 Dutch soccer club AZ Alkmaar fired coach Pascal Jansen with immediate effect on Wednesday, a day after a narrow escape in the Dutch Cup against amateur club Quick Boys. Maarten Martens, the assistant coach in Alkmaar, succeeds Jansen until the end of the season. The 39-year-old Belgian, who won the national championship with AZ as a player in 2009, coached the second team of AZ for the past two seasons.The change came as no surprise after AZ’s disappointing results by the end of 2023 and a difficult start of the new year. Last Saturday, AZ started the second half of the Eredivisie season with a 2-1 loss to FC Twente, reports Xinhua.AZ are now ranked fourth in the Eredivisie, six points behind No. 2 Feyenoord and four behind No. 3 FC Twente. The top two qualify directly for next season’s Champions League group stage.On Tuesday evening, AZ escaped an embarrassing early exit in the Dutch Cup after winning on penalties in Alkmaar against amateur third division side Quick Boys.Jansen replaced current Feyenoord coach Arne Slot as AZ coach in December 2020. Under Jansen, AZ finished third (2021), fifth (2022) and fourth (2023) in the Eredivisie. In the 2022-2023 season, AZ reached the semifinals of the UEFA Conference League, but this season saw AZ failing to survive the group stage of the Conference League.–IANSbc/){kind=link}
The Hague, Jan 18 (IANS) Dutch soccer membership AZ Alkmaar fired coach Pascal Jansen with rapid impact on Wednesday, a day after a slim escape within the Dutch Cup in opposition to novice membership Fast Boys. Maarten Martens, the assistant coach in Alkmaar, succeeds Jansen till the top of the season. The 39-year-old Belgian, who gained the nationwide championship with AZ as a participant in 2009, coached the second workforce of AZ for the previous two seasons.
The change got here as no shock after AZ’s disappointing outcomes by the top of 2023 and a troublesome begin of the brand new yr. Final Saturday, AZ began the second half of the Eredivisie season with a 2-1 loss to FC Twente, experiences Xinhua.
AZ at the moment are ranked fourth within the Eredivisie, six factors behind No. 2 Feyenoord and 4 behind No. 3 FC Twente. The highest two qualify straight for subsequent season’s Champions League group stage.
On Tuesday night, AZ escaped an embarrassing early exit within the Dutch Cup after profitable on penalties in Alkmaar in opposition to novice third division aspect Fast Boys.
Jansen changed present Feyenoord coach Arne Slot as AZ coach in December 2020. Underneath Jansen, AZ completed third (2021), fifth (2022) and fourth (2023) within the Eredivisie. Within the 2022-2023 season, AZ reached the semifinals of the UEFA Convention League, however this season noticed AZ failing to outlive the group stage of the Convention League.
–IANS
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