AZ Alkmaar: All you need to know

Friday’s UEFA Europa League draw has confirmed our round of 16 opponents as AZ Alkmaar.

Here are the key things to know ahead of the first leg at AFAS Stadion on Thursday 6 March.

Route to the round of 16

AZ will be a familiar name to our fans after our 1-0 win over them on Matchday Three in this season’s league phase - Richarlison’s penalty was all that separated the two teams in N17.

The Dutch club followed that result with two wins and two draws, securing a knockout phase berth with one game to spare.

They shook off the tag of the unseeded team in the play-offs with a statement 4-1 win in the home leg versus Galatasaray. A 2-2 draw in Istanbul confirmed their place in the round of 16.

Season at a glance

A long-time fixture in the upper reaches of the Eredivisie table, AZ are once again contending for European qualification, sitting just three points adrift of a Champions League qualifying round place.

Der Kaasboeren (the Cheese Farmers) are fighting on multiple fronts, with a KNVB Cup semi-final coming up this week in addition to their European progress.

Player and manager watch

Academy graduate Troy Parrott has enjoyed a impressive first season so far for AZ following his summer move away from the Club. His 17 goals in all competitions are almost double the next highest tally at AZ, and he’s played in every single game for his club thus far.

Manager Maarten Martens has just completed his first full year at the helm at the AFAS Stadion, having progressed from roles as AZ’s under-21 and first-team assistant manager since 2021. After exiting last season’s UEFA Europa Conference League at the group stage, this campaign represents Martens’ deepest run in Europe so far.

Our record vs AZ

October’s win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was our only competitive fixture vs AZ to date.

Mikey Moore's best moments against AZ

AZ Alkmaar squad list

Goalkeepers

1 Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro *
12 Hobie Verhulst
13 Sem Westerveld
31 Daniël Deen *
41 Jeroen Zoet
53 Tristan Kuijsten *
56 Arouna Kabba *
64 Koen Schilder *
65 Jur Schipper *
73 Kiyani Zeggen *

Defenders

4 Bruno Martins Indi
5 Alexandre Penetra
16 Seiya Maikuma
18 David Møller Wolfe
22 Maxim Dekker *
30 Denso Kasius
34 Mees de Wit
44 Joeri Oud *
47 Rayan Atikallah *
51 Jorn Berkhout
58 Jeremiah Esajas *
60 Mathijs Menu *
69 Jurre van Aken *
71 Jereno van Gom *
72 Sem Dekkers *
74 Jesper Zwart *
75 Misha Engel

Midfielders

3 Wouter Goes *
6 Peer Koopmeiners
8 Jordy Clasie
10 Sven Mijnans
14 Kristijan Belić
24 Lewis Schouten *
26 Kees Smit *
28 Zico Buurmeester
33 Dave Kwakman *
48 Kasper Boogaard *
52 Elijah Dijkstra *
57 Job Kalisvaart *
59 Lev Lenssen *
61 Julian Oerip *
62 Enoch Mastoras *
63 Rio Robbemond *
67 Ilias Splinter *
68 Nick Twisk *
76 Tómas Johannessen
79 Bohdan Budko

Forwards

7 Ruben van Bommel
9 Troy Parrott
11 Ibrahim Sadiq
17 Jayden Addai *
21 Ernest Poku *
23 Mayckel Lahdo
25 Lequincio Zeefuik
35 Mexx Meerdink *
37 Ro-Zangelo Daal *
46 Adam Ait Ali Oulhaj *
49 Wassim Bouziane *
54 Jayen Gerold *
55 Jasper Hartog *
66 Anthony Smits *
70 Yoël van den Ban *
77 Kevin Toppenberg
78 Sem Van Duijn

* Player list B