🏟️ OFFICIAL CLUB PROFILE: AFAS STADION, ALKMAAR

AZ Alkmaar First-Team Squad

Maarten Martens’s AZ are captained by experienced Dutch midfielder Jordy Clasie and led by prolific Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott, who enjoyed a stunning season with 30 goals in all competitions. Creative midfielder Sven Mijnans and highly-rated young talent Kees Smit headline a squad built on the club’s renowned youth development.

Squad correct as of the summer 2026 window, which runs until 1 September — numbers and personnel may change. Follow every AZ fixture and prediction at AI Pro Prediction and our Europa League predictions hub.

AZ Alkmaar: A Complete Guide to the Cheeseheads

Origins and Identity

AZ, formally Alkmaar Zaanstreek, was founded on 10 May 1967 through the merger of two local clubs, Alkmaar ’54 and FC Zaanstreek. Representing the city of Alkmaar and the surrounding Zaanstreek region of North Holland, the club quickly grew into one of the leading forces in Dutch football beyond the traditional “big three” of Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV. The red-and-white colours and the club’s roots in a region famous for its cheese markets have earned AZ and their supporters the affectionate nickname of the “Cheeseheads” (Kaaskoppen).

The club plays its home matches at the modern AFAS Stadion, a compact and atmospheric ground in Alkmaar. Backed by a loyal and passionate fanbase, AZ have established themselves as the standard-bearers for the ambitious clubs of the Netherlands who consistently punch above their weight both domestically and in Europe.

The Golden Years and League Titles

AZ enjoyed their first golden era at the turn of the 1980s. Under the legendary Georg Kessler and inspired by the goals of Kees Kist and the leadership of the Nol de Ruiter era, AZ won their first Eredivisie title in 1980–81, completing a domestic double by also lifting the KNVB Cup. That same season, they reached the final of the UEFA Cup, narrowly losing to Ipswich Town over two legs — a remarkable achievement that announced AZ as a genuine European force.

The club returned to the summit of Dutch football in 2008–09, when a young, dynamic AZ side managed by Louis van Gaal stormed to their second Eredivisie championship, breaking the dominance of the traditional big three. That title-winning campaign remains one of the proudest achievements in the club’s history and cemented AZ’s reputation as a club capable of challenging for major honours.

Honours and Achievements

Across nearly six decades, AZ Alkmaar have built an impressive trophy cabinet for a club of their size:

• Eredivisie: Champions in 1980–81 and 2008–09.
• KNVB Cup: Winners on multiple occasions, including 1978, 1981, 1982, 2013 and again in 2025–26 — a proud record in the Dutch national cup.
• Johan Cruyff Shield: Winners of the Dutch super cup, contested by the league champions and cup winners.
• UEFA Cup: Runners-up in 1980–81, one of the great European runs in Dutch football history.
• European semi-finals: Reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League (2019–20 era) and the UEFA Conference League (2022–23), underlining their continental pedigree.

European Adventures and Big Nights

AZ have long been regarded as one of the most reliable European performers among the Netherlands’ non-traditional powers. Beyond the 1980–81 UEFA Cup final, the club reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League and, in 2022–23, the semi-finals of the inaugural editions of the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they pushed eventual finalists all the way. These runs have made the AFAS Stadion a venue few visiting sides relish, with the compact ground generating a fierce, intimidating atmosphere on European nights.

Over the years AZ have recorded memorable victories against some of the biggest names in the game, and their consistent presence in continental competition has helped raise the Netherlands’ coefficient and reputation. For a club of AZ’s size to remain a European regular, season after season, is a testament to the strength of their recruitment, coaching and academy model — and to the ambition that runs through the entire organisation.

A Model Academy

Perhaps AZ’s greatest modern strength is their outstanding youth academy, widely regarded as one of the very best in Europe. The club’s philosophy is built on developing home-grown talent and playing an attractive, progressive brand of football. This model has produced a steady stream of top players who have gone on to shine at the highest level and command significant transfer fees.

Graduates and stars developed at AZ in recent years include the likes of Owen Wijndal, Myron Boadu, Calvin Stengs, Teun Koopmeiners, Milos Kerkez and Jordy Clasie, alongside a new generation featuring highly coveted young talents such as Kees Smit and Wouter Goes. The academy’s success is central to AZ’s identity and sustainability, allowing the club to compete with far wealthier rivals while continually refreshing its squad with exciting prospects.

Playing Style and the Martens Era

Under head coach Maarten Martens, himself a former AZ player who rose through the club’s coaching ranks, the team plays an energetic, possession-based and attacking style true to the club’s traditions. Martens’s appointment reflected AZ’s commitment to continuity and to promoting from within, trusting a coach who understands the club’s culture and identity intimately.

The current squad blends the experience of captain Jordy Clasie and internationals such as Troy Parrott and Sven Mijnans with a wealth of exciting academy talent. Parrott, the Republic of Ireland striker who joined from Tottenham, has developed into one of the most prolific forwards in the Eredivisie, providing the goals to complement AZ’s creative, front-foot approach.

The 2025–26 Season: Cup Glory and a European Return

The 2025–26 campaign delivered silverware for AZ. Although the league season proved challenging — the club finished seventh in a competitive Eredivisie — AZ produced their best in the knockout competitions. They lifted the 2025–26 KNVB Cup, a triumph that not only added a major trophy to the cabinet but also secured direct qualification for the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League league phase. In Europe, AZ also enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League, further proof of their continental quality.

The standout individual was Troy Parrott, whose remarkable tally of 30 goals in all competitions (15 in the league) made him one of the most feared strikers in the Netherlands. His partnership with the creative talents around him drove AZ’s success in the cups. With European nights returning to the AFAS Stadion, the Cheeseheads have plenty to look forward to. For the latest AZ match previews and score forecasts throughout the season, follow our Europa League match predictions.

Looking Ahead

As AZ Alkmaar enter the 2026–27 season, the goals are clear: to challenge for a European qualification place in the Eredivisie, to make an impact in the Europa League league phase, and to continue developing the outstanding young talent that defines the club. With Maarten Martens’s cohesive project, captain Jordy Clasie’s leadership, Troy Parrott’s goals and a conveyor belt of academy prospects, AZ have every reason for optimism. For a club with such a proud history, a model academy and a passionate North Holland support, the future looks bright for the Cheeseheads as they return to the European stage.