Michael de Leeuw

Michael de Leeuw
	De Leeuw with Chicago Fire in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Michael Jeroen Maarten Michiel de Leeuw
Date of birth	7 October 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Goirle, Netherlands
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Cambuur
Number	19
Youth career
	DWC
	RKTVV Tilburg
2007–2009	Willem II
Senior career*
Years	Team
2009–2011	Veendam
2011–2012	De Graafschap
2012–2016	Groningen
2016–2018	Chicago Fire
2019–2021	Emmen
2021–2022	Groningen
2022–2024	Willem II
2024–	Cambuur
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:26, 9 November 2024 (UTC)

Michael Jeroen Maarten Michiel de Leeuw (born 7 October 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Eerste Divisie club Cambuur.^[1]

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]

Groningen

On 22 May 2012, FC Groningen announced that they had signed De Leeuw. He helped the club 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 Nikolić, who led the league in 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.^[8] De Leeuw was released by Chicago at the end of their 2018 season.^[9]

Emmen

On 31 December 2018, De Leeuw signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with FC Emmen with an option for an additional year.^[10]

Return to Groningen

On 26 March 2021, De Leeuw returned to Groningen when he signed a contract for the 2021–22 season.^[11] On 26 October, he scored his first goal back with the team in a 2–0 victory over AZ.^[12]

Return to Willem II

On 10 August 2022, De Leeuw returned to his youth club Willem II on a two-year contract.^[13] He helped the Tricolores to the Eerste Divisie title in the 2023–24 season, which meant promotion back to the Eredivisie.^[14]

Career statistics

As of match played on 1 November 2024^[1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
BV Veendam	2009–10	Eerste Divisie	36	25	1	0	0	0	—		37	25
	2010–11	Eerste Divisie	31	13	2	0	0	0	1^[a]	1	34	14
	Total		67	38	3	0	0	0	1	1	71	39
De Graafschap	2011–12	Eredivisie	33	10	2	1	0	0	2^[a]	0	37	11
Groningen	2012–13	Eredivisie	30	11	3	1	0	0	2^[b]	0	35	12
	2013–14	Eredivisie	24	9	3	0	0	0	4^[b]	0	31	9
	2014–15	Eredivisie	28	17	4	7	1^[c]	0	0	0	33	24
	2015–16	Eredivisie	27	9	3	1	4^[c]	0	2^[d]	0	34	10
	Total		109	46	13	9	5	0	8	0	135	55
Chicago Fire	2016	MLS	18	7	2	1	0	0	0	0	20	8
	2017	MLS	30	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	31	3
	2018	MLS	9	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	2
	Total		57	12	3	1	0	0	0	0	60	13
Emmen	2018–19	Eredivisie	16	3	0	0	—		—		16	3
	2019–20	Eredivisie	26	9	1	1	—		—		27	10
	2020–21	Eredivisie	29	13	2	2	—		1^[a]	0	32	15
	Total		71	25	3	3	—		1	0	75	28
Groningen	2021–22	Eredivisie	31	4	2	1	—		—		33	5
Willem II	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	33	7	1	0	—		0	0	34	7
	2023–24	Eerste Divisie	28	3	2	0	—		—		30	3
	Total		61	10	3	0	—		0	0	64	10
Cambuur	2024–25	Eerste Divisie	12	2	1	0	—		—		13	2
Career total			441	134	30	15	5	0	12	1	488	150

^ ^a ^b ^c Appearance(s) in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs
^ ^a ^b Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
^ ^a ^b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
^ One appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield, one appearance in Eredivisie European play-offs