It meant a lot to Zeeman that several riders were present at AZ-Galatasaray: "It was great and fantastic"

As of Sunday, Merijn Zeeman is officially the new general manager of soccer club AZ. After sixteen years in professional cycling and twelve years at Visma | Lease a Bike, the man from Dutchman was up for something new. What could be better than joining your 'own club'? Zeeman did look back on his cycling years in conversation with his new employer.

Zeeman began his career as a coach with the Dutch formation. In 2017, he advanced to the position of sports director. Since then, the team has grown quickly, and a world-class team has been created.

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Seaman and Van Aert

"I made friends for life"

"The first years were not always easy," Zeeman reflects. "After Rabobank left as a sponsor, we faced tough times. But with much hard work and perseverance, we eventually built a formation that performed the impossible in 2023: winning the Giro, the Tour, and the Vuelta in one season. That was the highlight of my career there."

Sporting success, however, is not measured only in victories, according to Zeeman. "The best part of this time was the friendships I built. Those go far beyond cycling itself. I made friends for life." And that was evident more than a week ago during the game AZ-Galatasaray. Zeeman was surprised by the presence of several Visma | Lease a Bike riders. Steven Kruijswijk initiated the visit. "It was great and fantastic. It gave me a very warm feeling. They were all present. That they made the effort to surprise me here meant a lot to me."

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Kruijswijk initiated visit from Visma l Lease a Bike riders

Zeeman really leaves Visma | Lease a Bike behind now, focus goes to AZ

Zeeman was approached by AZ when former director Robert Eenkhoorn announced he was quitting. "I was sports director at Team Visma | Lease a Bike, where I always enjoyed myself. It was, therefore, a decision I did not take lightly. We had a lot of meetings before I decided to come to AZ. I have been in professional cycling for sixteen years; before that, I was in amateur cycling. I am turning 46, and soccer has always interested me. I finally felt I was ready for a new challenge."

Yet soccer cannot be compared to cycling, Zeeman observes in conversation with the NOS. For example, soccer players are by no means physically weaker than cyclists. "You cannot say: a cyclist cycles for three weeks in a row, so a footballer must be able to do the same. They are different sports with a different impact on the body."

These were busy days for Zeeman in the media, as more interviews kept coming here and there. These are the last moments he will talk about cycling. "I am now with AZ and Visma | Lease a Bike is done," concludes the soccer boss.

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