Maarten Martens sacked by AZ despite 6-0 win against Ajax
Alkmaar – In one of the most ruthless decisions of the Eredivisie season, AZ Alkmaar has sacked head coach Maarten Martens. The dismissal comes less than a week after Martens led the team to a historic 6-0 victory over rivals Ajax in the KNVB Cup.
Despite the cup heroics, the club’s management decided that the league performance—leaving AZ stranded in 8th place—was simply unacceptable. Leeroy Echteld has been appointed as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Table of Contents
- The Shock: From Hero to Zero in 4 Days
- The Reason: “More Potential in This Squad”
- Who is Leeroy Echteld?
- The Season So Far: 8th Place Crisis
- Key Takeaways
- Dutch Learning Corner
- Community CTA
The Shock: From Hero to Zero in 4 Days
Football is a cruel business. Just last Wednesday, Maarten Martens was celebrated for masterminding a tactical humiliation of Ajax (6-0).
However, the euphoria was short-lived. A disappointing 3-1 loss to PEC Zwolle on Saturday proved to be the final straw.
“Sadly, this is the end of the line for me,” Martens stated on the club’s website. “Although this decision is still fresh, I look back with pride… We worked hard every day to achieve the best possible results.”
The Reason: “More Potential in This Squad”
Technical Director Max Huiberts did not mince words explaining the decision.
“We are strongly convinced there is more potential in this squad than we have seen recently,” Huiberts said.
The underlying message is clear: A cup run is nice, but consistent league performance is non-negotiable. AZ expects to challenge the “Top 3” (PSV, Feyenoord, Ajax), not fight for scraps in the mid-table. The lack of stability and progress over the last two years under Martens forced the board’s hand.
Who is Leeroy Echteld?
To steady the ship, AZ has promoted from within.
Leeroy Echteld, formerly the coach of Jong AZ (the youth team), takes charge immediately.
* Mission: Save the season.
* Goals: Secure a European football spot and navigate the upcoming Conference League knockout stage against FC Noah (Armenia).
Echteld is known for his discipline and knowledge of the club’s youth pipeline, which is AZ’s most valuable asset.
The Season So Far: 8th Place Crisis
A look at the table explains the panic in Alkmaar.
AZ currently sits in 8th place in the Eredivisie.
* The Gap: They are trailing behind clubs like FC Twente and Sparta Rotterdam.
* The Risk: Missing out on European football would be a financial disaster for a club with AZ’s budget.
While they are still alive in the Conference League and KNVB Cup, the inconsistency in the weekly league matches was deemed too risky to continue.
Key Takeaways
- The Sacking: Maarten Martens fired despite recent 6-0 win vs Ajax.
- The Trigger: Loss to PEC Zwolle and poor league position (8th).
- The Replacement: Youth coach Leeroy Echteld takes over as interim.
- The Quote: “There is more potential in this squad.” – Max Huiberts.
Dutch Learning Corner
| Word | Pronun. (Eng) | Meaning | Context (NL + EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👋 Het Ontslag | Het Ont-slakh | Dismissal / Sacking | Het ontslag van de trainer kwam onverwacht. (The dismissal of the trainer came unexpectedly.) |
| ⚽ De Hoofdtrainer | De Hoft-tray-ner | Head Coach | De nieuwe hoofdtrainer begint morgen. (The new head coach starts tomorrow.) |
| 📉 De Ranglijst | De Rang-leyst | Ranking / Table | AZ staat te laag op de ranglijst. (AZ is too low on the ranking.) |
| 🏆 De Bekerwinst | De Bay-ker-winst | Cup Victory | Ondanks de bekerwinst moest hij weg. (Despite the cup victory, he had to go.) |
Fair or Unfair?
Is firing a coach days after a historic 6-0 win against Ajax justified because of league results? Or is football management becoming too impatient? Share your opinion.
Source / Sports: AZ Alkmaar Official
