The continued success of the AZ youth academy: “Stability and tranquility”

To loud applause, the ‘youngsters’ of AZ went to the changing rooms at 4 p.m. yesterday. Just before that, Jan Sierksma’s team defeated Real Madrid 4-0. “I saw a chance to win, but I did not expect this result,” says the AZ youth coach proudly. With this victory, his team advances to the semi-finals of the Youth League. Sporting Portugal is the opponent in Nyon, Switzerland, on April 21.

Stability and tranquility

In the packed stands, Paul Brandenburg fully enjoyed the spectacle against the Spanish top club. The head of youth academy has been with the Alkmaarders for a while. In 2015 he took over from Aloys Wijnker and recently extended his contract until 2028. This performance against Real Madrid again confirms to Brandenburg that he and his team are on to something good. “The stability, tranquility and clear vision ensure this success. In combination with the people who implement it.”

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“This pressure is essential to feel”, Brandenburg believes the importance of this kind of European top competition. “A good example is Wouter Goes. He played all matches in the Youth League last year and now he did very well against Lazio in Rome last week.” The central defender is even allowed to participate in this European youth competition given his age. This also applies to talents such as Maxim Dekker and Myron van Brederode.

Many trainers are on the field every day to help develop new Alkmaar top talents. Sierksma is ultimately responsible for the highest youth team. Last season he won the national title with his selection and lost in the Youth League after penalties in the round of 16 against Italian Juventus. Now on to the last four of the most important European youth tournament. “I think it’s very clever what we’re doing.”

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Players such as Mexx Meerdink, Fedde de Jong, Kees Smit and Ernest Poku were on the field against Real Madrid. It is always difficult to predict who will make it and who will not. But it should be clear that the AZ fans can rub their hands when it comes to new Alkmaar additions. Brandenburg: “I have good expectations if these guys continue to develop like this.”

“direct influence”

Meerdink made his debut for AZ last week in the capital of Italy. And last weekend, Fedde de Jong was in the starting line-up against FC Groningen. “We don’t want our youth players to wobble along, but to have a direct influence on the result of the first team.”

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Martin’s successor

Where young football players are always given the opportunity to take the next step within their training, the same applies to trainers. For example, Sierksma has already coached the necessary teams in recent seasons and he is now linked to Young AZ. The current coach Maarten Martens already announced that he would stop after this season and Sierksma could just be his successor. “Nothing is known about it yet, but we are talking to each other.”

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Tonight, Pascal Jansen’s AZ will play against Lazio in-house. The Alkmaarders defend a 2-1 lead. The winner will advance to the Conference League quarterfinals. Report and reactions can be found on this site afterwards.