The 2001-02 campaign delivered a steady, mid-table season for AZ Alkmaar as the 'Cheeseheads' secured a respectable 10th-place finish in the Eredivisie. Leading the charge was the reliable centre-forward Robin Nelisse, whose 13 goals in the league proved decisive, a crucial contribution in a campaign built on consistency and development for a squad featuring young talents like Jan Kromkamp and Barry Opdam. It was a foundational year that solidified their top-flight position and remains a chapter of quiet consolidation before the club's later golden era.