Michel Vlap

Michel Vlap
Personal information
Date of birth	2 June 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Sneek, Netherlands
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Twente
Number	18
Youth career
	WSZ
	VV Sneek
	SC Heerenveen
Senior career*
Years	Team
2016–2019	SC Heerenveen
2019–2022	Anderlecht
2021	→ Arminia Bielefeld (loan)
2021–2022	→ Twente (loan)
2022–	Twente
International career
2014–2015	Netherlands U18
2015–2016	Netherlands U19
2016	Netherlands U20
2018	Netherlands U21
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 January 2025

Michel Vlap (Dutch pronunciation: [miˈɕɛl ˈvlɑp]; born 2 June 1997) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Twente. He has represented the Netherlands internationally at various youth levels.^[3]

Club career

Heerenveen

Vlap is an academy graduate of Eredivisie side Heerenveen and is the son of academy coach and former player Jan Vlap.^[4]^[5] Having progressed through the ranks of Heerenveen's youth academy, he signed his first professional contract on 17 February 2015, penning a three-year deal with the club.^[6] He later featured for Heerenveen during the 2015–16 pre-season and scored a brace in the club's 8–1 victory over VV Heerenveen in new manager Jurgen Streppel's first match in charge of the club.^[7]^[8] Vlap then made his senior debut for the club on 27 November 2016, coming on as a late, second-half substitute for Kosovan international Arbër Zeneli in a 1–0 Eredivisie loss to Ajax.^[9]

Vlap failed to appear again during the 2016–17 season but returned to the first team to make his KNVB Cup debut on 20 September 2017, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Excelsior.^[10] He scored his first goal for the club the following month, netting in a 2–1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar.^[11] On 3 December, he signed a new five-year contract with Heerenveen after impressing with a run of three goals in his previous five appearances for the club.^[12] He ultimately scored four goals in 26 appearances across all competitions for the campaign.

He continued to feature for the club the following season and in October 2018, after scoring a league-high four goals in the month, won the Eredevise Player of the Month award.^[13] By the end of the campaign, he had scored 16 goals and recorded six assists which earned him a transfer to Belgian side, Anderlecht.^[14]

Anderlecht and loans

In February 2021, Vlap moved to Bundesliga team Arminia Bielefeld from Anderlecht, on a loan deal until the end of the season.^[15] On 15 February, Vlap scored his first Bundesliga goal in the ninth minute of his debut, in a 3–3 away draw at Bayern Munich.

Twente

Vlap again moved on loan in August 2021, returning to the Eredivisie with Twente.^[16] He made his competitive debut for the Tukkers on the first matchday of the 2021–22 season, replacing Dimitris Limnios in the 67th minute of a 2–1 away loss to Fortuna Sittard.^[17]^[18] He soon established himself as a starter for the club, and scored his first goal for Twente on 19 September in a 4–1 away victory against Vitesse.^[19] He played in all 34 league games that season, starting in 31 of them, as Twente secured a fourth-place finish and qualified for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League for the following season.^[1]^[20]

On 4 July 2022, Anderlecht and Twente agreed on a permanent transfer and Vlap signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year.^[21] He scored on his European debut, helping Twente to a 3–1 away win over Serbian club Čukarički on 4 August.^[22]

International career

Netherlands national youth teams

Vlap has represented Netherlands at both under-18 and under-19 level.^[23] On 21 July 2016, while representing the Netherlands at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Vlap made history by becoming the first player ever to be brought on as a fourth substitute in a UEFA match when he replaced Laros Duarte in a 3–3 (5–4) penalty shoot-out loss to Germany. Regulations then ordinarily allowed a team to make only three substitutions during a match but a trial allowing for a fourth substitution in extra-time was introduced by the International Football Association Board for the tournament.^[24]^[25] This was since changed to five substitutions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[26]

Career statistics

As of match played on 30 January 2025^[27]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Heerenveen	2016–17	Eredivisie	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2017–18	Eredivisie	24	4	2	0	—		—		26	4
	2018–19	Eredivisie	34	16	4	1	—		—		39	17
	Total		59	20	6	1	—		—		65	21
Anderlecht	2019–20	First Division A	23	11	2	0	—		—		25	11
	2020–21	First Division A	11	1	0	0	—		—		11	1
	Total		34	12	2	0	—		—		36	12
Arminia Bielefeld (loan)	2020–21	Bundesliga	7	1	0	0	—		—		7	1
Twente (loan)	2021–22	Eredivisie	34	5	2	0	—		—		36	5
Twente	2022–23	Eredivisie	32	3	1	0	4^[a]	2	4^[b]	1	42	6
	2023–24	Eredivisie	29	2	1	0	5^[a]	0	—		35	2
	2024–25	Eredivisie	19	3	2	0	10^[c]	2	—		31	5
	Total		114	13	6	0	19	4	4	1	143	18
Career total			214	46	14	1	19	4	4	1	251	52

^ ^a ^b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
^ Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs
^ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Individual

Eredivisie Talent of the Month: October 2018,^[28]

Eredivisie Team of the Month: May 2023,^[29]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Michel Vlap at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
^ MICHEL VLAP VAN SC HEERENVEEN NAAR ANDERLECHT, swzbososneek.nl, 5 July 2019
^ Bell, Michael (10 July 2016). "Profiling Netherlands U19 squad for European Championships". Football Oranje. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^ "SC Heerenveen-speler Michel Vlap naar EK onder 19". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 7 July 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
^ "Michel Vlap debuteert bij SC Heerenveen". Groot Sneek. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
^ "SC Heerenveen legt jeugdspeler Vlap vast". FC Update (in Dutch). 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
^ "Sterk begin van voorbereiding Heerenveen en Owusu-Abeyie". Voetbal International. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^ "Jaroge Streppel wint met Heerenveen". Telegraaf (in Dutch). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Heerenveen-debutant 'staat te shaken': "Echt een jongensdroom"". Soccer News Netherlands (in Dutch). 27 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
^ "SBV Excelsior v SC Heerenveen Live Commentary". Goal. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^ McVitie, Peter (8 November 2017). "How is Real Madrid's Forgotten Wonderkid Performing in Holland?". Goal. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
^ "Vlap tekent tot 2022 in Heerenveen". Fox Sports (Netherlands) (in Dutch). 8 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
^ Stiensma, Sjoerd (2 November 2018). "Michel Vlap talent van de maand" (in Dutch). Sneeker Nieuwsblad. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
^ Hick, Antoine (4 July 2019). "Mais qui est donc Michel Vlap, le nouveau renfort anderlechtois ?". RTFB. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
^ Gjerulff, Rune (1 February 2021). "Official: Michel Vlap joins Bielefeld". Bulinews. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
^ ten Voorde, Leon (10 August 2021). "Michel Vlap eindelijk speler van FC Twente: 'Ik wil niet zeggen dat ik mislukt ben'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^ "Fortuna Sittard vs. Twente 2–1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "Lake beleeft droomdebuut en bezorgt Fortuna zege op FC Twente". NOS (in Dutch). 14 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "FC Twente deelt in Arnhem Vitesse flinke klap uit". NOS (in Dutch). 19 September 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "'Stabiel' Twente hoopt dat vierde plek opmaat is naar structureel succes". NOS (in Dutch). 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "Michel Vlap maakt definitieve overstap naar FC Twente". FC Twente (in Dutch). 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "History: Čukarički 1-3 Twente | UEFA Conference League 2022/23". UEFA.com. 4 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ "Michel Vlap naar EK onder 19". Sneeker Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^ Haslam, Andrew (21 July 2016). "History made as teams bring on fourth substitutes". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
^ Haslam, Andrew (21 July 2016). "Germany edge Netherlands in play-off thriller". UEFA. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^ "Five substitutes option temporarily allowed for competition organisers | IFAB". the International Football Association Board. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
^ "Michel Vlap » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
^ "Hakim Ziyech uitgeroepen tot Eredivisiespeler van de Maand | Eredivisie". eredivisie.nl. 2 November 2018.
^ "FC Twente main supplier in May's Eredivisie team of the Month April". Eredivisie. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.

External links

Michel Vlap at WorldFootball.net

[UECL-28] Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

[EP-29] Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs

[30] Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

[SW-1] Michel Vlap at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 December 2016.

[2] MICHEL VLAP VAN SC HEERENVEEN NAAR ANDERLECHT, swzbososneek.nl, 5 July 2019

[3] Bell, Michael (10 July 2016). "Profiling Netherlands U19 squad for European Championships". Football Oranje. Retrieved 14 December 2016.

[4] "SC Heerenveen-speler Michel Vlap naar EK onder 19". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 7 July 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.

[5] "Michel Vlap debuteert bij SC Heerenveen". Groot Sneek. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.

[6] "SC Heerenveen legt jeugdspeler Vlap vast". FC Update (in Dutch). 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2016.

[7] "Sterk begin van voorbereiding Heerenveen en Owusu-Abeyie". Voetbal International. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.

[8] "Jaroge Streppel wint met Heerenveen". Telegraaf (in Dutch). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[9] "Heerenveen-debutant 'staat te shaken': "Echt een jongensdroom"". Soccer News Netherlands (in Dutch). 27 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.

[10] "SBV Excelsior v SC Heerenveen Live Commentary". Goal. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.

[11] McVitie, Peter (8 November 2017). "How is Real Madrid's Forgotten Wonderkid Performing in Holland?". Goal. Retrieved 20 November 2017.

[12] "Vlap tekent tot 2022 in Heerenveen". Fox Sports (Netherlands) (in Dutch). 8 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.

[13] Stiensma, Sjoerd (2 November 2018). "Michel Vlap talent van de maand" (in Dutch). Sneeker Nieuwsblad. Retrieved 4 November 2018.

[14] Hick, Antoine (4 July 2019). "Mais qui est donc Michel Vlap, le nouveau renfort anderlechtois ?". RTFB. Retrieved 4 July 2019.

[15] Gjerulff, Rune (1 February 2021). "Official: Michel Vlap joins Bielefeld". Bulinews. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

[16] ten Voorde, Leon (10 August 2021). "Michel Vlap eindelijk speler van FC Twente: 'Ik wil niet zeggen dat ik mislukt ben'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 August 2021.

[17] "Fortuna Sittard vs. Twente 2–1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[18] "Lake beleeft droomdebuut en bezorgt Fortuna zege op FC Twente". NOS (in Dutch). 14 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[19] "FC Twente deelt in Arnhem Vitesse flinke klap uit". NOS (in Dutch). 19 September 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[20] "'Stabiel' Twente hoopt dat vierde plek opmaat is naar structureel succes". NOS (in Dutch). 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[21] "Michel Vlap maakt definitieve overstap naar FC Twente". FC Twente (in Dutch). 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[22] "History: Čukarički 1-3 Twente | UEFA Conference League 2022/23". UEFA.com. 4 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[23] "Michel Vlap naar EK onder 19". Sneeker Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.

[24] Haslam, Andrew (21 July 2016). "History made as teams bring on fourth substitutes". UEFA. Retrieved 10 December 2016.

[25] Haslam, Andrew (21 July 2016). "Germany edge Netherlands in play-off thriller". UEFA. Retrieved 14 December 2016.

[26] "Five substitutes option temporarily allowed for competition organisers | IFAB". the International Football Association Board. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.

[27] "Michel Vlap » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

[31] "Hakim Ziyech uitgeroepen tot Eredivisiespeler van de Maand | Eredivisie". eredivisie.nl. 2 November 2018.

[32] "FC Twente main supplier in May's Eredivisie team of the Month April". Eredivisie. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.

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