Michaël "Sjel" de Bruyckere (1928–2011) was a Dutch footballer who played for Willem II and the Netherlands national football team before emigrating to Australia. Known in Australia as Mike de Bruyckere, he played for Wilhemina and played two unofficial matches for the Australia national soccer team.

Sjel de Bruyckere

Personal information
Full name	Michaël Christinus de Bruyckere
Date of birth	6 February 1928
Place of birth	Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands
Date of death	20 September 2011 (aged 83)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1950–1956	Willem II	167	(80)
1956–?	Wilhelmina
	Melbourne Hungaria
National team
1954–1956	Netherlands	7	(2)
Teams managed
	Wilhelmina
	Ringwood United
	Lions
	Polonia
	George Cross
	Preston Makedonia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Club career

In 1950, de Bruyckere joined Willem II, where he played in the team's 1952 and 1955 national championship teams. After Willem II rejected a transfer to Lugano in 1956, de Bruyckere left for Australia, signing for Wilhemina, a team founded by Dutch immigrants to Australia. Later in 1956, the Royal Dutch Football Association wrote to the Australian Soccer Football Association, requesting that a transfer fee be paid to Willem II.[1][2][3][4]

Sjel de Bruyckere (right) with his wife and son leaving Amsterdam in April 1956

International career

De Bruyckere made his debut for the Netherlands national football team against Belgium in October 1954. He played his seventh and last appearance at international level in April 1956, also against Belgium.[5][6]

In 1957, de Bruyckere played for Australian selections against visiting club teams Eastern AA and Ferencváros.[7]

Honours

Willem II

• Netherlands Football League Championship: 1951–52, 1953–54

Wilhelmina

• Victorian State League Division 2 Champions: 1956[3]
• Victorian State League Division 1 Champions: 1959[3]
• Dockerty Cup: 1958[3]

Individual

• Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame: 1999[8]

References