AZ's top position in the Eredivisie is no surprise, given their reliance on youth players. The club's Head of Youth Development, Paul Brandenburg, has been instrumental in the Alkmaarse academy's success. Brandenburg, who has been involved with the club for years, has spoken about the club's approach to youth development. He is joined by other youth exponents, including Kees Smit and Elijah Dijkstra, who have all contributed to the club's success. However, Ernest Poku, a former youth exponent, has left the club. The key to AZ's success lies in their ability to develop and utilise their own youth players, with many of them featuring in the starting line-up.