2015–16 AZ Alkmaar season

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.

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

Background

European football returns 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 have been 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

Arrivals

  • The following players moved to AZ.
Name Position Previous club Fee Date
Joris van OvereemCM DordrechtReturn from loanJune 2015
Fernando LewisLW DordrechtReturn from loanJune 2015
Raymond GyasiRW Roda JCReturn from loanJune 2015
Denni AvdicST HeraclesReturn from loanJune 2015
Eli BabaljST PECReturn from loanJune 2015
Jonas HeymansLB Willem IIReturn from loanJune 2015
Jop van der LindenLB Go Ahead EaglesFreeJune 2015
Gino CoutinhoGK Excelsior RotterdamFreeJune 2015
Levi GarciaFW Central FCUndisclosedJune 2015
Vincent JanssenCF Almere City€100,000June 2015
Alireza JahanbakhshFW N.E.C.UndisclosedAugust 2015
Rajko BrežančićLB FK ČukaričkiUndisclosedAugust 2015

Departures

  • The following players moved from AZ.
Name Position New club Fee Date
Nemanja GudeljCMAjax€6 millionJune 2015
Wesley HoedtCBLazioCompensationJune 2015
Simon PoulsenLBPSVFreeJune 2015
Esteban AlvaradoGKUnattachedFreeJune 2015
Yves de WinterGKSint-Truidense V.V.FreeJune 2015
Steven BerghuisFWWatford F.C.undisclosedJuly 2015
Aron JóhannssonSTWerder Bremen€5 millionAugust 2015

Loans

  • The following players moved to new clubs whilst under contract at AZ.
Name Position New club Loan period
Eli Babalj CF Adelaide United 30/06/2017

Pre-season friendlies

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'

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'
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
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 Dundee United Dirkshorn
Henriksen  21'

Luckassen  56'
Gouweleeuw  78'(pen.)

Spittal  28'
Stadium: Sportpark Veersloot
Referee: Danny Makkelie
18 July 2015 AZ 3-0 SC Telstar Alkmaar
Janssen  24'
Luckassen  50'
Janssen  66'
Stadium: AFAS Stadion
Referee: Martin van den Kerkhof
24 July 2015 AZ 1-0 Al Wasl Putten
Mühren  75' Stadium: Sportpark Puttereng
Referee: Steven van der Vrande

Statistics

Top goalscorers

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

Goals conceded

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

Europa League

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 İstanbul Başakşehir Alkmaar

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

Statistics

Top goalscorers

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

Goals conceded

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

Eredivisie

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

Top goalscorers

Rank Player (pen.)
1.
Total

Goals conceded

Against Scorers (pen.)

Total

League table

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[lower-alpha 1]
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[lower-alpha 2]
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.[1]
(O) Play-off winner.
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

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

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player (pen.)
1.
Total

Goals conceded

Against Scorers (pen.)

Total

Squad Performance

Player League starts (pen.) Cup starts (pen.) European starts (pen.)
Goalkeepers
01.Sergio Rochet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16.Gino Coutinho 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25.Nick Olij 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
02.Mattias Johansson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
03.Jeffrey Gouweleeuw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
04.Jan Wuytens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
05.Rajko Brežančić 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14.Jop van der Linden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15.Donny Gorter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17.Djavan Anderson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23.Derrick Luckassen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24.Ridgeciano Haps 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33.Pantelis Hatzidiakos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34.Joris Kramer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
06.Celso Ortiz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
08.Joris van Overeem 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10.Markus Henriksen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19.Dabney dos Santos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20.Thom Haye 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26.Stijn Spierings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36.Alexander Sigurdarson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
38.Thomas Ouwejan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
40.Jeremy Helmer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Attackers
07.Guus Hupperts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
09.Alireza Jahanbakhsh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11.Muamer Tankovic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12.Vincent Janssen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21.Robert Mühren 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22.Achille Vaarnold 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27.Raymond Gyasi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28.Levi Garcia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29.Fernando Lewis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

International Appearances

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

Toulon Tournament

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 2015U213.Derrick LuckassenU2310U21 3-2 U23
8.Thom Haye10
10.Joris van Overeem10
29 May 201510.Joris van OvereemU2310U21 1-3 U23
31 May 20153.Derrick LuckassenU2310U21 5-1 U23
8.Thom Haye10
4 June 20153.Derrick LuckassenU2110U21 0-4 U21
8.Thom Haye10
10.Joris van Overeem10

Gold Cup

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 20159.Aron Jóhannsson00 2-1
11 July 20159.Aron Jóhannsson10 1-0
14 July 20159.Aron Jóhannsson-- x-x

EURO 2016 Qualification

Date National Team Player Opposition Appearances Goals Result
12 June 201517.Steven Berghuis00 0-2

Friendlies

Date National Team Player Opposition Appearances Goals Result
5 June 20159.Aron Jóhannsson10 3-4
5 June 201517.Steven Berghuis00 3-4
10 June 20159.Aron Jóhannsson10 1-2
4 July 20159.Aron Jóhannsson00 4-0

UEFA Ranking

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).

RankCountryTeamPoints
42Liverpool47.078
43Metalist Kharkiv47.033
44AZ45.612
45Twente43.695
46Roma43.602
As of 28/05/2015[2]

References

  1. "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.
  2. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club/index.html
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