AZ Alkmaar has announced that MLB’s Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane has obtained a 5 per cent stake in the Eredivisie club.
Beane has been involved with the football club since 2015 after taking up an advisory role. However, the new partnership has further strengthened his ties with the club.
Robert Eenhoorn, AZ’s general manager stated: “Over the past five years Billy’s advisory role has brought AZ many advantages. In working with him we got to know how wonderful it is to have his breadth and depth of knowledge to our disposal.
“It has proven to be a true asset. Formalising this through this agreement for us means ensuring a sustainable partnership for the future of AZ. Tapping into Billy’s expertise, experience and his extensive network will in our view prove extremely valuable for the future.
“Billy’s experience in leading a major American sports organisation, with a limited budget, speaks for itself and he will play an important part in the development of AZ’s vision and strategy going forward.”
AZ Alkmaar concluded the 2019/20 season in second as the Dutch government opted to cancel its remaining fixtures due to the global health pandemic. As such, the Dutch club is taking part in the qualification stages of the UEFA Champions League, facing Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.
On the new agreement, Beane commented: “I am honoured to formalise my role with AZ and take this next step in being part of the future of the club. Working alongside Robert and the rest of the group here over the last five years has been an incredible experience for me and this agreement ensures the relationship will continue for the foreseeable future.
“I’m proud of all the club has accomplished in recent years and cannot wait to get started working on the future of AZ.”
This is not Beane’s first foray into football with an advisory role, with the Oakland Athletics EVP’s also part of a consortium that currently owns EFL Championship side Barnsley.
René Neelissen, Chairman of the Board concluded: “Through Billy we gain a huge network in the world of sports. We truly feel there is a lot to be won and learned from that. In some aspects football is frontrunner in comparison to other sports, but in many aspects that is exactly the opposite. Billy helped us in acknowledging those gaps and working on them.
“Our vision on the future development of AZ has shown us that we need to ensure the sustainability and long term relationship with Billy by this financial deal. AZ by this deal also shows the openness to external financing.
“For us however external financing should not be limited to monetary factors alone, but should fit into the vision of the club and our plans going forward. All decisions in this area will be driven by expanding AZ’s future both nationally and internationally.”
