Van der Gragt technical manager AZ

Stefanie van der Gragt will become AZ Women’s technical manager starting next season. The 101-time Dutch international is ending her playing career after this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

With this move, the Heerhugowaard native returns to the club with which she became national champion in the 2009-2010 season and won the cup a year later. Van der Gragt made her debut in the AZ shirt in the Champions League when the club took on Brøndby IF on Sept. 30, 2009. Van der Gragt also spent some time as a trainer with AZ O16 last season.

Van der Gragt is expecting a second child with her girlfriend soon. She will finish the season with her current employer, Italian Internazionale, and after the World Cup from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand back in the Netherlands, she will be able to give all her attention to her family.

After AZ, the now 30-year-old defender played for Ajax and European powerhouses Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona, among others. With the Spaniards she even managed to reach the final of the Champions League four years ago.

Robert Eenhoorn, General Director of AZ, is delighted with the arrival of Van der Gragt: “With attracting Stefanie, we have struck a very important blow.”

“Stefanie knows the soccer world inside out and has a worldwide network. With her at the helm of AZ Women, we will build on our way to a successful period.”

Starting with the 2023-2024 season, women’s soccer will return to AZ. It was already announced recently that coach Mark de Vries has signed a one-year commitment. Also earlier this week, Veerle van der Most signed a contract as the first player.