Thursday 19 March 2015 14:52, UK
Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar have confirmed that Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane has taken up an advisory role with club.
Beane was the subject of the Michael Lewis bestseller Moneyball after he used statistical player analysis to revive the fortunes of the Major League Baseball franchise and take them to the play-offs.
The 52-year-old is a good friend of Damien Comolli, who is thought to have used Beane’s sabermetric approach to talent identification during his time as director of football at Liverpool.
Alkmaar general director Robert Eenhoorn – a former Major League Baseball player himself – said: “AZ was already very interested in the Moneyball principle before I got here.
"I have known Billy for a while, because of my history in baseball. When we approached him for this role with AZ, he was immediately enthusiastic.
“He has been able to close the gap with the big-market teams, by being innovative. We are very excited and look forward to working with him. Billy will give his advice from the States and he will visit Alkmaar a few times a year.”
Beane told Alkmaar’s website: “I am truly excited for the opportunity to be part of AZ Alkmaar in an advisory role.
"Despite being a great football club with a storied history, they face many of the challenges we have with the Oakland A’s. My love for football and AZ’s vision of the future of the club made this an attractive pursuit.”
