The 2016-17 campaign was a season of transition and European grit for AZ Alkmaar, as the Cheeseheads navigated the departures of key players like Vincent Janssen. The team, relying on the arrival of a powerful new forward, Wout Weghorst, who grabbed 13 crucial league goals, managed to secure a solid 6th-place finish in the Eredivisie, earning a spot in the European play-offs. Crucially, the campaign was marked by an impressive run in the Europa League where they reached the Round of 32 before ultimately falling to Lyon.