Michael de Leeuw

Michael de Leeuw (born 7 October 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for FC Emmen.[1]

Michael de Leeuw
de Leeuw with Chicago Fire in 2017
Personal information
Full name Michael Jeroen Maarten Michiel de Leeuw
Date of birth (1986-10-07) 7 October 1986
Place of birth Goirle, Netherlands
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 FC Emmen
Number 8
Youth career
DWC
RKTVV Tilburg
2007–2009 Willem II
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 SC Veendam 67 (38)
2011–2012 De Graafschap 33 (10)
2012–2016 FC Groningen 111 (48)
2016–2018 Chicago Fire 57 (12)
2019– FC Emmen 42 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 July 2020

Career

Born in Goirle, De Leeuw began his career at amateur clubs DWC and RKTVV before joining the youth department of Willem II. He never broke through to the first team, and therefore chose to play for BV Veendam in the Dutch second division.

Veendam

De Leeuw was placed as a striker in his first year for Veendam, and he was an immediate success, scoring 25 goals in 36 league matches. At the end of the year, he won the topscorer award and the award for 'Talent of the Year', for the most talented player of the season.[2] He was chased by several clubs in the Eredivisie and clubs abroad, but in the end chose to stay in Veendam.[3][4]

FC Groningen

On 22 May 2012, FC Groningen announced that they had signed De Leeuw.

He helped the Green-White Army win the KNVB Cup in 2014/15 against defending champions PEC Zwolle. It was their first major trophy and they qualified for the UEFA Europa League.[5][6]

Chicago Fire

On 17 May 2016, the Chicago Fire announced they have signed De Leeuw to a three-year deal through 2018 with a club option for 2019.[7]

In his first season with Chicago, de Leeuw contributed seven goals and three assists across 17 games. In his second season with Chicago, de Leeuw's role switched to supporting striker behind Nemanja Nikolic, who led the League's scoring in 2017. In his new role de Leeuw contributed a career high eight assists along with three goals.

His season was cut short by a ruptured ACL injury suffered against New York City FC on 30 September 2017, he is expected back to recover by August 2018.[8]

de Leeuw was released by Chicago at the end of their 2018 season.[9]

Career statistics
Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe Other Total
2009–10BV VeendamEerste Divisie36251000–3725
2010–1131132000113414
2011–12De GraafschapEredivisie33102100203711
2012–13FC Groningen30113100203512
2013–14249300040319
2014–1528174710003324
2015–162793130103410
Netherlands Total 209 94 18 10 4 0 10 1 241 105
MLS League US Open Cup CONCACAF Champions League Other Total
2016Chicago FireMLS187210000208
2017303100000313
2018 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 2
MLS Total 57 12 3 1 0 0 0 0 60 13
2018-19 FC Emmen Eredivisie 16 3 – – – 16 3
2019-20 26 9 1 1 27 10
FC Emmen Total 42 12 1 1 0 0 0 0 43 13
Career total 308118221240101344131

Statistics accurate as of last match played on 23 July 2020.

Honours

Club

FC Groningen

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References
  1. Michael de Leeuw at WorldFootball.net
  2. "De Leeuw en De Vries gelauwerd in Jupiler League". VI. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  3. "De Leeuw gewilde prooi bij verschillende clubs". VI. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  4. "The top scorer in the Dutch Eerste Divisie has not yet been snapped up". IMScouting. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  5. "Groningen claim first trophy with KNVB Cup triumph". Goal.com. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  6. "PEC Zwolle vs. Groningen - 3 May 2015 - Soccerway". Za.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. "Chicago Fire Acquire Dutch Forward Michael de Leeuw". Chicago: Chicago Fire Soccer Club. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  8. "Michael de Leeuw". Chicago Fire. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Exercises Contract Options on Six Players". Chicago-Fire.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.


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