Michael Klukowski Explained

Mike Klukowski
Fullname:Michael Władysław Klukowski[1]
Birth Date:27 May 1981
Birth Place:Amstetten, Austria
Height:1.85 m[2]
Position:Left-back
Youthyears1:1997
Youthyears2:1998
Youthclubs1:Oshawa Kicks
Youthclubs2:Scarborough Azzurri-Blues
Years1:1998–1999
Clubs1:Dijon
Caps1:32
Goals1:9
Years2:1999–2000
Clubs2:US Tourcoing
Caps2:25
Goals2:12
Years3:2000–2002
Clubs3:Lille B
Caps3:30
Goals3:1
Years4:2002–2005
Clubs4:La Louvière
Caps4:90
Goals4:3
Years5:2005–2010
Clubs5:Club Brugge
Caps5:175
Goals5:1
Years6:2010–2011
Clubs6:Ankaragücü
Caps6:23
Goals6:1
Years7:2011–2012
Clubs7:Manisaspor
Caps7:26
Goals7:0
Years8:2012–2013
Clubs8:APOEL
Caps8:16
Goals8:1
Totalcaps:417
Totalgoals:28
Nationalyears1:2001
Nationalteam1:Canada U20
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2003
Nationalteam2:Canada U23
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2003–2012
Nationalteam3:Canada
Nationalcaps3:36
Nationalgoals3:0

Michael Władysław Klukowski (pronounced as /pl/; born 27 May 1981) is a Canadian soccer player who played as a left-back. He made 36 appearances for the Canada national team.

Club career

Klukowski was born in Amstetten, Austria. He began his career in Canada playing for the Oshawa Kicks and Scarborough Azzurri-Blues, before travelling across the Atlantic to link up with Dijon FCO in 1999. A move to Tourcoing FC followed the next year before his performances caught the attentions of Ligue 1 outfit Lille OSC whom he joined in 2001. He only played for their reserves team however so his time at the Stade Grimonprez-Jooris was equally fleeting though but he finally found his feet at La Louvière, making 72 league appearances over the next two-and-a-half seasons and growing in stature. While at La Louvière he helped them win the 2002–03 Belgian Cup.[3]

Club Brugge

At La Louvière, Klukowski attracted interest from Club Brugge who signed him in a deal thought to be worth €900,000 during the winter break in January 2005. He initially had to bide his time at the Jan Breydel Stadium but did make six appearances towards the end of the campaign as Club Brugge sealed the title. Klukowski was the number one left back for five seasons with Brugge. He replaced Peter Van Der Heyden, who suffered a knee injury, during the last season with Trond Sollied. Klukowski left Brugge with 178 official games including 26 European appearances and two Belgian Supercup Final appearances.[4]

Ankaragücü

In mid-August 2010 Klukowski moved to Süper Lig club Ankaragücü for an estimated value of €750,000 while signing a three-year deal.[5] He made his debut for the club in a 1–1 home draw against Kayserispor on 27 August 2010.[6] Klukowski scored his first goal in Turkey on 4 December 2010 in a 1–1 home draw against Sivasspor, scoring the opening goal in the 11th minute at the Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium until Erman Kılıç tied it up with a goal in the 56th.[7] In early April 2011 it was announced that Klukowski was leaving Ankaragücü over unpaid wages. The club was in the news earlier that year when former England international Darius Vassell was kicked out of his hotel room because the club failed to pay for his accommodation.

Manisaspor

In early June prior to the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup it was announced that Klukowski had signed for Manisaspor for the upcoming season. Canadian international Josh Simpson Manisaspor's leading goal scorer from the 2010–11 season played a major factor in Klukowski's decision to sign with the Western Turkish club.[8] Klukowski made his debut for Manisaspor on 10 September in a 1–1 draw against Trabzonspor.[9]

APOEL

On 20 July 2012, Klukowski signed a two-year contract with Cypriot side APOEL.[10] At the end of the season he was crowned champion after winning the 2012–13 Cypriot First Division with APOEL.[11]

International career

After representing Canada at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, Klukowski made the step up to the senior side in March 2003. He made his debut for Canada in a February 2003 friendly match against Libya. He has represented Canada in ten FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[12] As of 13 June 2012, he has earned a total of 36 caps, scoring no goals.

He managed to make the All-Tournament team of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup along with fellow Canadian Julian de Guzman.

Personal life

Born to Polish parents who had stopped in Austria while on their way to Canada, Klukowski is of Polish descent and holds Polish citizenship.[13] [14] [15] Klukowski's son, Antoni, is also a soccer player who plays in Poland for Pogoń Szczecin II.[16]

Honours

La Louvière

2002–03

Club Brugge

2005[17]

2006–07[18]

Canada

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael Wladyslaw Klukowski . Turkish Football Federation . 3 October 2019 . tr.
  2. Web site: Mike Klukowski. canadasoccer.com. Canadian Soccer Association. 17 January 2014.
  3. Web site: La Louvière wint Beker van België . vi.nl. 1 June 2003 . 14 October 2020.
  4. http://www.clubbrugge.be/en/nieuws/bericht/6133/Michael-Klukowski-transferred-to-Ankaragu%C3%A7u Klukowski Transferred
  5. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1956/europe/2010/08/19/2078887/ankaragucu-set-to-sign-club-brugge-defender-michael Klukowski Transfer to Turkey
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023144538/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=307371&cc=5901 Ankaragücü vs. Kayserispor 27 August 2010
  7. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match/_/id/309966&cc=5901 Match: Ankaragucu vs. Sivasspor
  8. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ege/17901418.asp?gid=142&srid=3543&oid=1&l=1 Manisaspor’da Klukovski tamam
  9. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/09/10/turkey/super-lig/manisaspor/trabzonspor/1208751/ Manisaspor vs. Trabzonspor
  10. Web site: Michael Klukowski . APOEL FC . el . 20 July 2012 . 20 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160117003428/http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=7038&tt=graphic&lang=l1 . 17 January 2016 .
  11. Web site: http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=10045&tt=graphic&lang=l1 . el:Ανακοίνωση . Announcement . APOEL FC . el . 12 August 2013 . 12 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222154/http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=10045&tt=graphic&lang=l1 . 2 December 2013 .
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20080618235309/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=182341/index.html Record at FIFA Tournaments
  13. News: On byłby lepszy od Boenischa . 16 November 2009 . . 18 November 2009 . dead . https://archive.today/20130416102121/http://www.dziennik.pl/sport/pilkanozna/483411.html . 16 April 2013 . dmy-all .
  14. News: Koen . Van Uytvange . Michael Klukowski : 'Ik keer terug naar mijn roots . 20 August 2009 . . 20 August 2009.
  15. News: Michael Klukowski . ClubBrugge.be . 20 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100203175113/http://www.clubbrugge.be/en/team/michael-klukowski . 3 February 2010 . dead .
  16. Web site: Some familiar names on Canada’s under-17 team for Mexico tournament. theglobeandmail.com. 6 November 2023.
  17. News: SUPERCOUPE DE BELGIQUE. FIN. besoccer.com. 20 April 2022.
  18. News: Bruges-Standard : En 2007, Ishiaku sauvait la saison du Club. rtbf.be. 20 April 2022.