In one of the most dramatic Champions League knockout stages we've ever witnessed, the competition's standout story was Ajax's triumphant run to the semi-final.

In fact, it was mere seconds away from being a triumphant run to the final, only losing out on the spot at the hands of sheer magic in the form of a Lucas Moura hat-trick, which sent Tottenham through instead.

The less said about the Liverpool vs Tottenham final we got the better, especially considering many were expecting the clash of two footballing institutions; Ajax vs Barcelona. And while it was incredible fun to watch two semi-final comebacks of mass proportions, it was harsh to see such a delight of an Ajax side bow out.

Erik ten Hag's side were a force that season. Despite having to enter the competition via qualification over the summer, Ten Hag's side saw off Bayern Munich twice to go unbeaten in the group stages, before knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus to reach the semi-final.

Watching Ajax climb the European mountain with a squad made up of their own, immensely talented youth starlets was a joy. Ten Hag worked wonders to build such a dominant side, and Manchester United fans will be looking back on that campaign sparkly-eyed, in hope that it can translate onto their squad.

But what happened after to the young squad after that famed run? Ten Hag will take the reigns as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor at United from the 2022/23 season, tasked with rebuilding an ageing and completely broken outfit. Thus, we at GIVEMESPORT have decided to look back at how Ten Hag's infamous Ajax squad have done since that run, to understand just how well his sides fare over the long-haul.

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana - Ajax

Onana has since built on his form showed in the 2018/19 campaign to become Cameroon's dependable number one. However, the goalkeeper missed nine months of football after testing positive for a banned substance in 2021. He's since returned to the game and, out of contract with Ajax at the end of the season, is being heavily linked with a move to Inter.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - DECEMBER 12: Goalkeeper, Andre Onana of Ajax in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and PEC Zwolle at Johan Cruijff Arena on December 12, 2020 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Right-back: Joel Veltman - Brighton & Hove Albion

Despite missing the start of the 2018/19 season as he recovered from a torn ACL, Veltman recovered to play a key role in the knockout stages. After playing the vast majority of his career with Ajax, including eight years in the first team, Veltman moved onto pastures new in 2020, signing for Brighton, where he continues to fare well.

Centre back: Matthijs de Ligt - Juventus

A standout star from the side, Ajax were always destined to lose De Ligt the minute that Europe learned about the talented teenager. Having played in the Europa League final aged 17 in 2017, captaining Ajax to the Champions League semi-final felt like a coming of age task. Juventus won the race for the man who scored against them in the quarter-final, paying £67.8 million to bring him to Turin in the summer of 2019. After an admittedly shaky start to life in Italy, De Ligt is now showing his class once again.

TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 06: Matthijs De Ligt of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus and Spezia Calcio at Allianz Stadium on March 6, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Centre back: Daley Blind - Ajax

Blind was an Ajax man long before the run, and had returned to his former club from Manchester United in 2018. That return immediately proved worth it, with the Dutchman now a much-improved, more experienced player whose know-how and composure was integral. He played every minute of their Champions League campaign and remains at the club today, despite a health scare after collapsing in August 2020.

Left-back: Nicolas Tagliafico - Ajax

Despite impressing massively as a technically sound full back with all the attacking thrust you could desire and subsequently being subjected to plenty of transfer speculation, a move away from Ajax has failed to materialise for Tagliafico. The Argentine remains in Amsterdam and, at 29, is running out of time to secure a big move within Europe, if that's the aim.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 09: Nicolas Tagliafico of AFC Ajax in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and Sparta Rotterdam at Johan Cruijff Arena on April 09, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

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Midfielder: Lasse Schone - NEC

One of the few vitally important experienced members of Ten Hag's side, Schone's 2018/19 season at Ajax proved to be his last after a seven-year stay in Amsterdam. The Danish midfielder's free-kick inspired the dramatic last 16 comeback against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu; a fine memory to hold onto. After leaving for Genoa, but returned to Holland just 18 months later, playing for his two former clubs in Heerenveen and now NEC.

Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong - Barcelona

Alongside De Ligt, De Jong was the standout youth star in Ten Hag's Ajax team. Fearsome and frighteningly skilled, he thrived in the system that Ten Hag deployed, roaming forward and knitting together attacks with his passing and dribbling. He was named the tournament's midfielder of the season and moved to Barcelona in 2019 for £65m, but has struggled to find a consistently top level. That has improved with time, but with Ten Hag now headed to Old Trafford, the rumour mill is suggesting that the two could reunite in Manchester.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 03: Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Camp Nou on April 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Midfielder: Donny van de Beek - Everton (on loan from Manchester United)

Where on earth did it all go wrong? Van de Beek enjoyed a season like no other in 2018/19, with his intelligent performances earning rave reviews as he bagged against Juventus and Tottenham in the Champions League and ended up on the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or. Manchester United signed him in 2020, but despite all the hype, he never really got a look-in and his career has stalled significantly. Here's hoping that the romance of Ten Hag's arrival will be the spark that finally sets him alight at United.

Right wing: Hakim Ziyech - Chelsea

Notching up goal contributions against Real Madrid and Tottenham in the infamous run, Ziyech looked every bit of a world class player in waiting after his 2018/19 under Ten Hag. His form carried over into the following season, prompting Chelsea to sign the Moroccan for £33.3m in January 2020. He headed to England the following summer and hasn't been as consistent as the Blues would've hoped, but has still shown his class with a regular helping of goals from the right flank.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea shoots during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium on April 09, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Striker: Dusan Tadic - Ajax

Nobody would've predicted in 2019 that former Southampton man Tadic would be bagging a brace of assists in a man-of-the-match display away to Real Madrid in the Champions League, but it happened alright. The Serbian enjoyed a stellar debut season in Amsterdam, placing 20th in the 2019 Ballon d'Or list and making the Champions League team of the tournament. He was crowned Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2021 as Ajax won the Eredivisie. Thrived under Ten Hag.

Left wing: David Neres - Shakhtar Donetsk

Scoring important goals against Real Madrid and Juventus, hype was high for Neres following his exploits at Ajax. The Brazilian was linked with the likes of United and Atletico Madrid, but a long-term knee injury suffered the following season completely derailed his form and saw him fall out of favour. Neres headed to Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2022, having been unable to reclaim his spot in the starting XI in Amsterdam.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 28: David Neres of AFC Ajax in action during the UEFA Champions League group C match between AFC Ajax and Besiktas at Amsterdam Arena on September 28, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Honourable mention: Noussair Mazraoui - Ajax

With Veltman injured for the entirety of the group stage, Ten Hag turned to Mazraoui as his first-choice right back. The young Moroccan proved a handy deputy, holding his own at right back despite shouldering a lot of expectation. He's since matured into one of Ajax's most important players, developing significantly under Ten Hag's watch. With United's full back options looking sub-par, rumours suggest that Mazraoui could even follow Ten Hag to Old Trafford.