Former AZ chairman Arie Ligthart passed away at the age of 93. Ligthart was chairman from 1972 to 1988 and was later appointed honorary chairman of the Alkmaar football club.
The former resident of Heiloo was chairman when the brothers Cees and Klaas Molenaar took over the football club. The brothers provided a quality injection. In 1981, AZ became national champion for the first time in club history. The cup was also won in 1978, 1981 and 1982. After those successes it became less and AZ was relegated from the premier league in 1988.
In front of the polonaise
Lighthart was known as a flamboyant man who regularly led the way in the polonaise. He liked to organize a party and when André Hazes and Imca Marina came to perform, he also liked to sing along.
In addition to the chairmanship, he also worked as a sales manager at cheese factory Eyssen in Alkmaar. After his career he moved to the Spanish island of Tenerife. He passed away there last Friday.