Jong AZ

Jong AZ is a professional football club based in Alkmaar, Netherlands. The club, whose name translates to "Young AZ," is the reserve team of the AZ Alkmaar, a prominent Dutch football club that competes in the country's top-tier league, Eredivisie. Jong AZ was established in 1967 and has since been a critical part of the AZ Alkmaar's player development system, nurturing young talents and preparing them for the rigors of professional football.

The team primarily consists of under-21 players, but senior players may also play for Jong AZ if they need to regain match fitness or recover from injury. This blend of youth and experience has been instrumental in the team's success over the years. Jong AZ competes in the Eerste Divisie, the second-highest division of professional football in the Netherlands, also known as the Keuken Kampioen Divisie due to sponsorship reasons.

Jong AZ's journey to the Eerste Divisie was not straightforward. For many years, the team competed in the Beloften Eredivisie, a reserve teams' league, where they won the championship three times. However, in 2016, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) decided to integrate reserve teams into the regular football pyramid, and Jong AZ was promoted to the Tweede Divisie, the third tier of Dutch football. After a successful season, they were promoted to the Eerste Divisie in 2017, where they have been competing ever since.

The club's home matches are played at the AFAS Training Complex, a state-of-the-art facility that also serves as the training ground for AZ Alkmaar. Some of their matches are also held at the AFAS Stadium, the home ground of AZ Alkmaar, particularly high-profile games that attract larger crowds.

Over the years, Jong AZ has produced numerous players who have gone on to have successful careers in professional football. These include Vincent Janssen, who later played for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League and the Dutch national team, and Guus Til, who has represented the Netherlands internationally.

Despite being a reserve team, Jong AZ has its own identity and fan base. The team's matches are well-attended, and the club enjoys strong support from the local community. Jong AZ's success is not just measured in terms of trophies and league positions, but also in the number of players it develops for the first team and beyond. The club's commitment to youth development, combined with its competitive spirit, makes it a vital part of the Dutch football landscape.