Michael_de_Leeuw
Michael de Leeuw
Dutch footballer (born 1986)
Michael Jeroen Maarten Michiel de Leeuw (born 7 October 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Eerste Divisie club Willem II.[1]
|
De Leeuw with Chicago Fire in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Jeroen Maarten Michiel de Leeuw | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-10-07) 7 October 1986 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Goirle, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Willem II | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| DWC | |||
| RKTVV Tilburg | |||
| 2007–2009 | Willem II | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2011 | Veendam | 67 | (38) |
| 2011–2012 | De Graafschap | 33 | (10) |
| 2012–2016 | Groningen | 111 | (48) |
| 2016–2018 | Chicago Fire | 57 | (12) |
| 2019–2021 | Emmen | 71 | (25) |
| 2021–2022 | Groningen | 31 | (4) |
| 2022– | Willem II | 33 | (7) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:25, 16 June 2023 (UTC) | |||
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Born in Goirle, De Leeuw began his career at amateur clubs DWC and RKTVV before joining the youth department of Willem II. He never broke through to the first team, and therefore chose to play for BV Veendam in the Dutch second division.
Veendam
De Leeuw was placed as a striker in his first year for Veendam, and he was an immediate success, scoring 25 goals in 36 league matches. At the end of the year, he won the topscorer award and the award for 'Talent of the Year', for the most talented player of the season.[2] He was chased by several clubs in the Eredivisie and clubs abroad, but in the end chose to stay in Veendam.[3][4]
Groningen
On 22 May 2012, FC Groningen announced that they had signed De Leeuw. He helped the club win the KNVB Cup in 2014–15 against defending champions PEC Zwolle. It was their first major trophy and they qualified for the UEFA Europa League.[5][6]
Chicago Fire
On 17 May 2016, the Chicago Fire announced they have signed De Leeuw to a three-year deal through 2018 with a club option for 2019.[7]
In his first season with Chicago, De Leeuw contributed seven goals and three assists across 17 games. In his second season with Chicago, de Leeuw's role switched to supporting striker behind Nemanja Nikolić, who led the league in scoring in 2017. In his new role, De Leeuw contributed a career high eight assists along with three goals. His season was cut short by a ruptured ACL injury suffered against New York City FC on 30 September 2017.[8] De Leeuw was released by Chicago at the end of their 2018 season.[9]
Emmen
On 31 December 2018, De Leeuw signed a one-and-a-half year deal with FC Emmen with an option for an additional year.[10]
Return to Groningen
On 26 March 2021, De Leeuw returned to Groningen when he signed a contract for the 2021–22 season.[11] On 26 October, he scored his first goal back with the team in a 2–0 victory over AZ.[12]
Return to Willem II
On 10 August 2022, de Leeuw returned to his youth club Willem II on a two-year contract.[13]
- As of match played on 23 July 2020
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| BV Veendam | 2009–10 | Eerste Divisie | 36 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 | 25 | |
| 2010–11 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 14 | ||
| Total | 67 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 71 | 39 | ||
| De Graafschap | 2011–12 | Eredivisie | 33 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 11 |
| Groningen | 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 30 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 12 |
| 2013–14 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 9 | ||
| 2014–15 | 28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 24 | ||
| 2015–16 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 10 | ||
| Total | 109 | 46 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 133 | 55 | ||
| Chicago Fire | 2016 | MLS | 18 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 |
| 2017 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 | ||
| 2018 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | ||
| Total | 57 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 13 | ||
| FC Emmen | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 27 | 10 | ||||
| Total | 42 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 13 | ||
| Career total | 308 | 118 | 22 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 344 | 131 | ||
Groningen
Individual
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: March 2022,[14]
- Michael de Leeuw at WorldFootball.net
- "De Leeuw en De Vries gelauwerd in Jupiler League". VI. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- "De Leeuw gewilde prooi bij verschillende clubs". VI. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- "The top scorer in the Dutch Eerste Divisie has not yet been snapped up". IMScouting. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- "Groningen claim first trophy with KNVB Cup triumph". Goal.com. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- "PEC Zwolle vs. Groningen - 3 May 2015 - Soccerway". Za.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- "Chicago Fire Acquire Dutch Forward Michael de Leeuw". Chicago: Chicago Fire Soccer Club. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- "Michael de Leeuw". Chicago Fire. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Exercises Contract Options on Six Players". Chicago-Fire.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- "Welkom, Michael de Leeuw!". FC Emmen (in Dutch). 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "FC Groningen haalt De Leeuw terug - FC Groningen". www.fcgroningen.nl. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- "FC Groningen smaakt eindelijk weer eens zoet van overwinning na wereldgoal Cyril Ngonge en eerste treffer Michael de Leeuw". Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- "Terug in Tilburg: Michael de Leeuw" (in Dutch). Willem II. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- "FC Twente is the main provider for the Eredivisie team of the month". eredivisie.eu. 1 April 2022.
- Michael de Leeuw at Voetbal International (in Dutch) – Archived 2016-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Michael de Leeuw at Chicago Fire Soccer Club