AZ sack head coach ahead of Conference League clash with Noah

Dutch club AZ have officially announced the dismissal of head coach Maarten Martens ahead of their UEFA Conference League round of 32 matches against Armenian side Noah.

According to the Alkmaar club’s press service, Martens’ contract was terminated with immediate effect due to the team’s disappointing results in the domestic league. The final straw was a 1–3 defeat to PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie, which saw AZ drop to eighth place in the standings. Notably, just three days earlier the club had recorded an emphatic 6–0 victory over Ajax in the KNVB Cup.

AZ director of football affairs Max Huiberts described the decision as “extremely difficult,” stressing that the club had expected more consistency and progress from the team.

“We are convinced that the potential of this squad is significantly higher than what we have seen recently. Despite numerous analyses and discussions, we were unable to achieve the necessary development, which forced us to take this tough decision,” Huiberts said.

Martens returned to AZ in the summer of 2021. He initially spent two seasons in charge of Jong AZ, later worked as an assistant and interim coach, and was appointed head coach of the first team in January 2024. Under his leadership, AZ reached the Europa League knockout stage last season, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by eventual winners Tottenham, and also made it to the KNVB Cup final, losing on penalties.

Martens himself thanked the club, players and supporters, noting that he is proud of the work done and wishing AZ success and trophies already this season.

For the remainder of the campaign, the team will be led by 57-year-old Leroy Echteld, who previously worked with Jong AZ. Under his guidance, the reserve team set a club record for points (56) in the 2023/24 Eerste Divisie season. Echteld has also been part of the Netherlands youth national team coaching staff and worked as an assistant at AZ, PSG and PEC Zwolle.

AZ will face Noah in the UEFA Conference League round of 32. The first leg will take place on February 19 in Yerevan, with the return match scheduled for February 26 in Alkmaar.