AZ Alkmaar
 |
 | ||||
| Full name | Alkmaar Zaanstreek | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | AZ | |||
| Founded | 1967, as AZ '67 | |||
| Ground | AZ Stadion Alkmaar | |||
| Capacity | 17,150 | |||
| Chairman |  René Neelissen | |||
| Manager | Gertjan Verbeek | |||
| League | Eredivisie | |||
| 2009–10 | Eredivisie, 5th | |||
| Website | http://www.az.nl/ | |||
|
| ||||
AZ, an acronym for Alkmaar Zaanstreek, is an association football club from the city of Alkmaar, Netherlands.
History
It was founded on 10 May 1967 as AZ '67, the result of a merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek. The name was changed into AZ in July 1986; internationally, Alkmaar is often tautologically added.
Owing to the commitment of businessmen Cees and Klaas Molenaar, AZ '67 were successful in the late seventies and early eighties. In 1981, they became Dutch champions and UEFA Cup finalists. Things went downhill after the Molenaar brothers left the club. In 1988, AZ were relegated from the Eredivisie.
The involvement of businessman Dirk Scheringa in the mid-'90s marked the revival of the club. AZ returned to the Eredivisie in 1998. In 2004–05, they reappeared in the UEFA Cup tournament, advancing to the semi-finals. They also finished third in the Eredivisie that season, again qualifying for the UEFA Cup, after spending most of the season in the top two spots. A remarkable achievement, since AZ is financially not a big club and it does not have a similar fanbase like their Eredivisie rivals: AZ's home ground in the 2005–06 season, the Alkmaarderhout, had a spectator capacity of 8,390.
AZ were undefeated in all 32 of their home matches in European competitions, a sequence which ran from 1977 until 20 December 2007, when they finally lost to Everton of England by a score of 3–2.
In the summer of 2006, the club moved to a new 17,000 capacity stadium AZ Stadion. Club's chairman Dirk Scheringa stated in 2007 that he wished to expand the stadium capacity to 40,000 by 2010.[1] Ultimately, the club began plans to expand the stadium to at least 30,000 seats by 2011–12.
AZ had a very good 2006–07 season, which ended, however, in disaster. Going into the last game of the 2006–07 season, AZ led PSV and Ajax by goal-differential for the Eredivisie championship, but ended up third after losing this last match against bottom-dweller Excelsior, playing with 10 men for 80 minutes. Further setbacks followed when AZ lost the KNVB Cup finals to Ajax, 8–7 in penalty kicks after a drawn game, and also lost to Ajax over two playoff games for the Champions League. After the season, key players like Tim de Cler, Danny Koevermans, and Shota Arveladze left the team.
In the 2007–08 season, AZ performed so badly (first round loss in the KNVB Cup, elimination from the UEFA Cup before winter break and a final 11th position in the Eredivisie), that team manager Louis van Gaal felt obliged to hand in his resignation in March 2008. However, after protests from the players and direction, van Gaal withdrew his resignation to finish his contractual obligations.
The 2008–09 season had an unpromising start with two defeats against NAC Breda and ADO Den Haag. However, starting with a 1–0 victory over defending league champions PSV, the team didn't lose in the next 28 matches, including a stretch of 11 matches in which the opposing teams did not score a single goal. Three weeks before the end of the season, despite their second home defeat of the season (against Vitesse), AZ became Eredivisie champions when nearest rivals Twente and Ajax both lost their matches.[2][3] AZ's second championship was the first Eredivisie title in 28 years, and the first time since then that the Eredivisie was won by a team other than the "big three" (Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord). AZ therefore qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history, but only took three points from six matches and finished bottom of their group.
Ronald Koeman, succeeded Louis van Gaal after the 2008–09 season. Van Gaal had already left for Bayern Munich after becoming league champions with AZ. Koeman became the manager for AZ on 17 May 2009.[4] On December 5, 2009 AZ announced that Koeman no longer was in charge of AZ, after losing 7 of the first 16 games in the Dutch competition.[5] Former Zenit St. Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat took over for the rest of the season. Under his lead, some good results were achieved and European football was secured. For the 2010–2011 season, Gertjan Verbeek, coming from Heracles Almelo, will be the new manager.
Satellite clubs
On 22 May 2009, Dirk Scheringa has announced a cooperation with Bayern Munich;[6] the club has first-option rights for the AZ contracted players.[7]
Dutch First Division club Telstar is an official satellite club of AZ. Youth players are stalled at Telstar to gain experience. Since 10 May 2009, former youth coach of AZ Marcel Bout will be responsible for the technical coordination.[8]
Current squad
As of 5 June 2009, according to the official website [9]
For recent transfers, see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2009 and List of Dutch football transfers winter 2009-10.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Stadium and sponsor
AZ play their home games at the AZ Stadion, located in the southern part of the city of Alkmaar. The stadium, which is owned directly by the club, was inaugurated in 2006 and replaced the old Alkmaarderhout venue. The stadium currently has a capacity of 17,023.
In order to further grow the club's budget, the AZ board of directors decided to extend the capacity of the new stadium to a minimum of 30,000 seated spectators. The extension will be realised to construct 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. The club plans to start construction in the third quarter of 2010 in order for the stadium to be commissioned in time for the 2011–12 season.
In October 2009 sponsor DSB Bank was declared bankrupt.[10][11][12] The stadiumname changed from DSB Stadion to AZ Stadion, as it wasn't a good thing that the stadium was linked with a nonexistent bank. In February 2010 a new main sponsor was found: construction works service provider BUKO from Beverwijk.[13]
Honours
- Eredivisie
- Eerste Divisie
- Tweede Divisie
- Runners-up (1): 19641
- KNVB Cup (Dutch National Cup)
- Johan Cruijff Shield (Dutch Super Cup)
- Winners (1): 2009
- UEFA Cup
1 As Alkmaar '54
AZ in Europe
Below is a table with AZ's international results in the past seasons.
| Year(s) | Tournament | Result | Opponents (home result, away result) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–78 | UEFA Cup | second round |  Red Boys Differdange (11–1, 5–0);  Barcelona (1–1, 1–1p)
|
| 1978–79 | Cup Winners' Cup | first round |  Ipswich Town (0–0, 0–2)
|
| 1980–81 | UEFA Cup | final | Red Boys Differdange (6–0, 4–0);  Levski Sofia (5–0, 1–1);  Radnički Niš (5–0, 2–2);  Lokeren (2–0, 0–1);  Sochaux (3–2, 1–1); Ipswich Town (4–2, 0–3)
|
| 1981–82 | European Cup | round of 16 |  Start (1–0, 3–1); Liverpool (2–2, 2–3)
|
| 1982–83 | Cup Winners' Cup | round of 16 |  Limerick (1–0, 1–1);  Internazionale (1–0, 0–2)
|
| 2004–05 | UEFA Cup | semi-final |  PAOK (2–1, 3–2); Group F with Auxerre (home: 2–0),  Amica Wronki (away: 3–1),  Rangers (home: 1–0),  Grazer (away: 0–2), result: group winner;  Alemannia Aachen (2–1, 0–0);  Shakhtar Donetsk (2–1, 3–1); Villarreal (1–1, 2–1);  Sporting CP (3–2, 1–2a)
|
| 2005–06 | UEFA Cup | round of 32 |  Krylya Sovetov Samara (3–1, a3–5); Group D with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (away: 2–1), Middlesbrough (home: 0–0), Litex Lovech (away: 2–0),  Grasshopper (home: 1–0), result: group runners-up; Real Betis (2–1aet, 0–2)
|
| 2006–07 | UEFA Cup | quarter-final |  Kayserispor (3–2, 1–1); Group C with Braga (home: 3–0), Grasshopper (away: 5–2),  Slovan Liberec (home: 2–2), Sevilla (away: 2–1), result: group winner; Fenerbahçe (a2–2, 3–3); Newcastle United (a2–0, 2–4); Werder Bremen (0–0, 1–4)
|
| 2007–08 | UEFA Cup | group stage | Paços de Ferreira (0–0, 1–0); Group A with Zenit St. Petersburg (away: 1–1), Larissa (home: 1–0), Nuremberg (away: 1–2), Everton (home: 2–3), result: 4th place in group
|
| 2009–10 | Champions League | group stage | Group H with Olympiacos (0–0, 0–1), Standard Liège (1–1, 1–1), Arsenal (1–1, 1–4), result: 4th place in group
|
| 2010–11 | Europa League |
Domestic results
Below is a table with AZ's domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1956.
| Domestic league | League result | Qualification to | KNVB Cup season | Cup result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eredivisie 2009-10 | 5th | Europa League (Q3) | 2009-10 | round of 16 |
| Eredivisie 2008–09 | 1st | Champions League | 2008–09 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 2007–08 | 11th | - | 2007–08 | second round |
| Eredivisie 2006–07 | 3rd | UEFA Cup (after losing CL play-offs) | 2006–07 | final |
| Eredivisie 2005–06 | 2nd | UEFA Cup (after losing CL play-offs) | 2005–06 | semi-finals |
| 2004–05 Eredivisie | 3rd | UEFA Cup | 2004–05 | round of 16 |
| Eredivisie 2003–04 | 5th | UEFA Cup | 2003–04 | second round |
| Eredivisie 2002–03 | 10th | - | 2002–03 | second round (knock-out stage) |
| Eredivisie 2001–02 | 10th | - | 2001–02 | second round (knock-out stage) |
| Eredivisie 2000-01 | 13th | - | 2000–01 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1999-2000 | 7th | - | 1999–2000 | semi-finals |
| Eredivisie 1998-99 | 9th | - | 1998–99 | round of 16 |
| Eerste Divisie 1997-98 | 1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1997–98 | first round (knock-out stage) |
| Eredivisie 1996-97 | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1996–97 | quarter finals |
| Eerste Divisie 1995-96 | 1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1995–96 | round of 16 |
| Eerste Divisie 1994-95 | 5th | promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion | 1994–95 | round of 16 |
| Eerste Divisie 1993-94 | 3rd | promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion | 1993–94 | round of 16 |
| Eerste Divisie 1992-93 | 10th | - | 1992–93 | third round |
| Eerste Divisie 1991-92 | 13th | - | 1991–92 | secound round |
| Eerste Divisie 1990-91 | 4th | promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion | 1990–91 | first round |
| Eerste Divisie 1989-90 | 12th | - | 1989–90 | first round |
| Eerste Divisie 1988-89 | 5th | - | 1988–89 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1987-88 | 16th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1987–88 | first round |
| Eredivisie 1986-87 | 15th | - | 1986–87 | second round |
| Eredivisie 1985-86 | 9th | - | 1985–86 | second round |
| Eredivisie 1984-85 | 13th | - | 1984–85 | first round |
| Eredivisie 1983-84 | 6th | - | 1983–84 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1982-83 | 11th | - | 1982–83 | second round |
| Eredivisie 1981-82 | 3rd | Cup Winners' Cup | 1981–82 | winner |
| Eredivisie 1980-81 | 1st | European Cup | 1980–81 | winner |
| Eredivisie 1979-80 | 2nd | UEFA Cup | 1979–80 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1978-79 | 4th | - | 1978–79 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1977-78 | 3rd | Cup Winners' Cup | 1977–78 | winner |
| Eredivisie 1976-77 | 3rd | UEFA Cup | 1976–77 | semi-finals |
| Eredivisie 1975-76 | 5th | - | 1975–76 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1974-75 | 5th | - | 1974–75 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1973-74 | 7th | - | 1973–74 | quarter finals |
| Eredivisie 1972-73 | 15th | - | 1972–73 | semi-finals |
| Eerste Divisie 1971-72 | 2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1971–72 | first round |
| Eredivisie 1970-71 | 17th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1970–71 | second round |
| Eredivisie 1969-70 | 12th | - | 1969–70 | quarter finals [citation needed] |
| Eredivisie 1968-69 | 16th | - (after surviving relegation play-offs) | 1968–69 | second round [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1967-68 | 2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1967–68 | group stage [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1966-67 (as Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek) |
12th 7th |
- | 1966–67 | first round [citation needed] first round [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1965-66 (as Alkmaar'54) Tweede Divisie 1965–66 (as FC Zaanstreek) |
4th 3rd (group A) |
- Eerste Divisie (promotion) |
1965–66 | group stage [citation needed] group stage [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1964-65 (as Alkmaar '54) Tweede Divisie 1964–65 (as FC Zaanstreek) |
11th 6th (group A) |
- | 1964–65 | first round [citation needed] first round [citation needed] |
| Tweede Divisie 1963–64 (as Alkmaar '54) | 1st (group A); 2nd overall losing play-off | Eerste Divisie (winning promotion tournament) | 1963–64 | first round [citation needed] |
| Tweede Divisie 1962–63 (as Alkmaar '54) | 4th (group A) | - | 1962–63 | semi-finals [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1961-62 (as Alkmaar '54) | 12th (group A) | Tweede Divisie (relegation) | 1961–62 | ? [citation needed] |
| Eredivisie 1960-61 (as Alkmaar '54) | 17th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1960–61 | ? [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1959-60 (as Alkmaar '54) | 1st (group B) | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1959–60 | ? [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1958-59 (as Alkmaar '54) | 4th (group A) | - | 1958–59 | ? [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1957-58 (as Alkmaar '54) | 9th (group A) | - | 1957–58 | ? [citation needed] |
| Eerste Divisie 1956-57 (as Alkmaar '54) | 2nd (group A) | - | 1956–57 | ? [citation needed] |
Notable players
- See also Category:AZ Alkmaar players.
Managers
Alkmaar '54
|
AZ '67
|
AZ
|
See also
Notes and references
- ^ ""We want to win trophies"". AZ. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- ^ "AZ Alkmaar loses 2–1 to Vitesse in Dutch soccer league Saturday". The Canadian Press. 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ "AZ Alkmaar wins Dutch First Division soccer title after PSV downs Ajax". The Canadian Press. 2009-04-19. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ ""Koeman takes over from Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar"". Reuters. 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ^ Alkmaar entlässt Koeman
- ^ Bayern mit Vorkaufsrecht auf Alkmaar-Spieler
- ^ FC Bayern hat "Vorkaufsrecht" bei Alkmaar
- ^ Fcupdate.nl Template:Nl icon
- ^ "Selectie" (in Dutch). AZ. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ "Court gives Dutch bank DSB last chance to find a buyer"
- ^ "Court declares Dutch bank DSB bankrupt"
- ^ "DSB mother company declared bankrupt"
- ^ "New sponsor for AZ"
External links
