Dave Brailsford, a few years back, left INEOS Grenadiers for a coaching job within Nice and Manchester United. He will not be the only big cycling figure to make the move to football, as Team Visma | Lease a Bike DS is reported to be leaving the team to join the Netherlands' AZ Alkmaar.
The Dutch team has finished fourth in the last two Dutch championships and is looking to climb steps up the ladder. They attempt an unusual method, by bringing in a managing figure from the sport of cycling in Merijn Zeeman, the man who has led Visma to several Tour de France, Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia victories over the past few years. Zeeman is the main DS at Visma, and is part of the block that involves all team leaders.
Recently, Zeeman had said that “I haven't been approached yet. They can always call me, but whether I answer is another matter. It doesn't matter. I definitely think that I would like to make the move to football at some point, but that is not current at the moment,”
Now, it is reported by Wielerflits that the move has been confirmed according to internal sources, but that it has not yet been communicated within the team. This will most likely happen soon, but the departure is only likely to happen after the end of the 2024 season. Before that, Zeeman is still set to be in the car during the 2024 Tour where Jonas Vingegaard will look to achieve a third consecutive victory.
🇳🇱 Merijn Zeeman is leaving Team Visma | Lease a Bike at the end of the current season. He is currently the Technical and Sports Director and one of the architects of the team's success. Zeeman will take on a director role at AZ Alkmaar, a Dutch football team. (@WielerFlits)
