Michael Woud

Michael Woud
Personal information
Full name	Michael Cornelis Woud
Date of birth	16 January 1999 (age 26)
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
2015	Bay Olympic
2015–2018	Sunderland
2018–2021	Willem II
2020–2021	→ Almere City (loan)
2021	Almere City
2022–2024	Kyoto Sanga
2023	→ Ventforet Kofu (loan)
2024–	Auckland FC
International career‡
2015	New Zealand U17
2017–2019	New Zealand U20
2021	New Zealand U23
2018–	New Zealand
	*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

^ "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.
^ "Young New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud inks three-year pro deal with Sunderland". Stuff. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
^ "Willem II Slaagt Voor Eerste Serieuze Test". Willem II (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 July 2018.
^ "Isak penalties lead Willem II past 10-man Fortuna Sittard". Football Oranje. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
^ Haak, Jordy (26 January 2021). "Almere City FC neemt Woud definitief over van Willem II". Almere City FC (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 July 2021.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ "Kiwi internationals lead Auckland FC's first player announcement". 1News. 30 May 2024.
^ "Young goalkeeper Michael Woud committed to New Zealand despite Dutch interest". Stuff. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
^ "FIFA". fifa.com. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
^ Voerman, Andrew (25 June 2021). "Chris Wood named in OlyWhites, Winston Reid a maybe, Sarpreet Singh left out". Stuff. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^ Rollo, Phillip (22 July 2021). "OlyWhites make perfect start to Tokyo Olympics with famous win over South Korea". Stuff. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^ Voerman, Andrew (28 July 2021). "Goalkeeper bounces back as OlyWhites advance to Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals". Stuff.
^ "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.

[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.

[Sunderland-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". 1News. 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.

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