel that his competitor Ramaj has any problem with him being on the bench. The German was Ajax’s first goalkeeper for a large part of last season.

“He just trains normally and is also normal with me,” Pasveer said. “I did that when I was on the bench and had to warm him up. That’s the fate of a goalkeeper.”

Pasveer, who was critical of his fellow players’ mentality last season, also sees a turnaround at Ajax. “A lot has changed. That is also due to the staff. It is a good staff that brings a lot of energy and is demanding. I think there is a very good and positive feeling within the club.”

Ajax will play the return match against Vojvodina in Serbia next Thursday. The Amsterdammers can then qualify for the third preliminary round of the Europa League.

Why Remko Pasveer (40) is chosen above three dissatisfied goalkeepers at Ajax

Francesco Farioli adds another episode to the musical chairs under the bar at Ajax. By bombarding 40-year-old Remko Pasveer as the first goalkeeper, the Italian coach leaves three other, more expensive goalkeepers dissatisfied. Our Ajax watcher Johan Inan explains why Farioli chose the veteran. Pasveer will be in the starting line-up for the Amsterdam team on Thursday in the preliminary round of the Europa League.

Remko Pasveer has not spoken to rival Diant Ramaj and coach Francesco Farioli about his starting place at Ajax in the first official match of the season . The experienced goalkeeper notices that a lot has changed under the Italian.

Pasveer (40) became the oldest Ajax player ever. ‘A fun fact, but it doesn’t really interest me’, the goalkeeper said afterwards on Ziggo Sport. He was more forthcoming about his starting position. ‘Of course I was surprised, on the one hand. But on the other hand I also know what I do and don’t do for it, how I work with the team. Then the choice falls on me. I’m not there to sit on the bench, I’m there to play.’

After the last practice match against Olympiakos, Pasveer knew he would be preferred over Diant Ramaj. ‘That went well for me, but also as a team. Especially setting things up and organizing. Today we also gave little away, because we are in a good position’, said the veteran, who also responded to two mistakes he made in the build-up. ‘The beginning was a bit restless, it also takes some getting used to. That shouldn’t happen. But all in all we kept the clean sheet and won 1-0.’

The Ajax keeper did not speak to coach Francesco Farioli about the choice in goal. ‘He didn’t say anything. It’s up to the coach, but we didn’t speak to each other. At some point it was just clear’, said Pasveer, who also doesn’t notice anything with competitor Ramaj. ‘He just trains normally and is also normal with me. I did that too when I was on the bench and had to warm him up. That’s the fate of a keeper. Sometimes you play, sometimes you don’t. You know when you’re on the bench that you often don’t get in quickly. I didn’t notice anything of that and I get along fine with him.’

Pasveer criticized the mentality of his fellow players last year, but sees a change at Ajax. ‘A lot has changed, and that is also due to the staff. A good staff that brings a lot of energy, is present at training sessions, is demanding. I think there is a very good and positive feeling within the club.’

The official start of the season was erratic, Pasveer saw. ‘We’ve had good phases, but also less good phases. That’s inherent to the start of the season, with a new coach and new ideas. We also have to grow physically during the season. You start quite quickly after the preparation.’