Pocognoli pens new Alkmaar contract

Belgium defender Sébastien Pocognoli has signed a new contract with AZ Alkmaar that will keep him at the Dutch champions until 2014.

First-team regular
The 21-year-old left back, who joined AZ from KRC Genk in the summer of 2007 and had an initial contract until 2012, has made 53 Eredivisie appearances for the club, scoring four goals. "Sébastien Pocognoli has grown into a regular player at AZ in the past two seasons," said the club's manager of football affairs Marcel Brands. "We are glad that, after important players such as Sergio Romero, Héctor Moreno, Niklas Moisander and Stijn Schaars, he too has extended his contract." AZ's first Dutch league title since 1981 means they will feature in the group stage of next season's UEFA Champions League.