At the last minute, Young AZ still takes a point from Arnhem, 2-2. On a visit to Vitesse it didn’t look forward to it for a long time, but the young Alkmaarders recovered nicely. “We did well in the end,” says trainer Leeroy Echteld afterwards.
The draw is partly due to Lewis Schouten. The 21-year-old defender from Heiloo came after the break at a 2-0 deficit in the team and after that it went a lot better at Jong AZ. “We gained more football,” Schouten admits modestly in front of the camera.
Ups and downs
The early football career of Schouten is one with ups and downs. In May 2023, for example, De Heilooër won the Youth League with AZ O-19 and debuted two months ago for the Alkmaar main force. On the other hand, there are the necessary injuries, so he was also in the rag basket in recent weeks. “My body had to get used to the level of AZ 1, but I am now at the top.”
It is striking that Schouten has a physically strong body for his age. He is now so muscular that he hardly does any strength training anymore. “I do swim and now train more on speed, because I don’t want to become an Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
Text continues under the video.
With the tip against Vitesse, Jong AZ climbs to twelfth place. Next Monday, the Alkmaar talents will compete against the peers of PSV. The game in Wijdewormer starts at 8 p.m.