Moneyball's Billy Beane advising Dutch football club AZ

The football club AZ has appointed American sports legend Billy Beane (52) as club adviser, AZ announced on their website yesterday. Beane, the general manager of Major League Baseball team Oakland Athletics, will advise AZ in the field of elite sport policy and innovation. 

Almost two decades ago, Beane became a celebrity in the baseball world thanks to the so-called Moneyball principle. The principle allowed him as manager to get amazing results based on in-depth statistical analysis.

“I am truly excited for the opportunity to be part of AZ Alkmaar in an advisory role," Beane stated. "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."

“We’ve had a lot of contact with Billy In the last few months”, said Earnest Stewart, Director of Football Affairs at AZ. “His knowledge and ideas are impressive. Also Billy’s soccer network is excellent. We have already noticed that Billy thinks two steps ahead in the area of innovation. That’s what really connects with the ambitions of AZ,” he said in a statement from the club.