Michael Boxall

Michael Joseph Boxall (born 18 August 1988) is a New Zealand footballer who currently plays for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer, and the New Zealand national football team.[2]

Michael Boxall
Boxall with New Zealand in 2017
Personal information
Full name Michael Joseph Boxall[1]
Date of birth (1988-08-18) 18 August 1988
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Minnesota United
Number 15
Youth career
Three Kings United
Mount Albert Grammar School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Ellerslie AFC
Central United
2006–2007 Auckland City FC 4 (0)
2011–2012 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 19 (0)
2011 → Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (loan) 1 (0)
2012 → Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (loan) 2 (1)
2013–2015 Wellington Phoenix 39 (2)
2013 → Oakleigh Cannons (loan) 11 (1)
2014–2015 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2 (0)
2015–2017 SuperSport United 53 (4)
2017– Minnesota United 92 (4)
National team‡
2005–2007 New Zealand U20 14 (0)
2007–2008 New Zealand Olympic 12 (1)
2006 New Zealand A 2 (0)
2011– New Zealand 32 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2019

Early career in New Zealand

For high school, Boxall attended and played for Mount Albert Grammar School. With Boxall anchoring the defence, Mount Albert won the league title in 2004 and 2005 and placed first at the national tournament in 2005. In his senior season in 2006, Boxall was named the team captain. He led the team to a second Knockout Cup title in three years. They also went to the Auckland Secondary School Soccer Association Championship. Mt. Albert went on to finish second at nationals that year.

Boxall played for a number of teams in his native New Zealand including Ellerslie AFC, Three Kings United,[3] Central United,[4] and Auckland City FC, leading Central United to the 2007 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier title. In addition, Boxall won the NZFC with Auckland City, where he made 6 appearances that year despite scoring zero goals.[5] He was named the Auckland City Young Player of the Year with Central United in 2006 and then again with Auckland City F.C. in 2007.

US college

Boxall was recruited to play college soccer at the University of California, Santa Barbara by head coach Tim Vom Steeg. He followed in the footsteps of other New Zealand players at Santa Barbara such as Tony Lochhead and Neil Jones, both of whom have received senior international caps after appearing for UCSB. In his first season with the Gauchos, Boxall played in 12 games, starting 10 of them. He scored no points and only had one shot on goal, but proved himself to be a solid defensive rock alongside Gaucho defensive stalwart Andy Iro. Boxall's season was cut short due to a knee injury which forced him to miss the rest of the year. Despite missing half the season, Boxall led all rookies with 10 starts and tied for the team high in both yellow cards and red cards, 6 and 1 respectively.

Personal life

Boxall is half Samoan and is the older brother of New Zealand international footballer Nikko Boxall.[6][7]

Professional

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Boxall was selected first overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He agreed to terms with the club on 17 March 2011,[8] and made his professional debut on 19 March, in Vancouver's 2011 MLS opener against Toronto FC.[9] After appearing in three matches for the Whitecaps in the 2012 season, Boxall was waived on 22 June 2012.[10]

Wellington Phoenix

On 10 July 2012 it was confirmed by the club that Boxall officially joined the Wellington Phoenix of his native New Zealand on a two-year contract. Instrumental in signing Boxall was Ricki Herbert, coach of both the Phoenix and the New Zealand national team at the time.[2] Boxall made his debut for the club on 14 October 2012, in the 1–1 away draw against Melbourne Heart in Round 2. After a beginning to his time in Wellington which saw him play backup to Ben Sigmund and Andrew Durante, Boxall was loaned to the Oakleigh Cannons of the Victorian Premier League.[11] Following a disappointing first season with the Phoenix, Boxall signed a 1-year contract extension on 15 January 2014. Boxall stated the direction that the club was going under new head coach Ernie Merrick was the deciding factor in signing a new deal with the club.[12] In the 2013–14 season, Boxall appeared in 20 games for the Phoenix, starting 18.[13]

International

Boxall has represented New Zealand at various international levels. His début with the national set up was with the Junior All-Whites (U-20's) in which he made 14 appearances with no goals.[14] During this time, he appeared in the 2007 U-20 World Cup OFC qualifying tournament and ultimately the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played in all three U-20 World Cup games before New Zealand were knocked out.

Boxall has also represented the New Zealand U-23 Olympic team, known as the Oly-Whites. He played in all 5 2008 OFC Olympic Qualifiers which saw New Zealand advance to their first ever Olympic Games. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Boxall again appeared in all three of New Zealand's games before they were eliminated.[15] In addition to these 8 games, he played four Olympic warm-up matches against Central Coast Mariners, Persikota Tangerang, Indonesia (senior squad), and Persija Jakarta between the Qualifying Tournament and the Beijing Olympic Tournament.

Boxall has made 2 appearances for New Zealand A at the Agribank Cup in Vietnam during October 2006, appearing against Thailand[16] and Bahrain.[17] Both games were held at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Only days after making his Whitecaps debut, Boxall was called up to the All Whites' squad for their match against China on 25 March 2011,[18] where he came on as a second-half substitute.[19]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 8 December 2020[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Auckland City FC 2006–07[21] Championship 40———40
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2011 MLS 19020——210
2012 0000—0000
Total 190200000210
Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (loan) 2012

[21]

 USL PDL 21———21
Wellington Phoenix 2012–13 Championship 40———40
2013–14 160———160
2014–15 192———192
Total 392000000392
Oakleigh Cannons(loan) 2013[21] Premier Leagues Victoria 111———111
SuperSport United 2015–16 South African Premier Division 25241201[lower-alpha 1]0323
2016–17 282304 01[lower-alpha 1]0362
Total 534716020685
Minnesota United 2017 MLS 120———120
2018 32220——342
2019 29250—1[lower-alpha 2]0352
2020 190——3[lower-alpha 2]0220
Total 9247000401034
Career total 22011161606024812
  1. Appearance(s) in MTN 8
  2. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

As of 15 November 2019[21]

New Zealand national team
YearAppsGoals
201130
201240
201300
201440
201530
201660
2017110
201800
201910
Total320

Honours

Auckland City FC
SuperSport United

International
National team

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 23. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  2. "Phoenix Confirm Boxall Signing". Wellington Phoenix. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  3. "Ken Says". Archived from the original on 10 August 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2014.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. "NAPIER UNDER 19 TOURNAMENT WINNERS 2005". Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. "2006/7 PLAYER APPEARANCES". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2007.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. Boxall, Michael (22 July 2016). "Born/raised in NZ but am half Samoan". Twitter. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  7. Rollo, Phillip (14 March 2018). "Boxall brothers to team up in All Whites as Nikko joins older brother Michael". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  8. "Whitecaps FC sign four more players to MLS side | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  9. Hassli, Whitecaps pummel TFC in dynamite debut Archived 22 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Whitecaps FC waive defender Michael Boxall | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  11. "Football: One call seals Brockie's loan spell". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  12. "Soccer: New Nix deals for Riera, Boxall". NZ Herald. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  13. "Michael Boxall, Central Defender, Wellington Phoenix". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  14. "Michael Boxall U-20 Player Profile at NZfootball". Web.archive.org. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. "Olympic Football Squads Named". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
  16. Thailand 1 New Zealand A 0 From http://www.nzsoccer.com Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Posted 28 October 2006.
  17. Bahrain Victory Positive Sign For Future - Jacobs From http://www.nzsoccer.com Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Posted 30 October 2006.
  18. Matthew Doyle (16 March 2011). "March FIFA dates lead to MLS roster diaspora". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  19. Martin, Sean (26 March 2011). "All Whites draw with China in friendly". The Sunday Star-Times. NZPA. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  20. Michael Boxall at Soccerway
  21. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Michael Boxall". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  22. UC Santa Barbara player profile; Michael Boxall Archived 11 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  23. "Auckland City football Club; Award Winners". Aucklandcityfc.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  24. MLS Player profiles; Michael Boxall Archived 13 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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