Dutch Cup Final: Can NEC End the Drought or Will AZ Claim Their Fifth Trophy?

The KNVB Beker, which has seen 106 champions crowned since its inception in 1899, kicked off with a memorable final where RAP, a lesser-known club from Amsterdam, triumphed over HVV, the ten-time Dutch champions, with a score of 1-0. This stunning upset marked the beginning of an illustrious history for the Dutch Cup, forever etched into its narrative.

Among the 106 finals held, it’s no surprise that the Dutch footballing giants—Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV—have dominated the cup, collectively securing nearly half of the titles. Ajax boasts the highest tally with 20 cup victories, followed by Feyenoord with 14, and PSV with 11 titles to their name.

However, the dominance of the ‘Big Three’ in this year’s KNVB Beker is absent yet again, as Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord have all failed to progress for the second year running. Following the historic victory of Go Ahead Eagles, who claimed their first major trophy since the 1930s last season, this year’s finals will see surprise contenders NEC Nijmegen and AZ battle it out at De Kuip, the traditional home of the Dutch Cup.

AZ: The ultimate cup competitors

A quick glance at the all-time winners list reveals that AZ are among the fiercest contenders for cup glory. Following the ‘Big Three’, the team from Alkmaar holds the distinction of leading all other Dutch clubs with 4 cup titles, alongside amateur club HV&CV Quick, who claimed all their titles between 1909 and 1916.

Having reached the finals on eight occasions, AZ are eager for redemption following last year’s dramatic KNVB Beker final loss. They entered the match with a 1-0 lead only for Go Ahead Eagles to receive a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Eagles captain Mats Deijl converted the penalty, inspiring his side to an unforgettable victory, with the Eagles claiming the cup after winning a breathtaking penalty shootout, leaving AZ with a third consecutive cup final defeat.

Determined to change their fate, AZ returned resolutely, having secured a bye in the first round due to their European commitments. They comfortably dispatched PEC Zwolle with a 3-1 victory. However, they faced a tough challenge in the round of 16 against Ajax—a club they had eliminated at the same stage the previous year.

Ajax met the same fate but in a much more surprising manner, as AZ thrashed the Amsterdam team with a stunning 6-0 scoreline. Remarkably, just days later, AZ made the surprising decision to terminate manager Maarten Martens and appointed interim manager Lee-Roy Echteld, who now guides a squad still competing in the KNVB Beker, the UEFA Conference League, and the Eredivisie’s European qualification race.

Echteld’s team showed resilience in tough circumstances, coming through a challenging tie with FC Twente. They claimed a 2-1 victory after extra time and eliminated the underdogs Telstar with another 2-1 win in the semifinals.

Now, AZ are poised to take part in their ninth KNVB Beker final, determined to claim their first title since 2013.

NEC: Time to write a new chapter

This week, the sentiment in Nijmegen is all about promise—longing to shed their underdog label and secure their rightful place at the top. After all, this proud city wishes to finally end their agonising cup saga.

In the realm of European domestic cup competitions, only two existing teams have reached more finals than NEC Nijmegen without ever lifting the trophy. Enniessee has made appearances in the finals in 1973, 1983, 1994, 2000, and 2024, without ever claiming the cup. This record is surpassed only by Northern Ireland’s Larne (6) and FC Ruggell, an amateur club from Liechtenstein with 7 finals without a win. The now-defunct Croatian club, NK Varaždin, also faced a similar fate as they lost 6 cup finals before folding in 2015.

In 2024, NEC entered their first final in 24 years against Feyenoord with high hopes after netting 18 goals across five games and sitting comfortably in sixth position in the league, boasting the highest goal tally in a single Eredivisie season in the club’s history. However, their dreams were dashed yet again, with Feyenoord winning 1-0 in a closely contested match, extending NEC’s misery in cup competitions.

This year, however, the narrative is different. Rather than occupying sixth place, NEC is firmly in contention for a Champions League spot and battling for second place in the league. Under the guidance of Dick Schreuder, the team has delivered their finest Eredivisie season to date, showcasing their attacking prowess. This is no mere stroke of luck; they have been playing an exhilarating style of football that overwhelms opponents in their own half. In the current campaign, NEC has netted 72 goals while conceding 48 in 30 Eredivisie matches, resulting in an impressive average of 4 goals per game for their fans.

Key Players

For NEC, keep an eye on Kodai Sano, the heartbeat of the team, alongside veteran Tjaronn Chery, whose creative left foot has contributed 15 goals and assists so far. Flanking them are the danger men, wingers Başar Önal and Sami Ouaissa, who have caused chaos throughout the season with a combined tally of 28 goals and assists.

Favourites for the Final

Choosing a favourite in a cup final can be a daunting task. NEC has claimed victory in four of their last six matches, including a significant win over Eredivisie champions PSV in the semifinals. Meanwhile, AZ recently made headlines by dominating Ajax and have emerged victorious in five of their last seven matches across all competitions. They will, however, also be contesting another European match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Conference League.

In their two encounters earlier this season, NEC had the upper hand, defeating AZ 2-1 in Nijmegen and achieving a 3-1 victory in Alkmaar for a complete season sweep. As they stand in the league, NEC holds third place with a six-point lead over AZ, who sit in sixth place.

Given their consistent performances and overall quality, NEC seems to hold the advantage going into Sunday’s final. Yet, underestimating AZ would be a mistake, as they were just seconds away from clinching their fifth KNVB Beker title only a year ago.

The KNVB Beker final is set to kick off at 18:00 CET on Sunday, April 19th.