Michael Klukowski

Mike Klukowski

Personal information
Full name	Michael Klukowski
Date of birth	27 May 1981 (1981-05-27) (age 30)
Place of birth	Amstetten, Austria
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	defender
Club information
Current club	Manisaspor
Number	50
Youth career
1997	Oshawa Kicks Soccer Club
1998	Scarborough Blues FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–1999	Dijon
1999–2000	Tourcoing F.C.
2000–2002	Lille OSC B	30	(1)
2002–2005	La Louvière	75	(3)
2005–2010	Club Brugge	135	(1)
2010–2011	Ankaragücü	18	(1)
2011–	Manisaspor	9	(0)
National team‡
2003–	Canada	33	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2011

Michael ("Mike") Klukowski (born 27 May 1981 in Amstetten, Austria) is a Canadian footballer who is currently plays for Manisaspor in Turkish Süper Lig.

At left-back, Klukowski has enjoyed a rapid rise since his move to Belgium in 2002. Born to Polish parents who had stopped in Austria while on their way to Canada, he is of Polish descent and holds Polish citizenship.^[1][2][3]

Club career

He began his career in Canada playing for the Oshawa Kicks Soccer Club and Scarborough Blues FC, 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 LOSC Lille Métropole 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 RAA Louviéroise, making 72 league appearances over the next two-and-a-half seasons and growing in stature.

Club Brugge

At La Louvière, he attracted interest from Club Brugge KV who signed the well-travelled youngster 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 Breydelstadion but did make six appearances towards the end of the campaign as Club Brugge sealed the title. Michael 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. Michael left Brugge with 178 official games including 26 European appearances and 2 Belgian Supercup Final appearances.^[4]

Ankaragücü

In mid-August Klukowski was transferred from his home of 5 season with Club Brugge to Ankaragücü in the Turkish League 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] Michael scored his first goal in Turkey on December 4, 2010 in a 1-1 home draw against Sivasspor, he scored 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 his Turkish club Ankaragucu 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.^[8]

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.^[9] Klukowski made his debut for Manisaspor on September 10 in a 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor.^[10]

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. As of December 2009, he has earned a total of 26 caps, scoring no goals. He has represented Canada in 8 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.^[11]

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

Honours

Club

R.A.A. Louviéroise

• Belgian Cup (1): 2002–03

Club Brugge

• Belgian First Division (1): 2004–05
• Belgian Cup (1): 2006–07
• Belgian Supercup (1): 2005

Individual

• 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI

References

1. ^ "On byłby lepszy od Boenischa". Dziennik. 2009-11-16. http://www.dziennik.pl/sport/pilkanozna/483411.html. Retrieved 2009-11-18. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Van Uytvange, Koen (2009-08-20). "Michael Klukowski : 'Ik keer terug naar mijn roots". Het Nieuwsblad. http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Sportwereld/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=CD2DV2NC. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
3. ^ "Michael Klukowski". ClubBrugge.be. http://www.clubbrugge.be/en/team/michael-klukowski. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
4. ^ Klukowski Transferred – Clube Brugge
5. ^ Klukowski Transfer to Turkey – Goal
6. ^ Ankaragücü vs. Kayserispor August 27, 2010 – ESPN
7. ^ Match: Ankaragucu vs. Sivasspor – ESPN
8. ^ Across the Pond - April 11, 2011 – red nation
9. ^ Manisaspor’da Klukovski tamam – Hürriyet Ege
10. ^ Manisaspor vs. Trabzonspor – Soccerway
11. ^ Record at FIFA Tournaments – FIFA

External links

• Player profile – CanadaSoccer
• Career stats – National Football Teams
• Guardian Football

Persondata
Name	Klukowski, Michael
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	1981-05-27
Place of birth	Amstetten, Austria
Date of death
Place of death