Editing AZ Alkmaar (section)

=== 2020–2024: Slot–Jansen years ===
After an excellent [[2019–20 Eredivisie|2019/20 season]] in which AZ beat league leaders [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] home and away, aided by consistent performances from youth academy talents such as [[Teun Koopmeiners]], [[Myron Boadu]], [[Calvin Stengs]] and [[Owen Wijndal]], the season was forced to end early due to the effects of the [[COVID-19]] pandemic. Joint on points with Ajax at the top of the table, AZ were given second place on goal difference, and subsequently earned Qualification to the [[2020–21 UEFA Champions League#Second qualifying round|Champions League second qualifying round]].

A poor start to their [[2020–21 Eredivisie|2020/21 Eredivisie]] campaign saw AZ draw five games in a row, before eventually picking up a victory against [[RKC Waalwijk]] on 1 November 2020.
[[File:Матч «Динамо» - АЗ 2-0. 15 сентября 2020 года — 1137461.jpg|thumb|244x244px|AZ Alkmaar's squad in a match against [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] in the Champions League qualifiers 2021.]]
AZ also struggled in European competitions this season. Despite a strong start, with a 3–1 extra time come back against [[FC Viktoria Plzeň|Viktoria Plzen]] in the Champions League qualifiers, the club lost 2–0 to [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] several weeks later, seeing them fall back into the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]. After victory against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] and [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] early in the pool stages, AZ was on track to advance, though lost to [[Real Sociedad]] away, obtained a 0–0 draw in the reverse fixture, and also drew 1–1 with [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]. Following these results, AZ needed to defeat [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] away to advance. However, the departure the week before the game of manager [[Arne Slot]] saw an unorganised team lose 2–1 to Rijeka, ending their European dream.

In 2022–2023, AZ stepped up their performance in Europa Conference League play, winning five out of six Group E matches against [[SC Dnipro-1]], [[Apollon Limassol FC|Apollon Limassol]] and [[FC Vaduz|Vaduz]], then beating [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] 4–2 on aggregate. However, their run was ended by defeats to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], with AZ's home leg marred by supporter violence.<ref>{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Jacob |date=2023-05-19 |title=AZ Alkmaar coach ashamed after fans confront West Ham players families |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/19/i-feel-ashamed-az-alkmaar-manager-apologises-following-fan-trouble |work=The Guardian |access-date=2023-05-19 |ref=none |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519150337/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/19/i-feel-ashamed-az-alkmaar-manager-apologises-following-fan-trouble |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In the 2023–24 season, AZ had a disappointed season, they get eliminated early in the group stage of the [[2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League|UEFA Conference League]]. After only winning against the amateurs club [[Quick Boys]] on penalty shootout in the [[2023–24 KNVB Cup|KNVB]], AZ fired coach [[Pascal Jansen]] on 17 January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=AZ neemt per direct afscheid van trainer Jansen: 'Jammer en teleurstellend' |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2505253-az-neemt-per-direct-afscheid-van-trainer-jansen-jammer-en-teleurstellend |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=nos.nl |language=nl}}</ref>