AZ Alkmaar have announced that they have managed to secure the services of former Dutch national team star Marco van Basten as the new manager of the club. Regarded as one of the greatest players in the world, van Basten has not been hugely successful as a manager. However, he will be hoping that his spell at AZ Alkmaar will be much more rewarding than his previous jobs. Van Basten will be replacing Dick Advocaat, who announced several months ago that he would be stepping down from his post at the end of the season.
Advocaat will be going out with his head held high after helping the team reached the quarter-finals of the Europa league. They were ultimately knocked out by Benfica, who have now gone on to reach the finals of the competition for the second consecutive year. Van Basten revealed a few months ago that he would not be extending his contract with Heerenveen. It has been a very successful season for the club, as they have qualified for the Europa league play-off places. They managed to go on the brink of automatic qualification after winning the last four matches in succession.
AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, could only finish eighth in the table and qualify for the Europa league play-off by the skin of their teeth.
“AZ and Marco van Basten on Thursday reached a verbal agreement on a contract as head coach until the summer of 2016. The 49-year-old will succeed Dick Advocaat. The final formalities will be completed over the next few days, after which he can be presented,” said a club statement on the official website of the club. AZ Alkmaar managed to win none of the last five matches and this contributed to their downfall. Van Basten will be hoping to kickstart the club back to Champions League.