Jordan Henderson and his Ajax side have seen the Eredivisie title slip away from their grasp after conceding a 99th-minute equaliser in their penultimate game of the league season.
The former Liverpool captain had been looking to lift another trophy in his career after skippering the Reds to the Premier League title in 2020.
Henderson and Co had been in pole position to win the Eredivisie, which would have been the 37th league title in the club’s history.
They were on the verge with five games remaining, needing just six points to be confirmed as champions, although PSV had kept pace with Ajax by winning their last five matches.
But things went downhill after their victory at Willem II on April 13. They had won their last three matches – including against PSV – but suffered defeat by Utrecht, who themselves have been chasing a Champions League place.
The 4-0 thrashing triggered a mighty collapse, with Ajax picking up just two points in their four games since, and the league title is now out of their hands this weekend.
Jordan Henderson’s Ajax side seem to have let the Eredivisie title slip from their fingers
Ajax needed six points from the last five games of the season, having picked up five from four so far
Henderson’s side had led 1-0 and 2-1 but saw their lead disappear in the 99th minute against Groningen on Wednesday
After the defeat by Utrecht, Henderson’s side drew with Sparta Rotterdam, conceding a 95th-minute goal and needing a desperate equaliser from Youri Regeer just two minutes later.
The title was still in their hands at the top of the league, however, but a 3-0 home defeat by NEC, who are eighth in the league table, raised eyebrows and left them needing to win their last two matches to guarantee themselves the title.
They had looked on course to do that when they travelled to Groningen on Wednesday night, with Anton Gaaei and former Manchester United forward Wout Weghorst on the scoresheet, while Luciano Valente was sent off for the home side.
But the league’s 12th-place team scored nine minutes into stoppage time through Thijmen Blokzijl to equalise for the second time in the game and leave Ajax players stunned.
Henderson, who was part of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad earlier this year, played 90 minutes in all four fixtures, apart from against Rotterdam, when he did not feature at all due to suspension.
Now, Ajax must beat Twente on the final day and hope PSV slip up against Rotterdam to secure the title. They also have a significantly better goal difference, meaning a draw for Ajax would not be enough.
In the standings, Ajax have 75 points and PSV 76. Henderson’s men had been nine points clear with five games remaining.
Henderson, now 34, joined Ajax at the start of 2024 from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq following his controversial move from Liverpool. He is his side’s skipper.
Henderson is Ajax’s captain but was at the centre of speculation over a move to Monaco in January
It has been a turbulent season off the field for Henderson, who reportedly wanted to move to Monaco in January.
Reports claimed the ex-Liverpool captain had even refused to play for the Dutch giants to force his exit and he was on the verge of the switch before Ajax blocked it.
Henderson was then involved in an extraordinary exchange with a Dutch journalist, accusing him of making ‘untrue’ claims about his potential move to the Ligue 1 outfit.
Henderson was asked: ‘Can you say, Jordan, why you wanted to make a transfer to Monaco?’
After staring back at the journalist, an aggravated Henderson replied: ‘Based on what, again?’
Henderson and the reporter then went back and forth for almost two minutes, during which the England star said that claims he had told the coach he wanted to leave because Monaco had made him a ‘big offer’ were ‘not true.’
Towards the end of the press conference, Henderson delivered a defiant speech.
He said: ‘There are people sitting in this room who questioned my professionalism, it’s bang out of order. My family had to read nonsense from you.’