West Ham’s opponents AZ Alkmaar go to seriously extreme measures

Alkmaar are getting lots of press ahead of the huge clash.

West Ham clash drives up interest levels in AZ model

There is a fascination around the Dutch club’s model which Moyes himself has admitted he greatly admires.

But many fans may not have realised just what that model entails.

West Ham’s semi-final opponents AZ Alkmaar go to seriously extreme measures as reports lift the lid on brain tests and data-diving.

From brain-testing academy hopefuls in a bid to try and predict the future to being part-owned by the man behind the famous Moneyball model – West Ham’s opponents Alkmaar are very unique indeed.

West Ham’s semi-final opponents AZ Alkmaar go to seriously extreme measures as reports lift lid on brain tests and data-diving

Sky Sports have produced a fascinating feature on Alkmaar which goes into detail about the BrainFirst testing the club carries out on young players.

West Ham’s semi-final opponents have been studying the brains of players as young as 12 to better understand their potential.

“AZ look for players who are not only outliers physically, mentally, tactically and technically but also cognitively,” Eric Castien tells Sky Sports.

He is the founder of BrainsFirst, the organisation recruited by the Eredivisie club to test the brains of their youngsters.

Brain testing kids and big connection to the real life Mr Moneyball

“If you are at the elite level at 16, maybe even with the national team, but score poorly repeatedly on our tests, then AZ would most likely not hire you. It is about identifying future potential not primarily current performance as almost all clubs still do.”

BBC Sport have also run a lengthy and equally interesting feature on the side hoping to wreck West Ham’s dreams of winning a first major trophy for 43 years.

Billy Beane is the real-life inspiration for Brad Pitt’s character in the movie Moneyball. And he has an association with AZ going back nearly a decade, BBC Sport reports.

He pioneered the use of statistical data to turn around the fortunes of Major League Baseball team Oakland Athletics, with his methods since applied to other teams in both baseball and football.

In 2020, he bought a 5% stake in AZ, having acted as an adviser to them for the previous five years – and now they are gunning for their second European final, after losing the 1981Uefa Cup final to Ipswich Town.

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