106 times before was a winner of the KNVB Beker crowned, starting in 1899 with the final between RAP from Amsterdam and HVV, the ten-time Dutch champions. Underdogs RAP beat HVV 1-0, starting the Dutch Cup's story with a classic cupset and writing the first chapter of the KNVB Beker's epic.
Of the 106 cup finals, the Dutch 'Big Three' unsurprisingly won nearly half. Ajax lead all teams with 20 cup titles, Feyenoord follow with 14, and PSV round out the top three with 11 titles.
However, the Big Three's dominance has taken a hit, as this year's KNVB Beker will not feature Ajax, PSV, or Feyenoord for the second consecutive year. After Go Ahead Eagles famously won their first major trophy since the 1930s last year, surprise packages NEC Nijmegen and AZ will take the stage in the home of the Dutch Cup: De Kuip.
Two teams with different stories and different things at stake in Sunday's final, including the ending of a curse, breaking a negative streak, and a spot in the league phase of next year's UEFA Europa League. Flashscore will tell you all you need to know about the 107th KNVB Beker final.
AZ: The ultimate cup fighters
One quick look at the all-time winners list will tell you that AZ are the ultimate cup fighters. After the Big Three, the Alkmaar outfit lead all Dutch teams in cup titles with 4, joined only by now-amateurs HV&CV Quick, who won all their titles between 1909 and 1916.
The eight-time finalists are out for revenge after losing last year's KNVB Beker final in stunning fashion. With a 1-0 lead in hand, opponents Go Ahead Eagles were given a penalty in the 7th minute of stoppage time. Eagles captain Mats Deijl converted from the spot and inspired his team to the end, which saw Go Ahead Eagles lift the KNVB Beker for the first time after winning a scintillating penalty shootout and AZ lose a cup final for the third time running.
Now, AZ are back once again and ready to give it their all, though it looked unlikely at times.
After being given a first-round bye because of their European duties, AZ comfortably dealt with PEC Zwolle in a 3-1 win. However, they started to lose form and faced a familiar foe in the round of 16: 20-time winners Ajax, who were eliminated by AZ in the same round exactly one year earlier.
Ajax faced the same fate, but in vastly different fashion, as AZ sent the Amsterdam giants home with a shocking 6-0 win. Perhaps even more shockingly, AZ manager Maarten Martens was fired just days later, giving interim manager Lee-Roy Echteld a team still active in the KNVB Beker and UEFA Conference League, and still fighting for European tickets in the Eredivisie.
Echteld's side battled and braved two great storms, beating FC Twente 2-1 after extra time before eliminating underdogs Telstar in the semifinals with another 2-1 win.
AZ are now ready to play their ninth KNVB Beker final and are gunning for a first cup title since 2013.
NEC: Time to finish the story
If there's one collective feeling in the city of Nijmegen this week, it's to fulfil the promise. To finally let go of their underdog status and claim their seat at the table. Because if there's one thing this proud city wants to let go of, it's their tormenting cup nightmare.
Across all domestic cup competitions in Europe, just two existing teams have played in more finals without winning than NEC Nijmegen. Enniessee appeared in the finals in 1973, 1983, 1994, 2000, and 2024, but failed to get their hands on the trophy after each of their five finals. This feat is only outdone by Northern Irish club Larne (6) and FC Ruggell, an amateur club from Liechtenstein with 7 lost finals. NK Varaždin, a defunct Croatian team, lost 6 cup finals before folding in 2015.
Especially in 2024, hopes were high for NEC. Facing Feyenoord in their first final in 24 years, NEC fans were hoping for the best after scoring 18 goals in 5 games and sitting comfortably in sixth in the league after scoring the most goals in a single Eredivisie season in club history. It wasn't their year again, though, as Feyenoord won 1-0 in an evenly contested match that saw NEC's cup sorrows continue another year.
However, it's different this year. Instead of sitting in sixth, NEC are firmly in the battle for second place and aiming for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Dick Schreuder's team are playing their best Eredivisie season ever, and none of it is down to luck. Schreuder has his team play an aggressively attacking style of football, overpowering the opposition around their own box, resulting in absolute goalfests - NEC have scored 72 goals and conceded 48 in 30 Eredivisie games, making NEC fans see an average of 4 goals per game.
Players to watch
On AZ's side, all eyes will be on Kees Smit, the 19-year-old midfielder who's set to make AZ north of €50 million this upcoming summer. With his creativity and excellent vision, Smit will look to set striker Troy Parrott up with chances to add to his season tally of 29 goals. Along with captain Sven Mijnans, who leads AZ with an average Flashscore rating of 7.2, these are AZ's go-to guys for the final.
For NEC, it'll be worth keeping an eye on Kodai Sano as the team's engine and veteran Tjaronn Chery, whose magical left foot has accounted for 15 goals and assists so far. On either side of them, wingers Başar Önal and Sami Ouaissa are set to wreak havoc, as they have done all season with a combined 28 goals and assists.
The favourites
It's always hard to pick a favourite in a cup final. NEC have won four of their last six games and beat Eredivisie champions PSV in the semifinals, while AZ dismantled Ajax in historic fashion and won five of their last seven games across all competitions, but will also have played another European game as Shakhtar Donetsk come to visit Alkmaar in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Conference League.
NEC dominated the two meetings earlier this season, beating AZ 2-1 in Nijmegen and winning 3-1 in Alkmaar to complete a season sweep. Six points keep the two sides apart in the league, with NEC sitting in third and AZ in sixth.
Based on consistency and overall quality, NEC should have the edge in Sunday's final. But never count AZ out, as they were seconds away from winning a fifth KNVB Beker final just 12 months ago.
The final of the KNVB Beker will kick off at 18.00 CET on Sunday, April 19th.
Follow the Dutch Cup final LIVE on Flashscore
