Michael Woud
New Zealand footballer (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Cornelis Woud (Dutch: [ʋʌut];[2] 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 team.
|
Michael Woud playing for Auckland FC in 2025. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Cornelis Woud[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 January 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Auckland FC | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –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 | 21 | (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 as of 16 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 2 July 2024 | |||
Club career
Sunderland
Woud first signed a contract to play for Sunderland, but only played for their academy teams.[3] 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.[4]
Woud made his professional debut on 30 March 2019, in a 3–2 win against Fortuna Sittard.[5]
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.[6]
Kyoto Sanga
On 4 January 2022, Woud signed with Kyoto Sanga in Japan.[7]
Ventforet Kofu (loan)
On 16 August 2023, Woud signs for Ventforet Kofu on loan transfer for the remainder of 2023 J2 League season.[8]
Auckland FC
On 30 May 2024, Woud was announced as one of Auckland FC's first four signings.[9] During the 2024–25 season, Woud was the second choice goalkeeper behind Bournemouth loanee Alex Paulsen and did not make a single appearance.
Woud made his Auckland FC debut in the Australia Cup Round of 32, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Gold Coast Knights.[10] He made his A-League debut in a 0–0 draw with Melbourne Victory.[11]
After a run of errors, culminating in spilling the ball for a late equaliser in a 2–2 draw against the Central Coast Mariners,[12][13] Michael Woud was benched the following game to make way for Oliver Sail to debut against his former club Perth Glory. However, he was substituted on with the score at 1–0 after Sail ruptured a tendon in his leg, and Auckland FC would go on to lose the match 2–1.[14][15] Woud went on to remain unbeaten with Auckland FC during the month of February, keeping three clean sheets,[16][17] including a dominant 5–0 win over Wellington Phoenix in the New Zealand Derby.[18]
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.[19]
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.[20]
Woud was called up to play for the New Zealand under-23 football team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[21] Playing in all three pool games,[22] Woud helped the team pickup their first win at the Olympics as well as qualify for the first time to the knockout stage.[23]
Woud received his first call-up to the All Whites since 2023 following a good run of form, for the upcoming FIFA Series matches against the Finland and Chile.[24][25]
Honours
Auckland FC
New Zealand U17
New Zealand U20
Individual
