Editing AZ Alkmaar (section)

===1993–2009: Scheringa years===
The involvement of businessman Dirk Scheringa in the mid-1990s marked the revival of the club as AZ returned to the Eredivisie, winning the [[1997-98 Eerste Divisie]] title. The club achieved consecutive finishes around the middle positions in the league until ending up in third place in the [[2004-05 Eredivisie]] season, AZ's highest position for 23 years. In the summer of 2006, the club moved to a new 17,000 capacity stadium, [[AZ Stadion]].

Despite playing strongly for the majority of the 2006–07 season, AZ's season ended in disappointment. First, entering the last matchday of the [[2006–07 Eredivisie]] season, AZ led PSV and Ajax on goal difference at the top of the league table, but ended up third after losing their last match against 16th placed team [[S.B.V. Excelsior|Excelsior]], AZ played with ten men for 80 minutes. Additionally, AZ then lost the [[2006–07 KNVB Cup#Final|KNVB Cup final]] to Ajax 8–7 after a penalty shoot-out, while also falling to Ajax over two play-off matches for participation in the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]]. After the season, key players like [[Tim de Cler]], [[Danny Koevermans]] and [[Shota Arveladze]] left the team.

[[File:AZ Larisa UEFA Cup0708.jpg|thumb|right|220px|AZ versus [[Larissa F.C.|Larissa]] in a [[2007–08 UEFA Cup]] match]]
A remarkable run ended in the 2007–08 season: after AZ lost a group stage match against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] (3–2) in the [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], the club's unbeaten run of 32 home matches in European competitions – lasting from 1977 to 2007 – ended. AZ had a poor season, suffering elimination in the first round of the KNVB Cup and the group stage of the UEFA Cup, as well as finishing the [[2007–08 Eredivisie]] in a disappointing 11th place. Towards the latter stages of the season, in March 2008, AZ manager [[Louis van Gaal]] had initially tendered his resignation, but after protests the players and directors, he rescinded his resignation.

The [[2008–09 Eredivisie|2008–09 season]] had an unpromising start after two opening defeats against [[NAC Breda]] and [[ADO Den Haag]]. However, starting with a 1–0 victory over defending league champions PSV, AZ did not lose a match in its next 28 matches, including a run of 11-straight matches where AZ did not concede an opposition goal. Three weeks before the end of the season, AZ became Eredivisie champions, edging nearest title rivals [[FC Twente|Twente]] and Ajax comfortably. This was a historic achievement for the club as this was the first title-winning season for 28 years, and it also meant a return to the [[UEFA Champions League]].

Being league champions, AZ qualified for the [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] for only the second time. It was drawn into a group alongside [[Arsenal FC]], [[Standard Liège]] and [[Olympiacos]] but only took four points from six matches and finished bottom of their group.