AZ Alkmaar

Strong winds in the Netherlands caused the partial collapse of the roof of AZ Alkmaar's AFAS Stadium on Saturday.

Sports writer Brian Wijker shared this photo of the damage:

Als je dit zo ziet, is Alkmaar ontsnapt aan een enorme ramp. #AZStadion pic.twitter.com/dKklzCuhou

— Brian Wijker (@BrianWijker) August 10, 2019

According to Sky Sports, no one was hurt, as AZ were not in the ground at the time.

General manager Robert Eenhoorn reacted to the collapse: "This surprised us all. We are very shocked but happy that there was no human suffering. In the coming days, we will conduct a study with experts in this field. Only when that investigation has been done can we elaborate on the matter. It is much too early for that now."

The Netherlands has been hit hard by inclement weather in recent days. On Friday, a small tornado briefly touched down in the capital of Amsterdam:

INTENSE: A tornado briefly touched down in the heart of Amsterdam Friday, shocking residents 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/mDGKp6nccQ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 10, 2019

According to Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad, AZ had their Saturday training session indoors because of weather warnings. The Dutch side will travel to Waalwijk for a clash with RKC on Sunday and are scheduled to play host to FC Mariupol in a UEFA Europa League qualifier on Thursday.

Eenhoorn acknowledged that match may not be played in Alkmaar: "We have a big problem. Everything will have to be investigated first. I just spoke briefly to the city, fire department and police, but there is little we can say. We don't know exactly what happened. There won't be any matches played in the stadium if the situation isn't safe."

AZ are likely to be cautious, as memories of the 2011 disaster in Enschede are still fresh. Per BBC Sport, two people died and more than a dozen were injured when part of FC Twente's De Grolsch Veste stadium collapsed while construction was going on.

The AFAS Stadium opened in 2006 and seats just over 17,000 fans.

When looking back at this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, one of the most invigorating sub-plots will undoubtedly be the valiant efforts of Team USA.

The heroics of Jurgen Klinsmann’s 23-man squad embodied everything great about the beautiful game and saw the Stars and Stripes win over the hearts of millions across the globe. In fact, their performances were so inspired that the squad even received personal praise from a certain POTUS.

Those 23 men ensured that soccer finally emerged as a serious sport in the States and have now provided a platform for the sport to continue growing over the coming years. It now seems inevitable that the Yanks will eventually become a serious contender for soccer’s ultimate prize and the current crop of players will be remembered as pioneers who planted the seeds for a country to fall in love with the game.

In fact, the spirited displays of Team USA sparked a worldwide love-affair before their elimination to Belgium in the round of 16 and the likes of Tim Howard, Jermain Jones and Kyle Beckerman have become household names across the footballing world. However, there is a forgotten man who was once tipped to be this generation’s Pele: Freddy Adu.

Adu's name is now met with a silence as we mourn about what could have been. However, the news, per Charlie Scott of the Daily Mail, that the former teen prodigy has been handed a trial by Eredivisie side AZ offers one last throw of the dice to the icon that never was.

There's a long road ahead as the attacking midfielder looks to rebuild a career which has been on standby for over a year, but this could signal the start of a new beginning for one of yesteryear's most talked about American sports stars.

There once was a time when the utterance of Adu’s name would have fans salivating at the thought of his future stardom. At the tender age of just 14, the Ghana-born midfielder became a worldwide celebrity when he was, as per Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey, the first picked player of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

A huge future was predicted for the teenage sensation and D.C United was to be the first stepping block en route to becoming the messiah of a generation.

The early signs were promising too. In his rookie season Adu helped United to the MLS Cup, breaking the records, via USASoccer.com, for both youngest player and scorer along the way, and was named an MLS All-Star team twice in his first three seasons as a pro. He additionally dominated the youth international scene, scoring hat-tricks in the both the U17 and U20 World Cups.

By 2006, the teen star had already broken into Team USA’s senior squad. His debut appearance against Canada had seen him become America’s youngest ever capped player and a future as the nation’s saviour seemed virtually guaranteed.

After three years in the capital, Adu swapped D.C for Real Salt Lake where he spent another successful, if unspectacular, campaign in the MLS. In the summer of 2007, the teenager took the next step of his presumed journey to the top by making the switch to European football.

His $2 million transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica, per Jack Bell of the New York Times, would surely offer America’s brightest young talent the chance to prove himself as the country’s greatest ever sporting export.

Unfortunately, though, it has been nothing but a downward spiral since. For a long list of reasons, Adu’s face never really suited Benfica and his four-year spell at the Portuguese club was largely disrupted by a series of loan spells across Europe.

The American hot-shot spent ill-fated interludes at Monaco, Belenenses, Aris and Cayuk Rizespor before his parent club finally lost patience and cut their losses on one of the game’s biggest disappointments.

Unfulfilled potential had become a theme of the youngster’s career and by 2011 he’d also seen his team in the national setup come to an abrupt end —he had amassed just three goals in 17 appearances for Team USA, a far cry from the dizzying heights once predicted.

Adu returned to the MLS with the Philadelphia Union but could never replicate the glory of his early promise. An equally uninspired two-year spell with Brazilian side Bahia, in which he made just two appearances, ended with the Brazilians terminating the midfielder’s contract, per NBC Sports’ Kyle Bonn, in November 2013.

At the age of 24, Adu should have been approaching the peak of his powers and preparing to drag his country to the game’s ultimate prize in 2014.

Instead, as Team USA were still celebrating the double triumph of World Cup qualification and a Gold Cup trophy, Adu found himself stranded on the scrap heap. As Team USA were winning the hearts of millions in Brazil, the forgotten teen superstar was still trying to locate a club willing to take a gamble.

After failing to convince either English side Blackpool, or Norweigan side Stabaek, Adu now finds himself training with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and the early indications, via MLSsoccer.com, are that the Eredivisie side may be ready to offer the now 25-year-old one final shot at cracking the European game.

If AZ are to become Adu’s 10th senior club in a decade then he simply must use this lifeline to resurrect his football career. It has been well over a year since the former teen star made his fourth and final appearance for Bahia and he owes a huge debt to compatriot Earnie Stewart.

Stewart, the director of football at Alkmaar, was part of the D.C. United roster when they made that earth-shattering first draft pick 10 years ago. However, the former United States international insists that this potential salvation is not a gesture of compassion towards his ex-teammate.

Adu will be given at least a week to prove his worth to new manager Marco van Basten but must seize this opportunity with both hands if he is ever to carve out a successful career in the European game.

It has been over a decade since the American infamously burst onto the scene and his fall from grace remains one of football’s most complicated riddles. We’ve seen plenty of potential stars fade into obscurity over the years but the story of Adu has a truly remarkable narrative.

Adu will never reach the astronomical heights that were predicted during the infancy of his career. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of time for the forgotten man to rebuild his reputation and ensure that he is remembered for more than being one of the sport’s unrealised potentials.

AZ has the potential to be the turning point in Adu’s rollercoaster career and the next week may be the most important of his life.

Klinsmann has already shown that the Team USA door will always remain open to any player who performs on a regular basis. If Adu shows the same grit and determination as the national team did in Brazil, we may one day see the former teen prodigy back in the famous Red and White.

Can Freddy Adu reignite his career in Holland? Post your thoughts below.

Playing stats courtesy of Soccerway.

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Eredivisie club Alkmaar Zaanstreek have announced that Marco van Basten will replace current manager Dick Advocaat this summer.

According to the Daily Mail’s Graeme Yorke, the club confirmed the news via its official website on Friday. A statement read: "AZ and Marco van Basten have reached a verbal agreement on a contract as head coach until the summer of 2016."

The 49-year-old, who is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will be a much-welcomed arrival to the AFAS Stadion. He has previously managed both Ajax and the Netherlands national side, before spending three years away from management. Van Basten returned to football in 2012, joining current club Heerenveen.

However, as per Goal.com, "The ex-Ajax boss had already confirmed his intention to leave Heerenveen at the end of the season and will move to the AFAS Stadion once formalities have been completed."

It is believed that the decision to leave the Abe Lenstra Stadion was primarily down to a lack of funds available, which is ultimately preventing the Frisian club from moving forward.

Current AZ boss Dick Advocaat—who only joined on a temporary basis once the season had already started—had, as reported by Football Oranje’s Michael Bell, already declared his desire not to renew his contract at the end of the season and is set to seek a challenge abroad.

The 66-year-old had led the Alkmaar club to the Europa League quarter-final, as well as the KNVB semi-final.

AZ are currently seventh in the Eredivisie standings, five points below Heerenveen, and are set to qualify for the Europa League play-off tournament. A potential meeting between the two would serve up an immensely difficult fixture for Van Basten, and he'll presumably be hoping to avoid that eventuality at all costs.

Alkmaar's final two league matches are against Den Haag and Feyenoord.

 

Is Van Basten the right man for the job? Post your views below.

The Eredivisie’s last remaining hope of continental glory ended on Thursday night as AZ Alkmaar were knocked out of the Europa League with a quarter-final defeat to Benfica.

Dick Advocaat’s men were already trailing the Portuguese league leaders after last week’s 1-0 loss at the AFAS Stadion. Their chances of overturning that deficit against the 2012/13 losing finalists were always going to be slim, and it turned out to be a step too far for the Dutch side.

On the night, it was a double from striker Rodrigo that gave Benfica a 2-0 victory at the Stadio da Luz, adding to Eduardo Silvio’s first-leg winner to complete a comfortable 3-0 aggregate scoreline. In truth, the Dutch side rarely threatened the Portuguese side in either leg and were well and truly outclassed by their superior opponents.

Despite their exit, AZ can look back on this year’s adventure with fond memories and will take pride from their ride to the last eight.

The highlight of their journey undoubtedly came in the last round, as they booked their place in the quarter-final by exacting revenge on Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala —who had beaten them 6-0 over two legs in last year’s competition.

AZ had been flying the Dutch flag alone after Eredivisie champions Ajax were humiliated 6-1 on aggregate by Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in the round of 32; no other club from Holland had progressed beyond the group stage of either European competition.

The elimination completes a disappointing fortnight for AZ, who also lost their KNVB Cup semi-final to Ajax on March 27. Advocaat’s men must now dust themselves off ahead of Sunday’s league meeting with 17th-placed NEC, as they aim to cement their place in the end-of-season Eredivisie play-offs.

Meanwhile, Benfica progress through to Friday’s semi-final draw. The Portuguese giants will be looking to erase the harrowing memories of last year’s final defeat by going one better this term.

Can Benfica go on to lift the trophy on May 14? Post your thoughts below.

Eredivisie's last remaining hope of European glory, Alkmaar Zaanstreek, will play Portuguese side Benfica in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final next month.

Dick Advocaat's side, who in the last 16 were already Holland's final participant (following Ajax's defeat to Red Bull Salzburg in the round of 32), will host the Portuguese league leaders on April 3 before heading to Lisbon for the return leg seven days later.

The quarter-final tie is a reward for seeing off Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala via an impressive 1-0 aggregate score. That victory served as retribution for the Dutch side, who had been embarrassed by the Russians just twelve months ago in the same competition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py-f5_Y3ewQ

After top scorer Aron Johannsson had given them a 1-0 advantage from the penalty spot during the first leg, AZ battled to a credible stalemate in Russia to book their place in the last eight. The clash with Benfica will form part of what will be a pivotal fortnight in the Alkmaar club's season.

In addition to their Europa League commitments, seventh-placed AZ will try to cement their place in the European qualification tournament by winning their key Eredivisie match against eighth-placed PEC Zwolle at home.

AZ then welcome Eredivisie champions Ajax to the AFAS Stadion on March 27 for their semi-final clash in the KNVB Cup, a trophy that the Cheese Farmers lifted last season. Advocaat's men are aiming to win the prize for the fifth time in the club's history.

Advocaat will know that the trip to Benfica, who eliminated Tottenham Hotspur in the last round, will not be easy. The Portuguese league leaders are unbeaten since November and will be regarded as the firm favourites. Still, AZ are used to defying the odds and could cause another huge upset here.

Alkmaar are unlikely to reach the May 14 final in Turin, but they've enjoyed one hell of a ride.

Europa League Quarter-Final Draw:

AZ Alkmaar v Benfica

Lyon v Juventus

Basel v Valencia

Porto v Sevilla

On Thursday night, AZ will welcome Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala to the AFAS Stadion with genuine hopes of reaching the Europa League quarter-finals.

The reigning KNVB Cup winners are the last remaining Dutch side in Europe this season and Dick Advocaat is aiming to mastermind a route to the last eight of this competition by seeing off the challenge of Anzhi.

Russian club Anzhi are no longer the spending powerhouse of a few years back and have subsequently allowed stars like Samuel Eto'o and Lacina Traore to depart. Problems off the field have transpired onto the pitch too and the Russians are currently languishing at the bottom of their domestic league with just 11 points from 20 matches.

That poor league form does not mean that the Russians should be taken lightly. Their impressive 2-0 victory over Genk in the previous round illustrates that on their day they can still perform to a very high standard and AZ will need to be cautious heading into this tie.

The return leg in Russia next week will be an extremely difficult challenge and Advocaat must ensure that his side install an advantage in this home clash.

AZ warmed up for this important tie with back-to-back 4-0 triumphs in Eredivisie—against RKC and Heracles respectively—and will be confident of more goals on Thursday. Last season, Anzhi thumped AZ 5-0 and this contest provides the Dutch club with the perfect opportunity for redemption against the now much weaker Russian opponent.

Whilst Advocaat will be looking to top-scorer Aron Johannsson for goals, defender Nick Viergever may also provide additional ammunition in AZ's pursuit of a first-leg advantage. The 24-year-old has scored three in his last five appearances, including in both matches of the previous round against Slovan Liberec.

If AZ can navigate their way to the quarter-final, it wouldn't only be a fantastic achievement in itself but it would additionally provide a huge momentum boost ahead of their KNVB Cup semi-final later this month. The Dutch Cup holders face Eredivisie champions Ajax—who crashed out of the Europa League against Red Bull Salzburg in the last round—on March 27.

Alkmaar are firm favourites to qualify for the quarter-final but must avoid complacency, particularly in this home leg—with Advocaat in charge, that should not be a problem.

Can AZ book their place in the quarter-finals? Post your thoughts below.

Alkmaar Zaanstreek head into Thursday's Europa League tie with Slovan Liberec as the clear favourites for a place in the last 16 of this year's Champions League, but they must avoid complacency in order to progress.

Dick Advocaat's side took the advantage in this tie courtesy of a late winner from defender Nick Viergever in the Czech Republic last week. The Eredivisie side simply need to avoid defeat at home to book their place in the next round, where they will play the winner of Anzhi Makhachkala and Genk—who are 0-0 after the first leg in Russia.

Last season's KNVB Cup winners did well to top Group L—which was comprised of PAOK Salonika, Maccabi Haifa and Shakhter Karagandy—and should they overcome the challenge of Liberec, then it is almost certain that they will have gone the furthest out of any Dutch club in Europe this season.

With Ajax trailing to Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 after a woeful display in Amsterdam last week, the Eredivisie champions need a miracle if they want to join AZ in the last 16.

Whilst AZ are the clear favourites to reach the next round, Advocaat knows that the work is far from finished. They enter Thursday's clash on the back of a resounding 4-0 defeat away at Ajax and just two victories in their most recent five matches, including that win in Liberec. On a brighter note, their home form has been strong with two wins and a draw in their three matches at the AFAS Stadion so far in 2014.

Another source of optimism for AZ is Slovan Liberec's severe lack of match practice. The Czech league only resumed last weekend, so the trip to Holland is only their third competitive match of the calendar year; after drawing 2-2 with Mlada Boleslav on Sunday, they're still searching for a first win of 2014.

Even before Christmas, Liberec suffered poor domestic form. After Sunday's draw, they have now gone seven league matches without a win and so confidence will be quite low. That last-minute Viergever goal last Thursday was another bitter blow to the Czech club and could prove to be the difference.

AZ's winner not only put them in front, but it completely changed the complexion of the tie thanks to the away goals rule and subsequently puts the Eredivisie side firmly in the driving seat.

Even at 0-0 they would have been fancied to qualify, but there would have always been the danger of Liberec scoring first and then parking the proverbial bus. Viergever's goal ensures that can no longer happen, and the Dutch side really should have enough to progress.

With Anzhi or Genk awaiting them in the next round, there is no reason Advocaat's side can't reach the latter stages of this competition. Their chances of lifting the Europa League trophy on May 14 are slim but, then again, they defied the odds to win last season's KNVB Cup, so perhaps they shouldn't be written off just yet. However, Advocaat is a realist and the Alkmaar club will be more than happy with a place in the last 16.

Whatever happens, at least they'll enjoy the ride.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vJJRc1CN1U

Wednesday's KNVB Beker cup clash between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax was called off before halftime when an unruly fan charged onto the pitch toward AZ goalkeeper Esteban, who wasn't about to take any chances as he beat down the pitch invader.

A video of the incident and its aftermath is embedded above.

The chaos starts with less than 10 minutes until the break when the fan makes a beeline past security and in the direction of Esteban. Both men jump at the same time in an attempt to kick each other, which is a battle the football player wins. Go figure.

After the trespasser crumbles to the turf, Esteban continues to go on the offensive. He kicks the fan twice before the stadium police finally arrive on the scene to apprehend the fan.

But that was just the beginning.

Just when it appeared everything was ready to settle down, referee Bas Nijhuis gives Esteban a red card for his actions. Even though the extra kicks were probably unnecessary, it's hard to blame somebody for defending themselves when a possible lunatic is coming their way.

The decision obviously upsets AZ boss Gertjan Verbeek, who decides to pull his players off the field because of what he probably deemed unsafe playing conditions. No decision has been made in regards to finishing the match.

While nobody was seriously injured during this incident, fans running on the field during sporting events is always a worrisome situation. The players never know if the person is just looking for their 15 minutes of fame or, like in this case, actually going after somebody.

Thankfully there seems to be a decline in on-field incidents in recent years as teams begin to take more measures to prevent them. Today showed they haven't been totally eliminated, however.

Should the game continue at some point in the future, it will pick up with Ajax leading 1-0. Interestingly enough, both teams' next scheduled league game is against each other next month.

An intoxicated 19-year-old spectator invaded the pitch during Wednesday's Dutch Cup Ajax vs. AZ Alkmaar soccer match, ultimately resulting in the contest's premature termination.

Field intrusions at any level are no laughing matter. Hooligans in all sports have been known to wreak havoc after making it into the open field, especially when a player or referee just happens to be nearby when the playing area is being invaded.

So when this spectator—not to be confused with a fan, for fans do not commit such irresponsible and dangerous actions—encroached upon the playing field and attacked AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado, the Costa Rican keeper justifiably fought back.

Yet Alvarado didn't stop after simply kicking his attacker to the ground. He continued wailing on the subject long after he became incapacitated.

The incident occurred during the contest's 35th minute, with Ajax leading 1-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA, and resulted in match referee Bas Nijhuis issuing a red card to Esteban.

Per FIFA Law 12—Fouls and Misconduct—violence of any nature is listed as a sending-off offense. Specifically, the Laws of the Game rules book states, "a player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences...violent conduct."

Furthermore, the law states a player "is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against...and other person."

Alvarado's extra activity—continuing to kick his attacker after his attacker had already been decked—represented conduct in excess of force appropriate and reasonable to protect himself and was correctly penalized by a send-off penalty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZKuqh03zCQ

The rules further specify that disciplinary sanctions, including a send-off, are to be used whenever a player "commits a cautionable or sending-off offence...[towards] any other person." This includes spectators who have invaded the pitch, which are known as "outside agents" under FIFA Law 3. 

However, Alkmaar coach Gert Jan Verbeek might have saved his team by ordering them to leave the pitch after the 35th minute incident.

Referee Nijhuis was then forced to abandon the match, which means Dutch Cup officials and FIFA will now determine whether to resume, conclude or replay the match. Per Law 8, this match likely will be replayed.

Complicating matters, the Amsterdam ArenA is Ajax's home field, meaning a supporter of the home team evaded the home team's field security to attack a visiting player.

Because Verbeek and Alkmaar club director Toon Gerbrands had gone on the record saying, "The players didn't feel safe anymore." FIFA will encounter a complex situation in determining whether Alvarado will or will not be eligible when the match is replayed or resumed.

It is almost always the home team's responsibility to provide adequate security during events. The security staff must ensure the safety of both teams and other on-field personnel, while assuring absolutely no outside agents—streakers, attackers or otherwise—get within striking distance of any person they have been designated to protect.

Ajax security clearly failed to adequately protect the players—stewards should have arrived on scene far before Alvardo started excessively beating the outside agent—and as a result, officials will have to consider whether this match was abandoned because of Ajax's security failing, Alkmaar's voluntary withdrawal in protest or a combination of the two.

Because play could not continue after the outside agent's field intrusion and before Alkmaar's voluntary withdrawal from the pitch, Nijhuis' report to FIFA and Dutch football officials will play a huge role in determining who is at fault for the match's abandonment—specifically whether Nijhuis abandoned the match due to "infringement of the Laws" or due to "outside interference of any kind" (Law 5).

If officials determine the match was abandoned because of both an Ajax security lapse and Alkmaar's protest, they will have to consider what one event was most at fault for causing the game's vacation.

In the grand scheme of things, there are responses which are appropriate and proportional to the stimuli that produce such reactions and there are responses which are not.

In the end, Alvarado was correctly disciplined for his infringement of the Laws, clearly violating the "excessive force" component of Law 12 by kicking the outside agent while said agent was down and no longer an imminent threat.

Alvarado's reaction was over the line per FIFA Laws, an illegal offense punishable by no less than a send-off, which is exactly what happened March 8, 2011 when Dorchester Town's Ashley Vickers was ejected for tackling a Borat-inspired streaker to the ground.

As for the person who committed the field intrusion, he was arrested and should expect penalties, not the least of which will be a multi-year ban from Ajax facilities.