HNK Hajduk Split will face AFC Ajax in an official European match for the first time in 31 years. The UEFA Europa Conference League league phase draw paired the Croatian and Dutch clubs, meaning Ajax will once again visit the Poljud stadium. This news was reported by Index.hr Sport.

Hajduk currently sits 4th in the HNL with 7 points from 4 matches, with a recent form of WWDL. The team has scored 9 goals and conceded 5, trailing leaders NK Osijek by 5 points. Their next fixture is away to Rudes on September 6, 2026, which you can track on our fixtures page.

When did Hajduk and Ajax last meet?

The last official meeting between Hajduk and Ajax took place in March 1995 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. The first leg at Poljud on March 1 ended 0:0 in front of 35,000 spectators. Two weeks later in Amsterdam, Ajax won 3:0. Nwankwo Kanu opened the scoring in the 39th minute, with Frank de Boer adding two more in the 44th and 67th minutes. That victory sent Ajax on their way to winning the trophy. They beat AC Milan 1:0 in the Vienna final thanks to an 85th-minute goal from 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert. That generation is considered one of the most successful in Ajax's history, managed by Louis van Gaal. Stars of that team included goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and players like Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Jari Litmanen, and Marc Overmars.

Two years earlier, in 1993, the clubs met in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The first leg was played in Ljubljana as Poljud was unavailable due to war conditions, and Hajduk won 1:0. However, the return leg in Amsterdam ended in a decisive 6:0 victory for Ajax.

Why do Ajax fans sing about Hajduk?

Ajax fans have been singing a chant that mentions Hajduk Split for decades. The song originates from 1995 by the Dutch musical project Gompie. Its full title is "Who The F..k Is Bayern, Hajduk en Milan", and it was released on the compilation album "Ajax: The Champs!". The chant's chorus, which fans still sing today, goes "Hajduk, who the fuck is Hajduk?". Dutch outlet Ajax Showtime referenced this cult song, quoting that exact line. Gompie had a major hit that same year with "Alice, Who The X Is Alice?", a cover of Smokie's "Living Next Door to Alice" that reached number one on the Dutch Top 40 chart.

This song has become a musical memento of the 1995 Ajax generation that won the Champions League. The 1995 quarter-final ended Hajduk's successful European campaign that season.

What does this match mean for Hajduk?

The new meeting in the Europa Conference League league phase offers a chance for a rematch after more than three decades. For Hajduk, it's a challenge in a competitive group, and the team's current form will be a key factor. The club currently holds a +4 goal difference, which you can analyze in more detail on our stats page.

Before focusing on European challenges, Hajduk must play an important HNL match away to Rudes. Their current position on the standings table shows every point is vital in the title race. Ajax's return to Poljud will undoubtedly be one of the season's highlights for fans and the club alike.