The 2017-18 campaign was a season of profound emotion, disappointment, and critical transition for Ajax, who ultimately finished 2nd in the Eredivisie. The year was defined by the heart-wrenching summer tragedy of Abdelhak Nouri, which cast a solemn shadow over the club. Amidst the turbulence that saw manager Marcel Keizer replaced by Erik ten Hag, the youthful team struggled for consistency and missed out on the group stages of both European competitions. However, the electric Brazilian forward David Neres provided a spark, leading the line with 14 Eredivisie goals. The title race was lost to rivals PSV, making it the fourth consecutive season without a trophy, but the painful near-misses of this campaign laid the groundwork for the future golden generation.