AZ Alkmaar
Full name | Alkmaar Zaanstreek | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | De Kaasboeren (The Cheese Farmers) | |||
Short name | AZ | |||
Founded | 10 May 1967 | |||
Ground | AFAS Stadion | |||
Capacity | 19,478 | |||
Executive director Technical director | Robert Eenhoorn Max Huiberts | |||
Chairman | René Neelissen | |||
Head coach | Maarten Martens | |||
League | Eredivisie | |||
2022–23 | Eredivisie, 4th of 18 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Alkmaar Zaanstreek (Dutch: [ˈɑl(ə)kmaːr ˈzaːnstreːk]), better known internationally as AZ Alkmaar, or simply and most commonly as AZ (pronounced [aːˈzɛt]) in the Netherlands, is a Dutch professional football club from Alkmaar and the Zaan district. The club plays in the Eredivisie, the highest professional football league in the Netherlands.
AZ won the Eredivisie in
History
1910–1972: Foundation and first years
AZ was founded on 10 May 1967 as AZ '67, the result of a merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek.[1] Alkmaar '54 was founded as a professional team in April 1954 to play in the 10-team NBVB league, created because the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) refused to organize a professional league (the KNVB took over in 1955). Alkmaar '54, and by extension AZ, played the very first professional match in the Netherlands: on 14 August 1954, they won 3–0 at home against Venlo '54, with Klaas Smit scoring the first and third goal.[2] After winning the Eerste Divisie in 1960–61, it played one year in the Eredivisie.
FC Zaanstreek had been playing since 1910 as the Kooger Football Club (KFC). KFC had nearly become national champion in 1934 through a narrow loss to Ajax in the finals.[note 1] The team became professional in 1955. In 1964 the professional part of KFC was renamed FC Zaanstreek, while the amateurs played on as KFC.
Also in 1964, the brothers Cees and Klaas Molenaar, former players and trainers for KFC and owners of a growing appliance store chain, sought to create a powerful football team in Zaanstreek by merging the two local professional teams: KFC and Zaanlandsche Football Club. After the ZFC leadership thwarted this attempt, the Molenaars successfully merged FC Zaanstreek with Alkmaar '54 in 1967. FC Zaanstreek had finished 7th and Alkmaar '54 12th in 1966–67 Eerste Divisie. The team would be based in Alkmaar, though the second team originally trained and played in Koog aan de Zaan.[1][4]
1972–1985: Molenaar years
Partially through the hiring of expensive foreign players, the new club soon acquired large debts. In 1972, the Molenaar brothers bailed it out and invested heavily in the club, to the point that AZ '67 were successful in the late 1970s and early '80s, regularly playing European football from 1977 to 1982 while also winning three KNVB Cups over that period.
After four close league campaigns, AZ finally became
Georg Keßler was AZ's manager over most of these years (1978–82), while star players included: Kees Kist, the club's highest ever goalscorer with 212 goals and the first ever Dutchman to win the European Golden Boot in 1979 when he scored 34 goals in a season; Jan Peters, who played 120 matches for AZ during this period scoring 30 goals from midfield; and Hugo Hovenkamp, who played 239 matches in defence for AZ from 1975 to 1983, as well as receiving 31 caps for the Netherlands national team from 1977 to 1983 and playing each match in UEFA Euro 1980 while an AZ player. Additional stars included John Metgod, who spent six years at AZ playing 195 matches as a defender, scoring 26 goals including a goal against Ipswich Town in the final of the UEFA Cup. Like Hovenkamp, Metgod was also included in the Dutch squad for Euro 1980. Meanwhile, Danish forward Kristen Nygaard spent ten years at AZ, scoring 104 goals in 363 matches between 1972 and 1982.
1985–1993: Interim years
Co-owner
1993–2009: Scheringa years
The involvement of businessman Dirk Scheringa in the mid-1990s marked the revival of the club as AZ returned to the Eredivisie, winning the
Despite playing strongly for the majority of the 2006–07 season, AZ's season ended in disappointment. First, entering the last matchday of the
A remarkable run ended in the 2007–08 season: after AZ lost a group stage match against Everton (3–2) in the UEFA Cup, the club's unbeaten run of 32 home matches in European competitions – lasting from 1977 to 2007 – ended. AZ had a poor season, suffering elimination in the first round of the KNVB Cup and the group stage of the UEFA Cup, as well as finishing the 2007–08 Eredivisie in a disappointing 11th place. Towards the latter stages of the season, in March 2008, AZ manager Louis van Gaal had initially tendered his resignation, but after protests the players and directors, he rescinded his resignation.
The 2008–09 season had an unpromising start after two opening defeats against NAC Breda and ADO Den Haag. However, starting with a 1–0 victory over defending league champions PSV, AZ did not lose a match in its next 28 matches, including a run of 11-straight matches where AZ did not concede an opposition goal. Three weeks before the end of the season, AZ became Eredivisie champions, edging nearest title rivals Twente and Ajax comfortably. This was a historic achievement for the club as this was the first title-winning season for 28 years, and it also meant a return to the UEFA Champions League.
Being league champions, AZ qualified for the
2009–2014: Advocaat–Verbeek years
For the 2009–10 season, Ronald Koeman succeeded Louis van Gaal, who had departed to manage Bayern Munich after leading AZ to the championship. Koeman was officially hired on 17 May 2009, but on 5 December, AZ announced he was no longer in charge of the club after losing 7 of his first 16 matches. Former Rangers and Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat took over for the remainder of the season. Under Advocaat, AZ achieved solid results and secured European football for the next season.
For the 2010–11 season, AZ appointed Gertjan Verbeek as its new manager. They finished the 2010–11 Eredivisie in fourth place, thus securing Europa League football for the next season, while in the KNVB Cup, AZ reached the last eight, where they were beaten by rivals Ajax by a 1–0 scoreline. AZ also finished third in their Europa League group, thus failing to qualifying for the competition's knockout round.
In the 2011–12 season, AZ finished fourth in the
On 21 December 2011, during the quarter-finals of the
The 2012–13 season started in the
In September 2013, just one day after emphatically beating PSV, at the time the league leaders, Verbeek was dismissed as first team manager by the club due to "a lack of chemistry" between management and players.[5] He was replaced by Dick Advocaat for the remainder of the season until a permanent replacement could be found. Advocaat took AZ to the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup, the quarter-finals of the Europa League and eighth in the league, ultimately losing to Groningen in the Europa League play-off final round (their 58th match of the season, a club record).
2014–2019: Van den Brom years
The 2014–15 season began with a new manager, former Heerenveen manager and Ajax great Marco van Basten. However, after just three matches into the season, Van Basten resigned as manager to become assistant manager under Alex Pastoor, citing heavy stress as the main reason.[6] Pastoor was the interim manager during two matches under Van Basten's absence and received the official title on 16 September, but contract negotiations failed and he left the club just two days later. A week later, John van den Brom was appointed manager. Under Van den Brom, AZ quickly rose up to the sub-top, eventually finished the season in third place, surpassing Feyenoord on the final season's matchday and qualifying for the 2015–16 Europa League.
The
At the start of the 2016–17 Eredivisie, AZ sold last season's performer Vincent Janssen to Tottenham Hotspur and long-time midfielder Markus Henriksen to Hull City. In the 2016–17 Europa League, AZ finished second in Group D, surviving the group stage for the third time in five seasons.
Since 2019: Slot–Jansen years
After an excellent 2019/20 season in which AZ beat league leaders Ajax home and away, aided by consistent performances from youth academy talents such as Teun Koopmeiners, Myron Boadu, Calvin Stengs and Owen Wijndal, the season was forced to end early due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joint on points with Ajax at the top of the table, AZ were given second place on goal difference, and subsequently earned Qualification to the Champions League second qualifying round.
A poor start to their 2020/21 Eredivisie campaign saw AZ draw five games in a row, before eventually picking up a victory against RKC Waalwijk on the 1st of November 2020.
AZ also struggled in European competitions this season. Despite a strong start, with a 3–1 extra time come back against
In 2022-2023, AZ stepped up their performance in Europa Conference League play, winning five out of six Group E matches against
Coaching staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Head coach | Maarten Martens |
Assistant coach | Robert Franssen Kenneth Goudmijn |
Goalkeeper coach | Nick van Aart |
Fitness coach | Niels Kok |
Chief Scout | Carlos Aalbers |
Scout | Arthur Numan Koen Veenstra Lars Engel Hugo Hovenkamp |
Head of Medical | Rob Tamminga |
Club doctor | Ingrid Paul |
Physiotherapist | Martin Cruijff Frank Renzenbrink |
Team Manager | Ari Menmi |
Technical director | Max Huiberts |
Players
Current squad
- As of 1 February 2024[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Jong AZ
Participating in the Eerste Divisie, the reserve squad of AZ trains and plays their home games in Zaanstad.
Stadium and sponsor
Stadium
AZ play its home matches at the AFAS Stadion, located in the southern part of the city of Alkmaar. The stadium, which is directly owned by the club, was opened in 2006 and replaced the old Alkmaarderhout venue as the DSB Stadion. The stadium currently has a capacity of 17,023. During its design stages, the name Victorie Stadion was frequently used, referring to the Dutch War of Independence, the phrase "In Alkmaar begint de victorie" (Victory begins in Alkmaar) in particular. Until now, this name has not been officially in use, the board instead opting for sponsorship deals because of financial motives. However, to this day, the name maintains a good share of support among the fans.
To further increase revenue, AZ's board of directors decided to expand the capacity of the new stadium to at least 30,000 somewhere in the future. The extension will be realised by constructing a second tier to three of the four stands. The main stand with all technical areas, VIP and sponsor and media facilities will remain in place. These plans, however, were put on hold after the DSB bankruptcy and there are no current plans to increase the capacity.
In October 2009, sponsor DSB Bank was declared bankrupt. The stadium name temporarily changed from DSB Stadion to AZ Stadion, as it was considered undesirable that the stadium was linked with a non-existent bank. In February 2010, a new main sponsor was found in construction works service provider BUKO, based in Beverwijk.
A year later, in the 2010–11 season, AFAS Software took over as official stadium sponsor. The current external name of the ground is the AFAS Stadion.
On 10 August 2019, the roof of the stadium partially collapsed. No people were injured during the incident.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
1977–1982 | Adidas | |
1982–1986 | Sony | |
1986–1988 | Lotto | Electrolux |
1988–1989 | Swingbo | |
1989–1990 | Reebok | Reebok |
1990–1993 | Hi-Tec | Frisia |
1993–1998 | Hummel | |
1998–1999 | Kappa | |
1999–2001 | none | |
2001–2002 | Umbro | |
2002–2004 | Actus Notarissen | |
2004–2005 | Frisia | |
2005–2006 | DSB | |
2006–2008 | Quick | |
2008–2009 | Canterbury | |
2009–2010 | Quick | BUKO |
2010–2011 | AFAS Software | |
2011–2015 | Macron | |
2015–2019 | Under Armour | |
2020– | Nike
|
Honours
Domestic
- Eredivisie
- Eerste Divisie
- Tweede Divisie
- Winners (1): 1955–562
- Runners-up (1): 1963–641
- KNVB Cup
- Johan Cruyff Shield
International
- UEFA Youth League
- Winners (1): 2022–23
European record
Matches
UEFA coefficient ranking
- As of 24 August 2023[14]
Rank | Team | Points |
---|---|---|
36 | West Ham United | 50.000 |
37 | Milan | 50.000 |
38 | AZ | 47.500 |
39 | Rennes | 44.000 |
40 | Braga | 44.000 |
Domestic results
Below is a table with AZ's domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1956.
Domestic Results since 1956 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic league | League result | Qualification to | KNVB Cup season | Cup result |
1956–57 Eerste Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
2nd (group A) | – | 1956–57 | Third round [citation needed] |
1957–58 Eerste Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
9th (group A) | – | 1957–58 | Third round [citation needed] |
1958–59 Eerste Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
4th (group A) | – | 1958–59 | Third round [citation needed] |
1959–60 Eerste Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
1st (group B) | Eredivisie (promotion) | not held | not held |
1960–61 Eredivisie (as Alkmaar '54) | 17th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1960–61 | First round [citation needed] |
1961–62 Eerste Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
12th (group A) | Tweede Divisie (relegation) | 1961–62 | Second round [citation needed] |
1962–63 Tweede Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
4th (group A) | – | 1962–63 | Semi-finals [citation needed] |
1963–64 Tweede Divisie (as Alkmaar '54)
|
1st (group A); 2nd overall losing play-off | Eerste Divisie (winning promotion tournament) | 1963–64 | First round [citation needed] |
1964–65 Tweede Divisie (as FC Zaanstreek)
|
11th 6th (group A) |
– | 1964–65 | First round [citation needed] First round [citation needed] |
1965–66 Tweede Divisie (as FC Zaanstreek)
|
4th 3rd (group A) |
– Eerste Divisie (promotion) |
1965–66 | Group stage [citation needed] Group stage [citation needed] |
1966–67 Eerste Divisie (as Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek) |
12th 7th |
– | 1966–67 | First round [citation needed] First round [citation needed] |
1967–68 Eerste Divisie
|
2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1967–68 | Group stage [citation needed] |
1968–69 Eredivisie | 16th | – (after surviving relegation play-offs) | 1968–69 | Second round [citation needed] |
1969–70 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1969–70 | Quarter-finals [citation needed] |
1970–71 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1970–71
|
Second round |
1971–72 Eerste Divisie
|
2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1971–72
|
First round |
1972–73 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 1972–73
|
Semi-finals |
1973–74 Eredivisie | 7th | – | 1973–74
|
Quarter-finals |
1974–75 Eredivisie | 5th | – | 1974–75
|
Quarter-finals |
1975–76 Eredivisie | 5th | – | 1975–76
|
Quarter-finals |
1976–77 Eredivisie | 3rd | UEFA Cup | 1976–77
|
Semi-finals |
1977–78 Eredivisie | 3rd | Cup Winners' Cup
|
1977–78
|
Winner |
1978–79 Eredivisie | 4th | – | 1978–79
|
Quarter-finals |
1979–80 Eredivisie | 2nd | UEFA Cup | 1979–80
|
Quarter-finals |
1980–81 Eredivisie | 1st | European Cup
|
1980–81
|
Winner |
1981–82 Eredivisie | 3rd | Cup Winners' Cup
|
1981–82
|
Winner |
1982–83 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 1982–83
|
Second round |
1983–84 Eredivisie | 6th | – | 1983–84
|
Quarter-finals |
1984–85 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 1984–85
|
First round |
1985–86 Eredivisie | 9th | – | 1985–86 | Second round |
1986–87 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 1986–87 | Second round |
1987–88 Eredivisie | 16th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1987–88 | First round |
1988–89 Eerste Divisie | 5th | – | 1988–89 | Quarter-finals |
1989–90 Eerste Divisie | 12th | – | 1989–90 | First round |
1990–91 Eerste Divisie | 4th | promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion | 1990–91 | First round |
1991–92 Eerste Divisie | 13th | – | 1991–92 | Second round |
1992–93 Eerste Divisie
|
10th | – | 1992–93 | Third round |
1993–94 Eerste Divisie
|
3rd | promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion | 1993–94 | Round of 16 |
1994–95 Eerste Divisie
|
5th | promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion | 1994–95 | Round of 16 |
1995–96 Eerste Divisie
|
1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1995–96 | Round of 16 |
1996–97 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1996–97 | Quarter-finals |
1997–98 Eerste Divisie
|
1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1997–98 | First round (knock-out stage) |
1998–99 Eredivisie | 9th | – | 1998–99 | Round of 16 |
1999–2000 Eredivisie | 7th | – | 1999–00 | Semi-finals |
2000–01 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 2000–01 | Quarter-finals |
2001–02 Eredivisie | 10th | – | 2001–02 | Second round (knock-out stage) |
2002–03 Eredivisie | 10th | – | 2002–03 | Second round (knock-out stage) |
2003–04 Eredivisie | 5th | UEFA Cup | 2003–04 | Second round |
2004–05 Eredivisie | 3rd | UEFA Cup | 2004–05 | Round of 16 |
2005–06 Eredivisie | 2nd | UEFA Cup (after losing Champions League play-offs) | 2005–06
|
Semi-finals |
2006–07 Eredivisie | 3rd | UEFA Cup (after losing Champions League play-offs) | 2006–07 | Final |
2007–08 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 2007–08 | Second round |
2008–09 Eredivisie | 1st | Champions League | 2008–09 | Quarter-finals |
2009–10 Eredivisie | 5th | Europa League (Q3) | 2009–10 | Round of 16 |
2010–11 Eredivisie | 4th | Europa League (Q3) | 2010–11 | Round of 16 |
2011–12 Eredivisie | 4th | Europa League (Q4) | 2011–12 | Semi-finals |
2012–13 Eredivisie | 10th | Europa League | 2012–13 | Winner |
2013–14 Eredivisie | 8th | – | 2013–14 | Semi-finals |
2014–15 Eredivisie | 3rd | Europa League (Q3) | 2014–15 | Quarter-finals |
2015–16 Eredivisie | 4th | Europa League (Q3) | 2015–16 | Semi-finals |
2016–17 Eredivisie | 6th | – | 2016–17 | Final |
2017–18 Eredivisie | 3rd | Europa League (Q3) | 2017–18 | Final |
2018–19 Eredivisie | 4th | Europa League (Q2) | 2018–19 | Semi-finals |
2019–20 Eredivisie | 2nd | Champions League (Q2) | 2019–20 | Quarter-finals |
2020–21 Eredivisie | 3rd | Europa League (Q4) | 2020–21 | Round of 16 |
2021–22 Eredivisie | 5th | Europa Conference League (Q2) | 2021–22 | Semi-finals |
2022–23 Eredivisie | 4th | Europa Conference League (Q3) | 2022–23 | Round of 16 |
Coaches
Alkmaar '54
KFC / FC Zaanstreek
AZ '67
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AZ
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Notes
References
- ^ a b "AZ Historie - De fusie van Alkmaar Zaanstreek" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
- ^ Alkmaar '54 en Venlo spelen allereerst profduel Archived 26 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 25 June 2008.
- ^ Rob Bruins Slot and Dirk Jan Roeleven, AZ, of: hoe maak je een topclub Archived 26 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine, VPRO, Andere Tijden (in Dutch)
- ^ Martin Rep, Hoe het profvoetbal verdween uit de Zaanstreek Archived 26 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch), De Orkaan, 10 August 2018.
- ^ "Eredivisie: AZ Alkmaar announce surprise sacking of coach Gertjan Verbeek". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- ^ Zandstra, Philippus (16 September 2014). "Van Basten doet stap terug bij AZ, Alex Pastoor nieuwe trainer". NRC. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ "Former Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar joins AZ Alkmaar until end of season". The Guardian. Press Association. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ Steinberg, Jacob (19 May 2023). "AZ Alkmaar coach ashamed after fans confront West Ham players families". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Spelers". az.nl. AZ. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Dak van AZ-stadion gedeeltelijk ingestort". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 10 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Samenvatting AZ-Ajax (1-0)". Het Parool (in Dutch). 15 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Mega Truss: nieuw hoogtepunt". AZ.nl (in Dutch). AZ. 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Spetterende show bij heropening AZ-stadion. 'Gefeliciteerd met jullie nieuwe huis. Geniet ervan!' [video]". Noord-Hollands Dagblad (in Dutch). 12 September 2021. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Club coefficients". UEFA. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2023.