Michael den Heijer

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Michael den Heijer

| full_name = Michael James den Heijer{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce119/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™: List of Players: Auckland City FC |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206205418/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce119/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |archive-date=6 December 2023 |url-status=live}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|4|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| position = Midfielder

| height = 1.83 m

| currentclub = Auckland City

| clubnumber = 25

| youthyears1 = 2014

| youthclubs1 = Kashiwa Reysol

| years1 = 2013–2014

| clubs1 = Wanderers SC

| caps1 = 13

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2015–2016

| clubs2 = Auckland City

| caps2 = 16

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2016–2019

| clubs3 = NEC

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2019–2020

| clubs4 = DFS

| years5 = 2020

| clubs5 = 1. FC Kleve

| caps5 = 7

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2022

| clubs6 = Auckland United

| caps6 = 29

| goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2023–

| clubs7 = Auckland City

| caps7 = 9

| goals7 = 0

| club-update =

}}

Michael James den Heijer (born 14 April 1996) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern League club Auckland City.

Early life and education

Den Heijer started playing football at the age of five.{{Cite web|url=http://kiwibreeze.jp/nz_friends/michael-james-den-heijer-2/|title=『プロフェショナルなサッカー選手になりたい』|publisher=kiwibreeze.jp}} He appeared in a commercial for New Zealand ice cream brand Tip Top at the age of seven.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/japanese-homecoming-for-auckland-city-defender/5CB72B4FBAXFYMEF5DU7COONNU/|title=Michael den Heijer - New Zealand Herald article|date=8 December 2015 }}

Den Heijer attended Kashiwa Sports High School in Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccer-king.jp/news/japan/jl/20151208/377999.html|title=Michael den Heijer - Soccer King article|date=8 December 2015 }}

Club career

In 2020, Den Heijer signed for German side 1. FC Kleve, where he was regarded as one of the club's most important players.{{Cite web|url=https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/kleve/sport/ex-spieler-des-1-fc-kleve-in-neuseeland-ein-star_aid-83221975|title=Michael den Heijer - Rheinische Post article | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230316045311/https://rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/kleve/sport/ex-spieler-des-1-fc-kleve-in-neuseeland-ein-star_aid-83221975 | archive-date=2023-03-16}}

After that, he signed for New Zealand side Auckland United, where he was regarded as one of the club's top players.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/121674?newsfeedId=1275622|title=Who is in the men's Team of the Month for October?}}

International career

Den Heijer represented New Zealand internationally at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/soccer/world/news/1577351.html|title=Michael den Heijer - Nikkan Sports article}}

Career statistics

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Style of play

Den Heijer mainly operates as a midfielder and is known for his strength.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsuitnijmegen.nl/Nieuws/6295/Michael-den-Heijer-tekent-profcontract-bij-NEC.html|title=Michael den Heijer - Nieuws uit Nijmegen article}}

Personal life

Den Heijer is of Dutch descent.{{Cite web|url=https://theniche-cache.com/football/2017/9/17/michael-den-heijer-vs-el-niche-cache|title=Michael den Heijer - Niche Cache article | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230316043541/https://theniche-cache.com/football/2017/9/17/michael-den-heijer-vs-el-niche-cache | archive-date=2023-03-16}}