2015–16 AZ Alkmaar season

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AZ Alkmaar
Full nameAlkmaar Zaanstreek
AZ Alkmaar
2015/16 season
ChairmanRené Neelissen
ManagerJohn van den Brom
GroundAFAS Stadion
Eredivisie4th
KNVB BekerSemi-final
Europa LeagueGroup stage

During the 2015–16 season AZ competed in the Eredivisie for the 18th consecutive season the KNVB Beker and the Europa League after qualifying for the 3rd qualification round due to finishing 3rd the previous season.

Background[edit]

European football returned after a one-year hiatus. John van den Brom finished third last season with Marco van Basten his assistant. Several key players moved elsewhere including captain Nemanja Gudelj and fan favourite Simon Poulsen.

Several youth players were promoted to the first team the same year the club won the Rinus Michels award for best youth academy and youth development programme in the Netherlands, beating Feyenoord who won this award each of the five preceding years.

Transfers[edit]

Arrivals[edit]

  • The following players moved to AZ.
Name Position Previous club Fee Date
upward-facing green arrow Netherlands Joris van Overeem CM Netherlands Dordrecht Return from loan June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Netherlands Fernando Lewis LW Netherlands Dordrecht Return from loan June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Netherlands Raymond Gyasi RW Netherlands Roda JC Return from loan June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Sweden Denni Avdic ST Netherlands Heracles Return from loan June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Australia Eli Babalj ST Netherlands PEC Return from loan June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Belgium Jonas Heymans LB Netherlands Willem II Return from loan June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Netherlands Jop van der Linden LB Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles Free June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Netherlands Gino Coutinho GK Netherlands Excelsior Rotterdam Free June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Trinidad and Tobago Levi Garcia FW Trinidad and Tobago Central FC Undisclosed June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Netherlands Vincent Janssen CF Netherlands Almere City €100,000 June 2015
upward-facing green arrow Iran Alireza Jahanbakhsh FW Netherlands N.E.C. Undisclosed August 2015
upward-facing green arrow Serbia Rajko Brežančić LB Serbia FK Čukarički Undisclosed August 2015

Departures[edit]

  • The following players moved from AZ.
Name Position New club Fee Date
downward-facing red arrow Serbia Nemanja Gudelj CM NetherlandsAjax €6 million June 2015
downward-facing red arrow Netherlands Wesley Hoedt CB ItalyLazio Compensation June 2015
downward-facing red arrow Denmark Simon Poulsen LB NetherlandsPSV Free June 2015
downward-facing red arrow Costa Rica Esteban Alvarado GK Unattached Free June 2015
downward-facing red arrow Belgium Yves de Winter GK BelgiumSint-Truidense V.V. Free June 2015
downward-facing red arrow Netherlands Steven Berghuis FW EnglandWatford F.C. undisclosed July 2015
downward-facing red arrow United States Aron Jóhannsson ST GermanyWerder Bremen €5 million August 2015

Loans[edit]

  • The following players moved to new clubs whilst under contract at AZ.
Name Position New club Loan period
downward-facing red arrow AustraliaEli Babalj CF AustraliaAdelaide United 30/06/2017

Pre-season friendlies[edit]

The first training session for the new season began on 28 June. Friendlies were arranged with smaller teams in the Netherlands as well as two additional friendlies against foreign teams touring the Netherlands. A training camp was also arranged the week before competitive football in the Europa League by 30 July.

4 July 2015 Dirkshorn Regional Selection XI 2-7 AZ Dirkshorn
De Bruin 26'

De Bruin 44'		 [1]
van Overeem 32'

Janssen 54'
Janssen 74'
Gyasi 81'
Janssen 86'
Lewis 87'
Lewis 90+1'		 Stadium: Sportcomplex De Veersloot
Referee: Luca Cantineau
8 July 2015 AFC '34 1-8 AZ Robonsbosweg, Alkmaar





Inecia 45'		 [2] Janssen 5'
Janssen 19'
van Overeem 22'
Janssen 27'
Van der Linden 38'(pen.)

Mühren 46'
Helmer 78'
Helmer 88'		 Stadium: Gemeentelijk Sportpark
Referee: Sander Brito de Roque
11 July 2015 Fortuna Sittard 0-5 AZ Sittard
[3] Janssen 35'
Dos Santos 44'
Janssen 52'
Van Overeem 55'
Luckassen 79'		 Stadium: Offermans Joosten Stadion
Referee: Jeroen Sanders
14 July 2015 AZ 3-1 ScotlandDundee United Dirkshorn
Henriksen 21'

Luckassen 56'
Gouweleeuw 78'(pen.)		 [4]
Spittal 28'		 Stadium: Sportpark Veersloot
Referee: Danny Makkelie
18 July 2015 AZ 3-0 SC Telstar Alkmaar
Janssen 24'
Luckassen 50'
Janssen 66'		 [5] Stadium: AFAS Stadion
Referee: Martin van den Kerkhof
24 July 2015 AZ 1-0 United Arab EmiratesAl Wasl Putten
Mühren 75' [6] Stadium: Sportpark Puttereng
Referee: Steven van der Vrande

Statistics[edit]

Top goalscorers

Rank Player (pen.)
1. Netherlands Janssen 10
2= Netherlands van Overeem
Netherlands Luckassen 		3
=4. Netherlands Lewis
Netherlands Helmer
Netherlands Mühren 		2
=7. Netherlands Gyasi
Netherlands Dos Santos
Norway Henriksen
Netherlands Van der Linden
Netherlands Gouweleeuw 		1
1
1
0(1)
0(1)
Total
Total inc. pen. 		25 (2)
27

Goals conceded

Against Scorers (pen.)
Netherlands Dirkshorn Regional Selection XI Netherlands De Bruin x2 2
Netherlands AFC '34 Netherlands Inecia 1
Netherlands Fortuna Sittard NA 0
Scotland Dundee United Scotland Spittal 1
Netherlands SC Telstar NA 0
United Arab Emirates Al Wasl NA 0
Total 4

Europa League[edit]

AZ qualified for the 3rd qualification round of the Europa League after finishing the league in 3rd position in the previous season. Due to previous runs in the competition, the club had a high coefficient and was seeded for the draw meaning a favourable draw against weaker opposition was likely. The first game was scheduled for 30 July with the return leg on 6 August.

30 July 2015 Europa League Third Qualifying Round, First Leg AZ 2-0 Turkeyİstanbul Başakşehir Alkmaar

Van der Linden 17'(pen.)
Janssen 63'		 [7] Babacan (GK) Stadium: AFAS Stadion
Attendance: 11,723
Referee: Kevin Clancy
6 August 2015 Europa League Third Qualifying Round, Second Leg Turkeyİstanbul Başakşehir 1 - 2
(1 - 4 agg.)		 AZ Başakşehir, Istanbul
Doka Madureira 45'
Gençer Cansev Yellow card 74'		 Summary Henriksen 21'
Johansson Yellow card 74'
van Overeem 75'		 Stadium: Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium
Attendance: 5,289
Referee: Spain Carlos Clos Gómez
20 August 2015 Europa League Play off, First Leg Romania Astra Giurgiu 3 - 2 Netherlands AZ Giurgiu
Fernando Boldrin 25'
Oros Yellow card 30'
Alibec 41'
Dandea 45+3'
Enache Yellow card 52'
Pedro Queirós Yellow card 72'		 Summary van Overeem Yellow card 9'
Henriksen 11' Yellow card 22'
Janssen 13'
Luckassen Yellow card 40'
Johansson Yellow card 73'		 Stadium: Stadionul Marin Anastasovici
Attendance: 3,712
Referee: Slovenia Slavko Vinčić

Statistics[edit]

Top goalscorers

Rank Player (pen.)
=1. Netherlands Janssen
Netherlands Van der Linden 		1
0(1)
Total
Total inc. pen. 		1 (1)
2

Goals conceded

Against Scorers (pen.)
Turkeyİstanbul Başakşehir
Total
Total inc. pen.

Eredivisie[edit]

9 August 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 1 AZ v Ajax Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
15 August 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 2 Excelsior v AZ Rotterdam
Stadium: Stadion Woudestein
15 August 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 3 AZ v Willem II Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
30 August 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 4 AZ v Roda JC Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
12 September 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 5 De Graafschap v AZ Doetinchem
Stadium: De Vijverberg
20 September 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 6 Groningen v AZ Groningen
Stadium: Euroborg
26 September 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 7 AZ v Heracles Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
4 October 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 8 AZ v Twente Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
4 October 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 9 Cambuur v AZ Leeuwarden
Stadium: Cambuur Stadion
25 October 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 10 Feyenoord v AZ Rotterdam
Stadium: De Kuip
1 November 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 11 AZ v NEC Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
8 November 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 12 Vitesse v AZ Arnhem
Stadium: GelreDome
21 November 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 13 AZ v Heerenveen Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
29 November 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 14 PSV v AZ Eindhoven
Stadium: Philips Stadion
4 December 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 15 AZ v ADO Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
13 December 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 16 PEC v AZ Zwolle
Stadium: IJsseldelta Stadion
19 December 2015 Eredivisie Matchday 17 AZ v Utrecht Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
Winter Break v 22 December 2015 - 14 January 2016
16 January 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 18 Roda JC v AZ Kerkrade
Stadium: Parkstad Limburg Stadion
24 January 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 19 AZ v Feyenoord Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
27 January 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 20 AZ v Cambuur Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
30 January 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 21 NEC v AZ Nijmegen
Stadium: Goffertstadion
6 February 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 22 AZ v Vitesse Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
13 February 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 23 Heracles v AZ Almelo
Stadium: Polman Stadion
20 February 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 24 AZ v Groningen Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
28 February 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 25 Ajax v AZ Amsterdam
Stadium: Amsterdam ArenA
5 March 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 26 AZ v Excelsior Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
12 March 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 27 Willem II v AZ Limburg
Stadium: Koning Willem II Stadion
20 March 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 28 Twente v AZ Enschede
Stadium: De Grolsch Veste
2 April 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 29 AZ v PSV Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
10 April 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 30 Heerenveen v AZ Heerenveen
Stadium: Abe Lenstra Stadion
16 April 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 31 AZ v PEC Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
20 April 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 32 ADO v AZ The Hague
Stadium: Kyocera Stadion
1 May 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 33 AZ v De Graafschap Alkmaar
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
8 May 2016 Eredivisie Matchday 34 Utrecht v AZ Rotterdam
Stadium: Stadion Galgenwaard

Statistics[edit]

Top goalscorers

Rank Player (pen.)
1.
Total

Goals conceded

Against Scorers (pen.)

Total

League table[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
2 Ajax 34 25 7 2 81 21 +60 82 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3 Feyenoord 34 19 6 9 62 40 +22 63 Qualification for the Europa League group stage[a]
4 AZ 34 18 5 11 70 53 +17 59 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
5 Utrecht 34 15 8 11 57 48 +9 53 Qualification for the European competition play-offs[b]
6 Heracles Almelo (O) 34 14 9 11 47 49 −2 51
Source: Eredivisie, NUsport, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off (only if deciding champion, European competitions, or relegation); 8) Draw.[8]
(O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. ^ Feyenoord qualified for the Europa League group stage by winning the 2015–16 KNVB Cup.
  2. ^ Four teams played for one spot in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

KNVB Beker[edit]

23 September 2015 KNVB Beker; Round 2 AZ 6 - 1 VVV-Venlo Alkmaar
van der Linden 8' (pen.)
Tanković 37' 82'
Mühren 70'
Henriksen 78' 80'		 Summary Kristiaan Haagen Red card 7'
Kruijsen Yellow card 13'
Fleuren Yellow card 48'
van Crooy 69'		 Stadium: AFAS Stadion
Attendance: 7,188
Referee: Netherlands Richard Liesveld
29 October 2015 KNVB Beker; Round 3 Telstar 0 - 1 AZ Velsen
Zonneveld Yellow card 78'
Serrarens Yellow card 83'
van Berkel Yellow card 85'		 Summary van Overeem 68'
Haye Yellow card 83'
Ortiz Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Telstar Stadion
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Netherlands Dennis Higler
16 December 2015 Last 16 Kozakken Boys 1 - 3 AZ Werkendam
Jesper Hogedoorn Red card 39'
Tecleab Yellow card 58'
Grot Yellow card 67'
Bryan Jongeneel 72'
Quentin Jacoba Yellow card 83'		 Summary Gouweleeuw 41' (pen.) 83' (pen.)
Luckassen Yellow card 67'
Haye Yellow card 73'
Mühren 88'		 Stadium: Sportpark De Zwaaier
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Netherlands Siemen Mulder
2 February 2016 Quarter Final AZ 1 - 0 HHC Hardenberg Alkmaar
Janssen 8'
Garcia Yellow card 59'
Henriksen Yellow card 82'		 Summary Koos Werkman Yellow card 40'
Stijn Pol Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: AFAS Stadion
Attendance: 7,623
Referee: Netherlands Pol van Boekel
3 March 2016 Semi Final Feyenoord 3 - 1 AZ Rotterdam
Henriksen 15' (o.g.)
Toornstra Yellow card 58'
Kramer 78'
Kuyt 85' (pen.)
Elia Yellow card 86'		 Summary Luckassen Yellow card 1'
Henriksen 46'
van Overeem Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 47,500
Referee: Netherlands Danny Makkelie

Statistics[edit]

Top goalscorers

Rank Player (pen.)
1.
Total

Goals conceded

Against Scorers (pen.)

Total

Squad Performance[edit]

Player League starts (pen.) downward-facing red arrow upward-facing green arrow Cup starts (pen.) downward-facing red arrow upward-facing green arrow European starts (pen.) downward-facing red arrow upward-facing green arrow
Goalkeepers
01.UruguaySergio Rochet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16.NetherlandsGino Coutinho 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25.NetherlandsNick Olij 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
02.SwedenMattias Johansson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
03.NetherlandsJeffrey Gouweleeuw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
04.BelgiumJan Wuytens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
05.SerbiaRajko Brežančić 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14.NetherlandsJop van der Linden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15.NetherlandsDonny Gorter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17.NetherlandsDjavan Anderson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23.NetherlandsDerrick Luckassen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24.NetherlandsRidgeciano Haps 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33.GreecePantelis Hatzidiakos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34.NetherlandsJoris Kramer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
06.ParaguayCelso Ortiz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
08.NetherlandsJoris van Overeem 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10.NorwayMarkus Henriksen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19.NetherlandsDabney dos Santos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20.NetherlandsThom Haye 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26.NetherlandsStijn Spierings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36.IcelandAlexander Sigurdarson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
38.NetherlandsThomas Ouwejan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
40.NetherlandsJeremy Helmer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Attackers
07.NetherlandsGuus Hupperts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
09.IranAlireza Jahanbakhsh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11.SwedenMuamer Tankovic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12.NetherlandsVincent Janssen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21.NetherlandsRobert Mühren 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22.NetherlandsAchille Vaarnold 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27.NetherlandsRaymond Gyasi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28.Trinidad and TobagoLevi Garcia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29.NetherlandsFernando Lewis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

International Appearances[edit]

The following first team players either played or were involved for their respective national teams during the season:

Toulon Tournament[edit]

Three players were involved in this invitational tournament for youth teams throughout the world and all played for the Netherlands under 21s or Jong Oranje. The Netherlands team failed to progress from the group stages after two wins and two draws; France and The United States of America progressed from group A.

Date National Team Player Opposition Appearances Goals Result
27 May 2015 NetherlandsU21 3.Derrick Luckassen Costa RicaU23 1 0 U21Netherlands 3-2 Costa RicaU23
8.Thom Haye 1 0
10.Joris van Overeem 1 0
29 May 2015 10.Joris van Overeem United StatesU23 1 0 U21Netherlands 1-3 United StatesU23
31 May 2015 3.Derrick Luckassen QatarU23 1 0 U21Netherlands 5-1 QatarU23
8.Thom Haye 1 0
4 June 2015 3.Derrick Luckassen FranceU21 1 0 U21Netherlands 0-4 FranceU21
8.Thom Haye 1 0
10.Joris van Overeem 1 0

Gold Cup[edit]

Aron Jóhannsson is the only internationalist from the CONCACAF association eligible to play in this tournament.

Date National Team Player Opposition Appearances Goals Result
8 July 2015 United States 9.Aron Jóhannsson Honduras 0 0 United States 2-1 Honduras
11 July 2015 9.Aron Jóhannsson Haiti 1 0 United States 1-0 Haiti
14 July 2015 9.Aron Jóhannsson Panama - - Panama x-x United States

EURO 2016 Qualification[edit]

Date National Team Player Opposition Appearances Goals Result
12 June 2015 Netherlands 17.Steven Berghuis Latvia 0 0 Latvia 0-2 Netherlands

Friendlies[edit]

Date National Team Player Opposition Appearances Goals Result
5 June 2015 United States 9.Aron Jóhannsson Netherlands 1 0 Netherlands 3-4 United States
5 June 2015 Netherlands 17.Steven Berghuis United States 0 0 Netherlands 3-4 United States
10 June 2015 United States 9.Aron Jóhannsson Germany 1 0 Germany 1-2 United States
4 July 2015 United States 9.Aron Jóhannsson Guatemala 0 0 United States 4-0 Guatemala

UEFA Ranking[edit]

After the 2014-15 season where AZ did not compete in European competitions the club fell 8 places to 44th.

This places the club in third place overall in domestic terms: Ajax (26) lead PSV (30) following AZ (44), FC Twente (45) and Feyenoord (95).

Rank Country Team Points
42 England Liverpool 47.078
43 Ukraine Metalist Kharkiv 47.033
44 Netherlands AZ 45.612
45 Netherlands Twente 43.695
46 Italy Roma 43.602
As of 28/05/2015[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "AZ start met winst in Dirkshorn".
  2. ^ "Laatste nieuws over AZ".
  3. ^ "AZ haalt uit in Sittard".
  4. ^ Report [dead link]
  5. ^ Wedstrijdid [dead link]
  6. ^ AZ Al Wasl [dead link]
  7. ^ AZ vs. Başakşehir [dead link]
  8. ^ "Reglementen betaald voetbal Seizoen 2015/'16" [Regulations professional football 2015–16 season] (pdf) (in Dutch). Royal Dutch Football Association. p. 44. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2015-06-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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