Season 2013/14 was very hit and miss as far as AZ Alkmaar are concerned; the side reached the quarter final of the Europa League, losing to eventual finalists Benfica, and the semi-final of the Dutch Cup, or the KNVB Beker as it's known in the Netherlands. But the delightfully nicknamed "Cheese Farmers", after the local dairy market, could only muster an 8th place finish in the Dutch Eredivisie under Dick Advocaat.

Advocaat left at the end of the season to coach the Serbian national team and was replaced by Dutch legend Marco van Basten. The 49 year old has managerial experience from the Netherlands, Ajax, and most recently SC Heerenveen.

Although Van Basten's record so far as a manager is not entirely impressive, his sole season at Ajax ended in a third place finish, outside of a Champions League qualifying spot. Indeed, his biggest achievement in club football is probably guiding Heerenveen to a fifth place finish last year.

So far at AZ, Van Basten's only signing has been Muamer Tankovic, a 19 year old winger, who signed for the club after his contract at Fulham expired. The Swede only made 6 appearances in the first team at Craven Cottage since signing in 2011, so it may take him some time to get into the first team at the AFAS Stadion.

On the other hand, four players have left the club, two of them being loan deals. Icelandic midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson has joined Charlton Athletic on a costless. The 23 year old played 34 league games for the Cheese Farmers last year and was an integral part of their European success.

Veteran goalkeeper Erik Heijblok has moved to the second tier of Dutch football in the search for playing time at FC Volendam. The 37 year old didn't make a single appearance in a five year stint in Alkmaar.

Meanwhile, youngsters Jonas Heyman and Joris van Overeem will spend the season at Willem II and FC Dordrecht respectively, where they could play against their parent club as both sides were promoted to the Eredivisie last season.

AZ Alkmaar will certainly be hoping to achieve a much higher finishing position in the league this year, and without any European football, the focus will be on doing exactly that. In the long run, this lack of continental competition may be advantageous for the club, but Marco van Basten will have to get the best out of his side.

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About the author
Ryan McCue
Passionate football fan who focuses primarily on the Scottish Premiership and German Bundesliga. Admirer of everything sports related.