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

• OFC U-17 Championship: 2015

New Zealand U20

• OFC U-20 Championship: 2016

Individual

• Golden Gloves: 2016 OFC U-20 Championship ^[14]

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.

External links

• Michael Woud at Soccerway
• Michael Woud at WorldFootball.net
• Michael Woud – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Michael Woud's profile on Sunderland website.