Max de Waal
{{short description|Dutch footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{family name hatnote|de Waal|Waal|lang=Dutch}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Max de Waal
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|01|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hoorn, Netherlands
| height = 1.84 m{{Cite web |title=M. de Waal |url=https://www.vi.nl/spelers/max-de-waal/profiel |access-date=22 January 2022 |website=Voetbal International}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub = VVV-Venlo
| clubnumber = 21
| youthyears1 = 2007–2012
| youthclubs1 = Always Forward
| youthyears2 = 2011–2013
| youthclubs2 = HV Veerhuys
| youthyears3 = 2012–2013
| youthclubs3 = Hollandia
| youthyears4 = 2013–2019
| youthclubs4 = Ajax
| years1 = 2019–2023
| clubs1 = Jong Ajax
| caps1 = 41
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2022
| clubs2 = → PEC Zwolle (loan)
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022–2023
| clubs3 = → ADO Den Haag (loan)
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = Willem II
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = → VVV-Venlo (loan)
| caps5 = 13
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Netherlands U15
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2018
| nationalteam2 = Netherlands U16
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 22:29, 30 December 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Max de Waal (born 10 January 2002) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{Dutch football updater|VVVVenlo}} club VVV-Venlo on loan from Willem II.
Club career
=Ajax=
De Waal began his football career with Always Forward, based in his hometown Hoorn,{{cite news |title=Hoorns talent Max de Waal tekent profcontract bij Ajax |url=https://onswestfriesland.nl/2020/gemeente-hoorn/hoorns-talent-max-de-waal-tekent-profcontract-bij-ajax/ |work=OnsWestfriesland |date=5 December 2020 |language=nl}} for whom he played until 2012. He also played for HV Veerhuys for three years while playing for Always Forward.{{cite web |title=Max de Waal naar Ajax |url=https://veerhuysfutsal.nl/max-de-waal-naar-ajax/ |website=HV Veerhuys |language=nl |date=9 February 2013}}{{cite web |title=Always Forward-talent Max de Waal gaat als een speer bij AJAX |url=https://www.alwaysforward.nl/always-forward-talent-max-de-waal-gaat-als-een-speer-bij-ajax |website=S.V. Always Forward |language=nl |date=26 January 2018}} He then moved to Hollandia for a year before moving to the renowned Ajax youth academy.{{cite news |title=Ajax contracteert Max de Waal - Amsterdamsdagblad.nl |url=https://www.amsterdamsdagblad.nl/sport/ajax-contracteert-max-de-waal |work=Amsterdamsch Dagblad |date=5 December 2020 |language=nl}} In 2017–18, he made one appearance for the under-17 team. In the following season he established himself in the team and scored nine goals in 26 games. In 2019–20, De Waal mainly played for the under-19 team, including in the UEFA Youth League.{{cite web |title=Max de Waal » Youth Youth League 2019/2020 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/max-de-waal/a-junioren-youth-league-2019-2020/afc-ajax-a-junioren/3/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=5 April 2021 |language=en}}
He made his first appearance for Jong Ajax in the second-tier Eerste Divisie in a match against Jong PSV on 16 September 2019. He came on in the 69th minute for Alex Mendez and scored the 2–0 winner in stoppage time.{{cite news |title=Jong Ajax geeft alvast goede voorbeeld tegen Jong PSV |url=https://www.ajaxlife.nl/articles/2019/9-september-2019/jong-ajax-geeft-alvast-goede-voorbeeld-tegen-jong-psv |work=www.ajaxlife.nl |date=17 September 2019 |language=nl}} During the season he was utilised once more in the Eerste Divisie.{{cite web |title=Max de Waal » Eerste Divisie 2019/2020 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/max-de-waal/ned-eerste-divisie-2019-2020/jong-ajax/3/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=5 April 2021 |language=en}} In the following season, he played more regularly for the Jong Ajax team.{{cite web |title=Max de Waal » Eerste Divisie 2020/2021 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/max-de-waal/ned-eerste-divisie-2020-2021/jong-ajax/3/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=5 April 2021 |language=en}} However, he would only signed his first professional contract with Jong Ajax in December 2020.{{cite web |title=De Waal tekent contract: 'Was het wachten waard' |url=https://www.ajax.nl/artikelen/de-waal-tekent-contract-was-het-wachten-waard/ |website=Ajax |language=nl-NL |date=4 December 2020}}
==Loans==
In January 2022, De Waal extended his contract with Ajax but immediately went out on loan to bottom of the table side PEC Zwolle.{{cite news |last1=Schot |first1=Vincent |title=Max de Waal verlengt zijn contract bij Ajax en gaat op huurbasis naar PEC Zwolle: Ik ben doordrongen van de enige doelstelling voor het komende half jaar: handhaving |url=https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20220104_71450438 |work=Noordhollands Dagblad |date=4 January 2022 |language=nl}} He made his debut for the side on 5 February 2022, replacing Mustafa Saymak in the 81st minute of a 1–1 home draw against NEC.{{cite news |title=Hekkensluiter PEC sleept met tien man punt uit het vuur tegen NEC |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2415912-hekkensluiter-pec-sleept-met-tien-man-punt-uit-het-vuur-tegen-nec |access-date=30 January 2023 |work=NOS |date=5 February 2022 |language=nl}}{{cite web |title=PEC Zwolle vs. NEC – 5 February 2022 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/02/05/netherlands/eredivisie/bvo-fc-zwolle/nijmegen-eendracht-combinatie/3512640/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=30 January 2023}} De Waal made seven appearances for PEC – all as a substitute – as the club suffered relegation to the Eerste Divisie at the end of the season.{{cite news |title=PEC Zwolle na tien jaar eredivisie gedegradeerd na nederlaag bij Sparta |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2428438-pec-zwolle-na-tien-jaar-eredivisie-gedegradeerd-na-nederlaag-bij-sparta |access-date=30 January 2023 |work=NOS |date=11 May 2022 |language=nl}}
On 24 June 2022, after returning to Ajax, De Waal was sent on a one-season loan to Eerste Divisie club ADO Den Haag.{{cite web |title=ADO Den Haag huurt Max de Waal voor een seizoen |url=https://adodenhaag.nl/nl/nieuws/laatste-nieuws/1e-elftal/10266-max-de-waal-sluit-zondag-aan-bij-eerste-training |website=ADO Den Haag |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625121345/https://adodenhaag.nl/nl/nieuws/laatste-nieuws/1e-elftal/10266-max-de-waal-sluit-zondag-aan-bij-eerste-training |archive-date=25 June 2022 |language=nl |date=24 June 2022 |url-status=live}} He made his ADO debut under new head coach Dirk Kuyt on the first matchday of the 2022–23 season, starting in midfield in a resounding 4–0 defeat against recently relegated Heracles Almelo; all goals fell in the first half.{{cite news |title=Horrordebuut voor Kuyt: Heracles walst met 4-0 over ADO Den Haag heen |url=https://www.voetbalnieuws.nl/nieuws/14059/horrordebuut-voor-kuyt-heracles-walst-met-4-0-over-ado-den-haag-heen.html |access-date=30 January 2023 |work=Voetbalnieuws |date=5 August 2022 |language=nl-NL}}{{cite web |title=ADO Den Haag kent valse start van het nieuwe seizoen en verliest 4–0 van Heracles Almelo |url=https://adodenhaag.nl/nl/teams/1e-elftal/resultaten/929-heracles-almelo-ado-den-haag-929 |website=ADO Den Haag |access-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814150754/https://adodenhaag.nl/nl/teams/1e-elftal/resultaten/929-heracles-almelo-ado-den-haag-929 |archive-date=14 August 2022 |language=nl |date=5 August 2022 |url-status=dead}} On 28 August, De Waal scored his first goal for the club against his parent club Jong Ajax, adding an assist to help ADO to a 4–0 home win.{{cite news |title=Kuijt kan eindelijk juichen met ADO: 4–0 winst op Jong Ajax |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2442334-kuijt-kan-eindelijk-juichen-met-ado-4-0-winst-op-jong-ajax |access-date=30 January 2023 |work=NOS |date=28 August 2022 |language=nl}} Following Kuyt's dismissal in November 2022, De Waal was utilised less frequently and mainly appeared as a substitute during his successor Dick Advocaat's tenure during the latter part of the season.{{cite news |last1=Bruijn |first1=Thijs de |title=Komen ze terug of blijven ze weg? Dit is het perspectief voor de verhuurde Ajax-spelers |url=https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/282742/komen-ze-terug-of-blijven-ze-weg-dit-is-het-perspectief-voor-de-verhuurde-ajax-spelers |access-date=1 July 2023 |work=ELF Voetbal |date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416122728/https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/282742/komen-ze-terug-of-blijven-ze-weg-dit-is-het-perspectief-voor-de-verhuurde-ajax-spelers |archive-date=16 April 2023 |language=nl}} De Waal scored twice in 21 appearances for ADO, before returning to Ajax in June 2023.{{cite news |last1=Velzel |first1=Bas |last2=Schravendijk |first2=Jasper van |title=Traditionele bosloop Ajax weer gehouden in Amsterdamse Bos: Hato en Wijndal verdwaald |url=https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/221289/traditionele-bosloop-ajax-weer-gehouden-in-amsterdamse-bos-hato-en-wijndal-verdwaald |access-date=1 July 2023 |work=AT5 |date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630151929/https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/221289/traditionele-bosloop-ajax-weer-gehouden-in-amsterdamse-bos-hato-en-wijndal-verdwaald |archive-date=30 June 2023 |language=nl}}
=Willem II=
On 12 July 2023, De Waal signed a three-year contract with Eerste Divisie club Willem II.{{cite web|publisher=Willem II|url=https://www.willem-ii.nl/artikel/welkom-max|title=WELKOM MAX!|trans-title=WELCOME MAX!|date=12 July 2023|access-date=4 August 2023|language=nl}} He made his competitive debut for the club on the first matchday of the season, starting in a 1–1 away draw against FC Eindhoven on 13 August.{{cite web |title=Willem II vs. De Graafschap 1–1: Summary |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/06/netherlands/eerste-divisie/sbv-willem-ii-tilburg/bv-de-graafschap/4097296/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907071742/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/06/netherlands/eerste-divisie/sbv-willem-ii-tilburg/bv-de-graafschap/4097296/ |archive-date=7 September 2023}} On 6 October, he scored his first goal for the Tricolores in a 4–2 league victory against De Graafschap after coming on as a second-half substitute.{{cite news |last1=Willemsen |first1=Raymond |title=De Graafschap zakt keihard voor examen in Tilburg |url=https://www.ad.nl/doetinchem/de-graafschap-zakt-keihard-voor-examen-in-tilburg~a201cf2f/ |access-date=24 October 2023 |url-access=subscription |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=6 October 2023 |language=nl}}
On 2 September 2024, de Waal moved on loan to VVV-Venlo.{{cite web|publisher=VVV-Venlo|url=https://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nieuws/vvv-venlo-neemt-de-waal-op-huurbasis-over-van-willem-ii|title=VVV-Venlo neemt De Waal op huurbasis over van Willem II|trans-title=VVV-Venlo takes over De Waal on loan from Willem II|date=2 September 2024|access-date=4 September 2024|language=nl}}
International career
De Waal has played for two Netherlands national youth teams, but has yet to play in a major tournament.{{cite web |title=Max de Waal - OnsOranje |url=https://www.onsoranje.nl/teams/185191/speler/23710 |website=Ons Oranje |access-date=5 April 2021 |language=nl}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 12 April 2024}}{{Soccerway|max-de-waal/632222|accessdate=4 January 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Jong Ajax
|2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 1 | ||||
| 2020–21
|Eerste Divisie |19 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 1 | ||||
| 2021–22
|Eerste Divisie |20 | 9 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 9 | ||||
| 2022–23
|Eerste Divisie |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 11 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 41 | 11 | ||||
| PEC Zwolle (loan)
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| ADO Den Haag (loan)
|Eerste Divisie |18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 1 | |||
| Willem II
|Eerste Divisie |14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 1 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!80 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 14 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{VVV-Venlo squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waal, Max de}}
Category:Dutch men's footballers
Category:Netherlands men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:HVV Hollandia players
Category:Willem II Tilburg players
Category:Eerste Divisie players