Editing AZ Alkmaar (section)

=== 2014–2019: Van den Brom years ===
The [[2014–15 Eredivisie|2014–15 season]] began with a new manager, former [[SC Heerenveen|Heerenveen]] manager and Ajax great [[Marco van Basten]]. However, after just three matches into the season, Van Basten resigned as manager to become assistant manager under [[Alex Pastoor]], citing heavy stress as the main reason.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2014/09/16/van-basten-doet-stap-terug-bij-az-alex-pastoor-nieuwe-trainer-a1422387|title=Van Basten doet stap terug bij AZ, Alex Pastoor nieuwe trainer|newspaper=NRC |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=21 January 2017|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412185749/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2014/09/16/van-basten-doet-stap-terug-bij-az-alex-pastoor-nieuwe-trainer-a1422387|url-status=live |last1=Zandstra |first1=Philippus }}</ref> Pastoor was the interim manager during two matches under Van Basten's absence and received the official title on 16 September, but contract negotiations failed and he left the club just two days later. A week later, [[John van den Brom]] was appointed manager. Under Van den Brom, AZ quickly rose up to the sub-top, eventually finished the season in third place, surpassing Feyenoord on the final season's matchday and qualifying for the [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|2015–16 Europa League]].

The [[2015–16 Eredivisie]] started with AZ selling most of its first-team players from the previous season during the summer transfer period. As a response, AZ bought players from other Dutch clubs, notably [[Vincent Janssen]] from [[Almere City FC|Almere City]], [[Alireza Jahanbakhsh]] from [[N.E.C. (football club)|NEC]] and [[Ben Rienstra]] from [[PEC Zwolle]]. In December, it was announced free agent [[Ron Vlaar]] signed a contract until the end of the season after training with the club for a few weeks prior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/07/ron-vlaar-az-alkmaar-aston-villa|title=Former Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar joins AZ Alkmaar until end of season|agency=Press Association|date=7 December 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=21 January 2017|archive-date=12 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312062535/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/07/ron-vlaar-az-alkmaar-aston-villa|url-status=live}}</ref> Vlaar quickly became team captain and helped lift AZ from tenth place to a fourth-place finish in the league. Along this rise, new signing Vincent Janssen scored 27 goals for the club, earning him the Eredivisie top goalscorer title. In the [[2015–16 KNVB Cup]], AZ made it to the semi-finals, losing 3–1 to Feyenoord. AZ won the first two qualification rounds to qualify for the 2015–16 Europa League group stage, but finished last in their group.

At the start of the [[2016–17 Eredivisie]], AZ sold last season's performer Vincent Janssen to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and long-time midfielder [[Markus Henriksen]] to [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]. In the [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League|2016–17 Europa League]], AZ finished second in Group D, surviving the group stage for the third time in five seasons.