CEO Visma-Lease a Bike becomes the new director of AZ

Merijn Zeeman, the current technical director of cycling team Visma-Lease a Bike, formerly Jumbo-Visma, will become the new director of football club AZ. Sources report this to BNR. AZ currently has two management vacancies open.

The choice for Zeeman is ‘surprising’, says BNR sports reporter Jaap de Groot. ‘Because when is it going to start? That is still the question. They have a season ahead of them with the Tour de France and the Olympic Games.’

Zeeman did not want to respond to questions from BNR about a possible position at AZ. ‘There is no way to respond to that now.’

The Alkmaar football club still has a second management vacancy to fill. Robert van Overdijk, the current director of the Zandvoort Circuit, would be in the picture for this, says De Groot. Ajax is also said to be interested in Van Overdijk as a possible successor to suspended director Alex Kroes.

Also read | Share scandal Ajax director ‘not a difficult matter’ for AFM

Ajax announced this morning that the club has suspended recently appointed director Alex Kroes. The club accuses him of insider trading: Kroes is said to have purchased more than 17,000 Ajax shares shortly before taking office.

Also read | Ajax suspends director: trading with insider information

Kroes has asked the AFM for an independent opinion, so the suspension is not yet final. Still, Ajax is probably looking for someone to keep ‘on hand’, says BNR sports reporter Jaap de Groot. That is why Van Overdijk is in the picture. ‘That Robert van Overdijk turns out to be extremely hot. He was already the first candidate at Willem II and he was the most important candidate at FC Twente.’

Increased interest

The interest at Ajax has ensured that AZ is also looking with increased interest at a place for Van Overdijk in the management, says De Groot. ‘Now that a position may become available at Ajax, his name will be taken seriously, also at Ajax, if Alex Kroes were to leave.’