Mike te Wierik

Mike te Wierik

Te Wierik at a radio programme in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Mike Jarno Maria te Wierik [1]
Date of birth	(1992-06-08) 8 June 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Hengevelde, Netherlands
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Emmen
Number	4
Youth career
2009-2010	Heracles Almelo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2017	Heracles Almelo	144	(6)
2017–2020	Groningen	89	(2)
2020–2021	Derby County	4	(0)
2021–2023	Groningen	57	(0)
2023–	Emmen	47	(2)
International career
2013	Netherlands U20	2	(0)
2014	Netherlands U21	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 May 2024

Mike Jarno Maria te Wierik (born 8 June 1992) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eerste Divisie club Emmen. ^{[2] [3]}

Club career

Early career

Te Wierik started his career with Heracles Almelo. He scored his first professional goal in a memorable 3–3 draw with Ajax on 20 October 2012. ^[4]

FC Groningen

He moved to FC Groningen in 2017, signing a three-year deal. In 2018, he became the captain at the Euroborg. ^[5] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw against PSV on 13 December 2017. ^[6]

Derby County

On 6 February 2020 it was announced that te Wierik had signed a pre-contract agreement to join Derby County in the summer of 2020 when his contract with FC Groningen expires. ^[7] Te Wierik agreed a three-year deal which will run until the summer of 2023. ^[8] Upon signing with the club, Derby County boss Phillip Cocu described him as "a good defender and a leader, which is demonstrated by the fact he is FC Groningen's captain, and he will be a very good signing for us.” ^[9] Te Wierik made his Derby debut in an EFL cup penalty-victory over Barrow Town and his league debut in a 0–2 defeat to Reading. He was later dropped from the first team, with Derby boss Cocu explaining the decision because te Wierik needed some time to "get used" to Championship football. ^[10] After the sacking of Cocu, te Wierik failed to make a match day squad under new interim manager Wayne Rooney, being behind a number of other players for first-team places. ^[11]

Ahead of the reopening of the January 2021 transfer window it was reported that te Wieirk had been told he was free to find another club. ^[12] Te Wierik was linked with five clubs in the January 2021 transfer window, with four Dutch clubs (former club FC Groningen, Fortuna Sittard, FC Utrecht and Heracles Almelo) and German 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli expressing an interest. ^[13] Te Wierik agreed a deal to return to FC Groningen and, when discussing his time at Derby, admitted that he had not played well enough. ^[14]

Return to Groningen

On 19 January 2021, he rejoined Groningen, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal. ^{[15] [16]} Te Wierik started his first game for them against Vitesse in a 1–0 away defeat on 23 January 2021. ^[17]

Emmen

On 1 February 2023, te Wierik signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Emmen. ^[18]

International career

Te Wierik represented the Netherlands at under-20 and under-21 youth levels in 2013-14. ^[19]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 October 2020 ^[20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Heracles	2010–11	Eredivisie	4	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2011–12		9	0	0	0	—		9	0
	2012–13		18	3	2	0	—		20	3
	2013–14		28	2	2	0	—		30	2
	2014–15		24	0	3	0	—		27	0
	2015–16		32	0	3	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	0	39	0
	2016–17		29	1	2	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	33	1
	Total		144	6	12	0	6	0	162	6
Groningen	2017–18	Eredivisie	33	1	2	0	0	0	35	1
	2018–19		33	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	34	0
	2019–20		23	1	1	0	0	0	24	1
	Total		89	2	4	0	2	0	95	2
Derby County	2020–21	Championship	4	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 3]	0	6	0
Career total			237	8	16	0	10	0	263	8

1. Appearances in Eredivisie playoffs
2. Appearances in the Europa League
3. Appearances in EFL Cup

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Derby County" (PDF). English Football League. p. 26. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
2. "Profile" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
3. Mike te Wierik at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
4. "HERACLES VS. AJAX 3 - 3". Soccerway. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
5. "Mike te Wierik". FC Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 October 2022.
6. "FC Groningen - PSV". FC Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 October 2022.
7. "Mike te Wierik: Derby County to sign FC Groningen defender in summer". BBC. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
8. "MIKE TE WIERIK SIGNS PRE-CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH DERBY COUNTY". Derby County FC. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
9. "Derby County confirm Te Wierik arrival". Football Oranje. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
10. "'No issue' - Phillip Cocu's update on Derby County summer signing Mike te Wierik". Derby Telegraph. 25 October 2020.
11. "Tough start - the lowdown on summer signing's first-team chances at Derby County". Derby Telegraph. 8 December 2020.
12. "'Would be great' if Derby County defender could find new club in January, says agent". DerbyshireLive. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
13. "Five clubs linked with Derby County defender transfer as uncertainty remains over future". Derby Telegraph. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
14. "Derby County player admits 'I did not play well enough' as transfer nears". Derby Telegraph. 14 January 2021.
15. "TE WIERIK KEERT TERUG BIJ FC GRONINGEN" (in Dutch). FC Groningen. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
16. "Derby's Te Wierik returns to FC Groningen" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
17. "Vitesse - FC Groningen". FC Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 October 2022.
18. "WELKOM, MIKE TE WIERIK!" [WELCOME, MIKE TE WIERIK!] (in Dutch). FC Emmen. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
19. Netherlands profile at OnsOranje
20. Mike te Wierik at WorldFootball.net