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Team Focus: Calculating Van den Brom has AZ on the Right Path

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 Team Focus: Calculating Van den Brom has AZ on the Right Path To say the last few years for the club from Alkmaar have been eventful is an understatement. AZ, crowned Dutch champions in 2009, ended last season eighth, 16 points behind third-place FC Twente. With two games remaining there's a possibility they can make their highest finish since winning the titl...

Player Focus: Jóhannsson Excelling in Altidore's Absence

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Player Focus: Jóhannsson Excelling in Altidore's Absence It's funny how a song can remind you of someone. Born in the USA, for example, in one part of the Netherlands is now synonymous with Jozy Altidore. Bruce Springsteen's anthem was heard a total of 20 times at the AFAS Stadion – home of AZ – last season, one for each goal. Replacing him, h...

Player Focus: Remember the Name - Jeffrey Gouweleeuw

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Player Focus: Remember the Name - Jeffrey Gouweleeuw Defending, according to former midfielder-turned-analyst Jan van Halst, is almost a dirty word in the Netherlands. It's not surprising when the underlying coaching philosophy is attack-oriented, that when it comes to defenders they're expected to combine the art of defending with playmaking. A conte...

Team Focus: Verbeek Ready to Lead AZ to Europe

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Team Focus: Verbeek Ready to Lead AZ to Europe It takes a lot to dampen the spirits of Gertjan Verbeek. His AZ side finished 10th – 37 points behind the champions – last season. A poor start, with three wins from 16 games, sealed their fate. It would have driven a lesser manager to insanity and closer to the exit, but not Verbeek. He...