Michael Boxall

Michael Boxall

Boxall with Minnesota United in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Michael Joseph Boxall [1]
Date of birth	(1988-08-18) 18 August 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Minnesota United
Number	15
Youth career
	Three Kings United
	Mount Albert Grammar School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2010	UC Santa Barbara Gauchos	78	(1)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Ellerslie AFC
	Central United
2006–2007	Auckland City FC	4	(0)
2011–2012	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	19	(0)
2011	→ Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (loan)	1	(0)
2012	→ Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (loan)	2	(1)
2013–2015	Wellington Phoenix	39	(2)
2013	→ Oakleigh Cannons (loan)	11	(1)
2014–2015	Wellington Phoenix Reserves	2	(0)
2015–2017	SuperSport United	53	(4)
2017–	Minnesota United	190	(6)
International career‡
2005–2007	New Zealand U-20	14	(0)
2007–2008	New Zealand U-23	12	(1)
2021	New Zealand Olympic (O.P.)	0	(0)
2006	New Zealand A	2	(0)
2011–	New Zealand	44	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2023

Michael Joseph Boxall (born 18 August 1988) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United and the New Zealand national team. ^[3]

Early career in New Zealand

For high school, Boxall attended and played for Mount Albert Grammar School. With Boxall anchoring the defence, Mount Albert won the league title in 2004 and 2005 and placed first at the national tournament in 2005. In his senior season in 2006, Boxall was named the team captain. He led the team to a second Knockout Cup title in three years. They also went to the Auckland Secondary School Soccer Association Championship. Mt. Albert went on to finish second at nationals that year.

Boxall played for a number of teams in his native New Zealand including Ellerslie AFC, Three Kings United, ^[4] Central United, ^[5] and Auckland City FC, leading Central United to the 2007 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier title. In addition, Boxall won the NZFC with Auckland City, where he made 6 appearances that year despite scoring zero goals. ^[6] He was named the Auckland City Young Player of the Year with Central United in 2006 and then again with Auckland City FC in 2007.

US college career

Boxall was recruited to play college soccer at the University of California, Santa Barbara by head coach Tim Vom Steeg. He followed in the footsteps of other New Zealand players at Santa Barbara such as Tony Lochhead and Neil Jones, both of whom have received senior international caps after appearing for UCSB. In his first season with the Gauchos, Boxall played in 12 games, starting 10 of them. He provided no goals or assists, but proved himself to be a solid defensive rock alongside Gaucho defensive stalwart Andy Iro. Boxall's season was cut short due to a knee injury which forced him to miss the rest of the year. Despite missing half the season, Boxall led all rookies with 10 starts and tied for the team high in both yellow cards and red cards, 6 and 1 respectively.

Personal life

Boxall is of Samoan heritage and is the older brother of New Zealand international footballer Nikko Boxall. ^{[7] [8]}

Club career

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Boxall was selected first overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He agreed to terms with the club on 17 March 2011, ^[9] and made his professional debut on 19 March, in Vancouver's 2011 MLS opener against Toronto FC. ^[10] After appearing in three matches for the Whitecaps in the 2012 season, Boxall was waived on 22 June 2012. ^[11]

Wellington Phoenix

On 10 July 2012, it was confirmed by the club that Boxall officially joined the Wellington Phoenix of his native New Zealand on a two-year contract. Instrumental in signing Boxall was Ricki Herbert, coach of both the Phoenix and the New Zealand national team at the time. ^[3] Boxall made his debut for the club on 14 October 2012, in the 1–1 away draw against Melbourne Heart in Round 2. After a beginning to his time in Wellington which saw him play backup to Ben Sigmund and Andrew Durante, Boxall was loaned to the Oakleigh Cannons of the Victorian Premier League. ^[12] Following a disappointing first season with the Phoenix, Boxall signed a one-year contract extension on 15 January 2014. Boxall stated the direction that the club was going under new head coach Ernie Merrick was the deciding factor in signing a new deal with the club. ^[13] In the 2013–14 season, Boxall appeared in 20 games for the Phoenix, starting 18. ^[14]

SuperSport United

Boxall joined SuperSport United, a South African team in the Premier Division, in 2015. He scored five goals and made 68 appearances for SuperSport in league and cup competition over two seasons, winning the Nedbank Cup in the process. ^[15]

Minnesota United FC

After his stint in the Confederations Cup, Boxall returned to the United States in July 2017 and signed with MLS expansion team Minnesota United FC. ^[15] In his first four seasons with the club, Boxall made 124 total appearances—leading Minnesota overall—and scored four goals. He signed a contract extension in 2021. ^[16]

During his first Leagues Cup match on 23 July 2023 against Puebla FC, Boxall earned his first career MLS red card for a foul on Guillermo Martínez. ^[17]

International career

Boxall (centre) playing for New Zealand at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Boxall has represented New Zealand at various international levels. His début with the national set up was with the Junior All-Whites (U-20's) in which he made 14 appearances with no goals. ^[18] During this time, he appeared in the 2007 U-20 World Cup OFC qualifying tournament and ultimately the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played in all three U-20 World Cup games before New Zealand were knocked out.

Boxall has also represented the New Zealand U-23 Olympic team, known as the Oly-Whites. He played in all 5 2008 OFC Olympic Qualifiers which saw New Zealand advance to their first ever Olympic Games. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Boxall again appeared in all three of New Zealand's games before they were eliminated. ^[19] In addition to these eight games, he played four Olympic warm-up matches against Central Coast Mariners, Persikota Tangerang, Indonesia (senior squad), and Persija Jakarta between the Qualifying Tournament and the Beijing Olympic Tournament.

Boxall made two appearances for New Zealand A at the Agribank Cup in Vietnam during October 2006, appearing against Thailand ^[20] and Bahrain. ^[21] Both games were held at the Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Only days after making his Whitecaps debut, Boxall was called up to the All Whites' squad for their match against China on 25 March 2011, ^[22] where he came on as a second-half substitute. ^[23]

Boxall was called up as one of three overage players for the New Zealand U-23 Olympic team to play at the 2020 Summer Olympics. ^[24] However, a thigh injury just before the tournament meant he had to pull out of the squad. ^[25]

In June 2023, the New Zealand team walked out of an international friendly against Qatar after an alleged incident of racial abuse against Boxall. ^[26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 December 2020 ^[27]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Auckland City FC	2006–07 [28]	Championship	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC	2011	Major League Soccer	19	0	2	0	—		—		21	0
	2012		0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	Total		19	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (loan)	2012 [28]	USL PDL	2	1	—		—		—		2	1
Wellington Phoenix	2012–13	Championship	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
	2013–14		16	0	—		—		—		16	0
	2014–15		19	2	—		—		—		19	2
	Total		39	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	39	2
Oakleigh Cannons (loan)	2013 [28]	Premier Leagues Victoria	11	1	—		—		—		11	1
SuperSport United	2015–16	South African Premier Division	25	2	4	1	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	32	3
	2016–17		28	2	3	0	4	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	36	2
	Total		53	4	7	1	6	0	2	0	68	5
Minnesota United	2017	Major League Soccer	12	0	—		—		—		12	0
	2018		32	2	2	0	—		—		34	2
	2019		29	2	5	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	35	2
	2020		19	0	—		—		3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	22	0
	Total		92	4	7	0	0	0	4	0	103	4
Career total			220	11	16	1	6	0	6	0	248	12

1. Appearance(s) in MTN 8
2. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

As of 15 November 2019 ^[28]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
New Zealand	2011	3	0
	2012	4	0
	2013	0	0
	2014	4	0
	2015	3	0
	2016	6	0
	2017	11	0
	2018	0	0
	2019	1	0
Total		32	0

Honours

Auckland City FC

• Northern Premier League: 2007 ^[29]
• New Zealand Football Championship: 2007 ^[29]

SuperSport United

• Nedbank Cup: 2016, 2017

New Zealand

• OFC Nations Cup: 2016

Individual

• ACFC Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007 ^[30]
• All-Big West Honorable Mention: 2008 ^[29]
• All-Big West First Team: 2009 ^[29]
• NSCAA Third Team All-American: 2010 ^[31]
• College Soccer News Third Team All-America: 2010 ^[31]
• All-Far West Region First Team: 2010 ^[31]
• Big West Defender of the Year: 2010 ^[31]

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
2. "Michael Boxall". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
3. "Phoenix Confirm Boxall Signing". Wellington Phoenix. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
4. "Ken Says". Archived from the original on 10 August 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
5. "NAPIER UNDER 19 TOURNAMENT WINNERS 2005". Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
6. "2006/7 PLAYER APPEARANCES". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
7. Ramsay, George; Dotson, Kevin (21 June 2023). "Soccer match between New Zealand and Qatar abandoned at halftime amid racial abuse allegations". CNN . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
8. Rollo, Phillip (14 March 2018). "Boxall brothers to team up in All Whites as Nikko joins older brother Michael". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
9. "Whitecaps FC sign four more players to MLS side | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
10. Hassli, Whitecaps pummel TFC in dynamite debut Archived 22 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
11. "Whitecaps FC waive defender Michael Boxall | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
12. "Football: One call seals Brockie's loan spell". Otago Daily Times . Retrieved 20 January 2014.
13. "Soccer: New Nix deals for Riera, Boxall". New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 20 January 2014.
14. "Michael Boxall, Central Defender, Wellington Phoenix". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
15. Carlisle, Jeff (12 July 2017). "Minnesota United signs New Zealand international defender Michael Boxall". ESPN. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
16. "Minnesota United signs Michael Boxall to new two-year contract". Star-Tribune . 9 September 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
17. Greder, Andy (23 July 2023). "Shorthanded Loons pour it on Puebla in 4-0 blowout". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Retrieved 23 July 2023.
18. "Michael Boxall U-20 Player Profile at NZfootball". 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
19. "Olympic Football Squads Named". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
20. Thailand 1 New Zealand A 0 From http://www.nzsoccer.com Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine , Posted 28 October 2006.
21. Bahrain Victory Positive Sign For Future - Jacobs From http://www.nzsoccer.com Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine , Posted 30 October 2006.
22. Matthew Doyle (16 March 2011). "March FIFA dates lead to MLS roster diaspora". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
23. Martin, Sean (26 March 2011). "All Whites draw with China in friendly". The Sunday Star-Times . NZPA. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
24. "Squads named for Tokyo 2020". New Zealand Football. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
25. Foote, Stephen. "Tokyo Olympics: Huge blow for OlyWhites, as star defender Michael Boxall ruled out of Games". Newshub . Retrieved 14 July 2021.
26. Australian Associated Press, New Zealand abandon Qatar friendly at half-time over alleged racial abuse, The Guardian , 19 June 2023
27. Michael Boxall at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
28. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Michael Boxall". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
29. UC Santa Barbara player profile; Michael Boxall Archived 11 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
30. "Auckland City football Club; Award Winners". Aucklandcityfc.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
31. MLS Player profiles; Michael Boxall Archived 13 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Michael Boxall – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Michael Boxall at National-Football-Teams.com
• NZ Football profile
• NBC Olympics profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 November 2009)
• Wellington Phoenix player profile
• Michael Boxall at Major League Soccer
• Vancouver Whitecaps player profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 6 May 2012)
• UC Santa Barbara player profile Archived 27 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine