Inside Merijn Zeeman's switch from the top of cycling to soccer: "Soccer has so much to learn from other sports"

After 12 years with Visma | Lease a Bike and its predecessors, Zeeman decided it was time for a new challenge. He started at Rabobank in 2013, just 19 days before the team lost its main sponsor due to the Lance Armstrong scandal. What followed was a rollercoaster ride that would make the best theme parks envious. The Dutch cycling team was rebuilt from the ground up, eventually becoming a powerhouse that won all three grand tours in a single year — a feat of cycling history.

After that achievement, Zeeman is now ready to take on the soccer world. At AZ, his arrival has been met with enthusiasm. "I think it’s super exciting that Merijn is coming to work with us," Maarten Martens told NU.nl after AZ’s Europa League match against Galatasaray. "I have enormous respect for what he’s accomplished in cycling. He can bring his experience from that sport to help us. I’ve already called Merijn recently to ask how they handled things at Visma-Lease a Bike, particularly regarding team dynamics and culture. I believe he’ll be a tremendous asset to us. We’re very happy to have him join us," added the Alkmaar head coach.

Midfielder Sven Mijnans is also optimistic about Zeeman’s arrival. "I think soccer has a lot to learn from other sports, especially cycling. Maybe they have different approaches that could work well for us. I always find it interesting when two sports come together like this."

The Dutch cycling team bid farewell to Zeeman on September 30 with a heartfelt video tribute. "Yesterday marked Merijn Zeeman’s final day with our team," the video caption read. "He left us with deep gratitude for everything he brought — unforgettable moments, a lasting impact on our team, and this beautiful message. All the best for the future, Merijn!"