Mees Hilgers

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mees Hilgers

| image = Mees hilgers-1672744656 (cropped).jpg

| upright = 0.9

| caption = Hilgers playing for Twente in 2022

| fullname = Mees Victor Joseph Hilgers{{Cite web |title=10 Fakta Keluarga Mees Hilgers, Mamanya Asli Manado |trans-title=10 facts about the Mees Hilgers family, his mother is originally from Manado. |url=https://www.popmama.com/life/relationship/putri-syifa-nurfadilah/fakta-keluarga-mees-hilgers-mamanya-asli-manado?page=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925082459/https://www.popmama.com/life/relationship/putri-syifa-nurfadilah/fakta-keluarga-mees-hilgers-mamanya-asli-manado?page=all |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 September 2024 |website=POPMAMA |date=23 September 2024 |language=id}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|5|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Amersfoort, Netherlands

| height = 1.85m{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mees-hilgers/|title=Mees Hilgers: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |accessdate=19 November 2021}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Twente

| clubnumber = 2

| youthyears1 = 2005–2009

| youthclubs1 = Nieuwland

| youthyears2 = 2009–2011

| youthclubs2 = Sparta Nijkerk

| youthyears3 = 2011–2020

| youthclubs3 = Twente

| years1 = 2020–

| clubs1 = Twente

| caps1 = 111

| goals1 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2022

| nationalteam1 = Netherlands U21

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2024–

| nationalteam2 = Indonesia

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 25 May 2025

| nationalteam-update = 10 June 2025

}}

Mees Victor Joseph Hilgers (born 13 May 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eredivisie club Twente. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Indonesia national team.

Club career

=Early career=

Hilgers started playing football at ASC Nieuwland in his hometown of Amersfoort. After moving to Nijkerk, he played in the youth team of Sparta Nijkerk. At the age of ten, he moved to the academy of FC Twente.

=Twente=

On 6 December 2018, Hilgers signed his first professional contract with Twente.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fctwente.nl/club/nieuws/talentvol-vijftal-tekent-contract|title=FC Twente|website=FC Twente}} He made his professional debut with Twente in a 2–1 Eredivisie win over Ajax on 5 December 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2020/12/05/netherlands/eredivisie/afc-ajax/stichting-fc-twente-65/3304587/|title=Ajax vs. Twente - 5 December 2020 - Soccerway|website=ca.soccerway.com}}

==2022–23 season==

In the 2022–23 season, Hilgers was out of action for some time from March due to a groin injury. After returning he lost his starting place to Julio Pleguezuelo. He seemed to be heading for a departure from Twente, but he signed a new contract in July 2023 until mid-2026.[https://fctwente.nl/nieuws/mees-hilgers-tekent-nieuw-contract Mees Hilgers tekent nieuw contract: "Nog niet klaar bij FC Twente"], FCTwente.nl, 12 July 2023. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230722192711/https://fctwente.nl/nieuws/mees-hilgers-tekent-nieuw-contract Gearchiveerd] op 22 July 2023.[https://www.tubantia.nl/fc-twente/mees-hilgers-en-fc-twente-bereiken-akkoord-verdediger-blijft-in-enschede~abc6c721/ Mees Hilgers en FC Twente bereiken akkoord: verdediger blijft in Enschede], Tubantia, 23 June 2023.

==2024–25 season==

On 13 August 2024, Hilgers scored a goal against Red Bull Salzburg in the second leg of UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round in a 3–3 draw, but Twente lost 4–5 on aggregate.{{Cite web|url=https://fctwente.nl/nieuws/dankzij-de-2-1-toch-een-goed-gevoel |title=Dankzij de 2-1 toch een goed gevoel|website=fctwente.nl}}

On 25 September 2024, Hilgers started and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 1–1 draw in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League league stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/fc-twente-verrast-ten-hag-en-zorgt-voor-stunt-op-old-trafford|title=FC Twente verrast Ten Hag en zorgt voor stunt op Old Trafford |website=vi.nl}} He also played the following match, a 1–1 draw against Fenerbahçe at home, where he became the first Indonesian to play in the Europa League.

International career

Hilgers is a former youth international for Netherlands at under-21 level.{{Cite web|title=Mees Hilgers Record & Achievements|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mees-hilgers/#google_vignette|website=worldfootball.net}}

In September 2024, Hilgers confirmed that he had decided to represent Indonesia at international level.{{Cite web|title=Hilgers en Eliano Reijnders kiezen voor Indonesië|url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/hilgers-en-eliano-reijnders-kiezen-voor-indonesie|website=vi.nl|language=nl}} On 1 October 2024, he was called up for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers matches against Bahrain and China.{{cite web|url=https://www.bola.net/tim_nasional/timnas-indonesia-panggil-27-pemain-untuk-lawan-bahrain-dan-china-termasuk-mees-hilgers-dan-el-db01dc.html|title=Timnas Indonesia Panggil 27 Pemain untuk Lawan Bahrain dan China, Termasuk Mees Hilgers dan Eliano Reijnders|website=bola.net|date=2 October 2024|language=id}} On 10 October 2024, he made his debut against Bahrain in a 2–2 draw.{{cite web|title=Debut Hilgers di Timnas Indonesia: Catat Assist, Diwarnai Kontroversi|url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/olahraga/20241011003657-142-1154049/debut-hilgers-di-timnas-indonesia-catat-assist-diwarnai-kontroversi/amp|date=11 October 2024|website=cnnindonesia.com|language=id}}

Personal life

Born in the Netherlands, Hilgers is of Indonesian descent.{{cite web|title=Profil Mees Hilgers, Pemain Belanda Berdarah Manado|url=https://www.idntimes.com/sport/soccer/yogama-wisnu-oktyandito/profil-mees-hilgers-pemain-timnas-belanda-berdarah-manado|date=11 October 2024|website=idntimes.com|language=id}}

On 30 September 2024, Hilgers officially obtained Indonesian citizenship after being sworned as citizens of Indonesia during a ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy alongside Eliano Reijnders.{{Cite web|url=https://sport.detik.com/sepakbola/liga-indonesia/d-7565713/mees-hilgers-dan-eliano-reijnders-resmi-jadi-wni/amp|title=Mees Hilgers dan Eliano Reijnders Resmi Jadi WNI|website=sport.detik.com|date=30 September 2024|language=id}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Europe !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="5"\|Twente \|2020–21 \|rowspan="5"\|Eredivisie \|3	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	3	0
2021–22 \|24	1	2	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	26	1
2022–23 \|30	1	1	0	4{{efn\|name=UECL\|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}}	0	colspan=2\|—	35	1
2023–24 \|28	0	0	0	5{{efn\|name=UECL}}	0	colspan=2\|—	33	0
2024–25 \|26	1	0	0	8{{efn\|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, five appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	1	colspan=2\|—	34	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !111	3	3	0	17	1	0	0	131	4

=International=

{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}{{cite web|work=National Football Teams |title=Mees Hilgers|url= https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/95883/Mees_Hilgers.html|access-date=20 October 2024}}

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="2" \|Indonesia \|2024 \|2 \|0
2025 \|2 \|0
colspan="2"\|Total\|\|4\|\|0