Alkmaar Zaanstreek, better known internationally as AZ Alkmaar, or simply and most commonly as AZ 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.
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel is a Dutch football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the manager of Belgian side Royal Antwerp. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackling machine and expert ball-winner, but he also boasts a fine array of passes and a powerful shot, having been a free-kick specialist during his PSV days".
Heracles Almelo is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club has won the Dutch national title twice, in 1927 and 1941. Heracles won the Eerste Divisie title during the 2004–05 season, gaining promotion to the Eredivisie for the first time in 28 years. The club remained in the top division for 17 seasons before suffering relegation at the end of the 2021–22 season. In 2012, they reached the KNVB Cup final for the first time in the club's history, losing to PSV in the final. The club's main rival is FC Twente.
Erwin Koeman is a former Dutch professional football player who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Netherlands national team.
Riemer van der Velde is a Dutch football functionary, who was a chairman of Dutch football club SC Heerenveen. He was in charge of the club for 23 years before resigning on 1 October 2006.
Peter Sylvester Bosz is a Dutch professional football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Dutch Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven.
Gertjan Verbeek is a Dutch former professional footballer who last managed Eerste Divisie side Almere City.
Jürgen Gelsdorf is a German football coach and former player who is currently youth teams coordinator at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
The 2010–11 Eredivisie is the 55th season of Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. It began on 6 August 2010 with the first matches of the season and ended on 29 May 2011 with the last matches of the European competition and relegation playoffs. FC Twente were the reigning champions, having won their first Dutch championship the previous season. A total of 18 teams took part in the league. Ajax won their 30th title after beating FC Twente 3–1 on 15 May 2011.
Alexander Pastoor is a Dutch football manager and former player, who is currently manager of Almere City.
Giliano Wijnaldum is a Dutch former professional footballer of Surinamese descent who plays as a left back. He formerly played for AZ, FC Groningen, Go Ahead Eagles and VfL Bochum.
Kevin Stöger is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club VfL Bochum. He is the younger brother of fellow footballer Pascal Stöger.
The 2013–14 Eredivisie was the 58th season of Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. It began on 2 August 2013 with the first match of the season and ended on 18 May 2014 with the returns of the finals of the European competition and relegation playoffs.
During the 2014–15 season, AZ competed in the Eredivisie for the 17th consecutive season and the KNVB CUP under new manager Marco van Basten, and then John van den Brom after Van Basten relinquished his role after health issues, becoming assistant to Van den Brom. Under Gertjan Verbeek and Dick Advocaat the previous season, AZ lost their title of KNVB Cup to PEC Zwolle after being eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual league winners Ajax and finishing eighth in the league.
Género Zeefuik is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a striker.
Remy Reynierse, is a Dutch football manager and former player. who is currently assistant head coach of EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
The 2017–18 Eredivisie was the 62nd season of the Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. The season began on 11 August 2017 and concluded on 6 May 2018; the Europa League and relegation play-offs took place later that month. Feyenoord were the defending champions from the previous season. On 15 April 2018, PSV became champions for the 24th time after defeating their closest rival Ajax 3–0 at the Philips Stadion.
The 2008–09 season was Feyenoord, in Dutch Eredivisie. the first season under new coach Gertjan Verbeek. On 14 January 2009, the bigger part of the players group declared they did not have any confidence in Gertjan Verbeek. Although the board and the supporters completely backed up Verbeek, the choice was made to sack the trainer because of financial considerations. The rest of the season Leon Vlemmings, who was Verbeek's assistant from the start of the season, was the manager.
Marino Pušić is a Croatian retired footballer working as head manager of Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. As a player and a manager he was also active in futsal.
The 2018–19 season is FC Twente's second visit to the Eerste Divisie following their relegation from the 2017–18 Eredivisie. It marks their return to the second highest division in Dutch football after spending 34 consecutive seasons in the top flight of Dutch football. Marino Pusic was promoted to head coach after filling in as interim manager after the departure of Gertjan Verbeek during the 2017–18 season.
