Michael Woud

Michael Woud
Personal information
Full name Michael Cornelis Woud[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-16) 16 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Auckland FC
Number 1
Youth career
0000–2014 Waitakere City
2015 Bay Olympic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Bay Olympic
2015–2018 Sunderland 0 (0)
2018–2021 Willem II 5 (0)
2020–2021 → Almere City (loan) 21 (0)
2021 Almere City 29 (0)
2022–2024 Kyoto Sanga 0 (0)
2023 → Ventforet Kofu (loan) 1 (0)
2024– Auckland FC 0 (0)
International career‡
2015 New Zealand U17 9 (0)
2017–2019 New Zealand U20 12 (0)
2021 New Zealand U23 3 (0)
2018– New Zealand 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 July 2024

Michael Cornelis Woud (born 16 January 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for A-League club Auckland FC and the New Zealand national football team.

Club career

Sunderland

Woud first signed a contract to play for Sunderland, but only played for their academy teams.[2] After the contract termination of fellow goalkeeper Mika, Woud acted for a short time as third-choice goalkeeper at the club; following Sunderland's relegation to League One, Woud was one of four goalkeepers training with the first team.

Willem II

On 14 July 2018, with a year remaining on his Sunderland contract, Woud signed a two-year deal with Willem II in the Eredivisie for an undisclosed fee.[3]

Woud made his professional debut on 30 March 2019, in a 3–2 win against Fortuna Sittard.[4]

On 1 July 2020, Woud moved to Eerste Divisie club, Almere City, on a 1-year loan. On 26 January 2021, the loan was made permanent, with Woud signing a deal until June 2024.[5]

Kyoto Sanga

On 4 January 2022, Woud signed with Kyoto Sanga in Japan.[6]

Ventforet Kofu (loan)

On 16 August 2023, Woud signs for Ventforet Kofu on loan transfer for the remainder of 2023 J2 League season.[7]

Auckland FC

On 30 May 2024, Woud was announced as one of Auckland FC's first four signings. [8]

International career

Woud competed for New Zealand in both the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starring in the latter, but being knocked out in the round of 16 on both occasions. He received his first callup to the New Zealand senior team for a friendly against Japan in October 2017, and made his first appearance in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in a 2–1 win over India.

Woud remains eligible for both New Zealand and the Netherlands. In August 2018, Woud was called up to the Netherlands under-20 national team for a friendly against Portugal; however, he rejected this offer in order to further his national career with New Zealand.[9]

Woud played for the New Zealand under-20 football team in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In the round of 16 following a 1–1 draw with Colombia after extra time, Woud made 3 straight saves in the penalty shootout. However, following the third save, the referee ruled that he moved off his line too early and ordered a retake. Colombia went on to win the penalty shootout and advance to the next round.[10]

Woud was called up to play for the New Zealand under-23 football team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[11] Playing in all three pool games,[12] Woud helped the team pickup their first win at the Olympics as well as qualify for the first time to the knockout stage.[13]

Honours

New Zealand U17

New Zealand U20

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: New Zealand" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Young New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud inks three-year pro deal with Sunderland". Stuff. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Willem II Slaagt Voor Eerste Serieuze Test". Willem II (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Isak penalties lead Willem II past 10-man Fortuna Sittard". Football Oranje. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  5. ^ Haak, Jordy (26 January 2021). "Almere City FC neemt Woud definitief over van Willem II". Almere City FC (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. ^ "マイケル・ウッド選手 アルメレ・シティFC（オランダ）より完全移籍加入のお知らせ" (Press release) (in Japanese). Kyoto Sanga. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  7. ^ "マイケル ウッド 選手 京都サンガF.C.より期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ". www.ventforet.jp (in Japanese). Ventforet Kofu. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Kiwi internationals lead Auckland FC's first player announcement". 1 News. 30 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Young goalkeeper Michael Woud committed to New Zealand despite Dutch interest". Stuff. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  10. ^ "FIFA". fifa.com. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. ^ Voerman, Andrew (25 June 2021). "Chris Wood named in OlyWhites, Winston Reid a maybe, Sarpreet Singh left out". Stuff. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  12. ^ Rollo, Phillip (22 July 2021). "OlyWhites make perfect start to Tokyo Olympics with famous win over South Korea". Stuff. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  13. ^ Voerman, Andrew (28 July 2021). "Goalkeeper bounces back as OlyWhites advance to Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals". Stuff.
  14. ^ "New Zealand seal sixth title". Oceania Football Confederation. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2021.