Football fans often demand that their teams compete on all fronts, but page 4 of the May 2014 matchday programme reveals the terrifying physical toll of actually doing so. The “De Tegenstander” (The Opponent) section profiles AZ Alkmaar ahead of the playoff final, highlighting a statistical reality that borders on athletic cruelty.
The text notes that when AZ stepped onto the pitch at the Euroborg that afternoon, it was for their 58th official match of the 2013/2014 season. It was the longest season in the club’s history. They had fought on four fronts: playing the Johan Cruijff Schaal against Ajax in July, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League against Benfica, reaching the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker, and grinding through the Eredivisie. The article notes that despite this monumental effort, they had “missed out everywhere just barely.”
Now, completely exhausted, they were forced into a playoff final against a red-hot FC Groningen. But the programme also reveals why they couldn’t just give up. The text quotes departing AZ director Toon Gerbrands, who bluntly states the financial reality of the fixture: reaching the group stage of the Europa League could yield approximately 2.5 million euros. For a sub-top Dutch club, that is a transformative sum of money. This page perfectly captures the brutal, exhausting, and highly lucrative reality of the European playoffs.
A Look into the Future
The 58-match marathon ended in heartbreak for AZ Alkmaar, as they were swept aside by a much fresher, highly motivated Groningen side. The financial blow of missing out on that €2.5 million European ticket was significant, but AZ’s structural foundation remained strong. Under the guidance of incoming manager Marco van Basten (and later John van den Brom), they continued to be a dominant force in the Eredivisie sub-top. However, this 2014 programme remains a fascinating case study in the dangers of fixture congestion and the sheer physical endurance required to survive a modern European football season.