Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Michael Falkesgaard
View on Wikipedia
Michael Aksel Bataican Falkesgaard (born 9 April 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Thai League 1 club Port. Born in Denmark, he represented the Philippines national team.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Falkesgaard was born in Denmark to a Danish father and a Filipino mother.[1][2] He was influenced by his father and elder brother to take up football. When he was five years old, he asked his father to take him to the youth academy of the local club Kastrup BK. He stated that his football role model was fellow Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.[1]
Club career
[edit]Denmark
[edit]Falkesgaard started his senior club career with Brøndby IF in 2010. In 2015, he moved to Odense Boldklub where he was the first-choice goalkeeper. However, a few matches into the season, he suffered a serious ACL injury that required surgery. He returned from injury and later joined rival club FC Midtjylland, but he was not able to play a single match for them.[1][3]
Bangkok United
[edit]In January 2018, Falkesgaard was sold by Midtjylland to Thai League 1 club Bangkok United, where he is counted as an ASEAN player.[1][3] Falkesgaard kept eleven clean sheets in his first season with Bangkok United, helping his club finish as runners-up in 2018.[4]
Return to Denmark
[edit]On 30 June 2023 it was confirmed, that Falkesgaard had returned to Denmark, signing with newly promoted Danish 1st Division club B.93.[5]
International career
[edit]Denmark youth
[edit]Falkesgaard has represented Denmark at under-18 to under-20 levels.
Philippines
[edit]Born to a Filipina mother, Falkesgaard was eligible to represent the Philippines. The Philippine Football Federation learned of his eligibility through Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena, both of whom are also Danish-Filipino footballers capped for the Philippines.[6]
In March 2018, Falkesgaard received his first call up for the Philippines.[7] He earned his first cap on 22 March in a 3–2 friendly win over Fiji. He did not concede any goal in the first half; however, Nick O'Donnell was subbed in for him at the start of the second half.[8] On 13 October, he came on as a second half substitute for Neil Etheridge in a 1–1 friendly draw against Oman.[9]
Falkesgaard was named in the Philippines' 23-man squad for the 2018 AFF Championship.[10] He started in the group matches against Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Indonesia.[2][11][12] He then played in the first leg of the semi-finals against Vietnam, but missed the second leg due to a groin injury.[13] Philippines lost to Vietnam on 4–2 aggregate.[14][15]
Since Neil Etheridge was unavailable due to club commitments, Falkesgaard was named Philippines' first-choice goalkeeper for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup—the first time the national team has qualified for the international tournament.[16][17] Philippines exited the tournament at the group stage after a winless campaign.[18]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 12 May 2023
| Club | Season | League[a] | Cup[b] | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brøndby IF | 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Odense Boldklub | 2015–16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Midtjylland | 2017–18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bangkok United | 2018 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| 2019 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 139 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 150 | 0 | |
| Career total | 157 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 171 | 0 | |
- ^ Includes Danish Superliga, Thai League 1
- ^ Includes Danish Cup, Thai FA Cup, Thai League Cup and AFC Champions League
International
[edit]- As of match played 7 June 2019
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | 2018 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 0 | |
Honours
[edit]Midtjylland
[edit]Bangkok United
- Thai League 1 runner-up: 2018, 2022–23
- Thai FA Cup runner-up: 2022–23
Port
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Leong, Kevin (7 February 2018). "Michael Falkesgaard sees Sanrawat Dechmitr as key man for Bangkok". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ a b Leong, Kelvin (18 November 2018). "Azkals' Falkesgaard dedicates latest Azkals win to mom, hometown". Fox Sports Philippines. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b "FCM sælger Falkesgaard til Bangkok United" [FCM sells Falkesgaard to Bangkok United]. bold.dk (in Danish). 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Chansrichawla, Gian (9 October 2018). "Thai League Team Of The Season 2018". football-tribe.com. Football Tribe. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ B.93 forstærker truppen, b93prof.dk, 30 June 2023
- ^ Tupas, Cedelf (20 January 2017). "More talent in Azkals' player pool". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ Leong, Kevin (5 March 2018). "Bangkok United's Falkesgaard to battle Etheridge for Azkals No. 1 spot". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Terrado, Jonas (23 March 2018). "Azkals survive Fiji at International Friendly". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ "Azkals earn draw against Oman in Doha". Fox Sports Asia. 14 October 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "AFF Suzuki Cup 2018: Sven-Goran Eriksson's Azkals 23-man squad". Fox Sports. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ Ventura, Sid (21 November 2018). "Philippine Azkals come away with 1–1 draw vs. Thailand". ESPN5. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Go, Beatrice (25 November 2018). "Azkals return to 2018 Suzuki Cup semis in Indonesia draw". Rappler. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Leong, Kelvin (7 December 2018). "Azkals sweat on Michael Falkesgaard injury as Asian Cup 2019 looms". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Tan, Gabriel (6 December 2018). "AFF Suzuki Cup 2018: Vietnam end Philippines' hopes of miracle". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ "Football: Late goals against Philippines confirm Vietnam's place in AFF Suzuki Cup final against Malaysia". The Straits Times. Reuters. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ "AFC Asian Cup: Azkals reveal lineup for 2019 Asian Cup". ABS-CBN Sports. 27 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ "Michael Falkesgaard: Azkals not here to make up the numbers at Asian Cup". Fox Sports Asia. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Morales, Luisa (17 January 2019). "Azkals bow out of Asian Cup after loss to Kyrgyzstan". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
External links
[edit]- Michael Falkesgaard on Twitter
- Michael Falkesgaard on Instagram
- Michael Falkesgaard national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
- Michael Falkesgaard at Soccerway
- Michael Falkesgaard at National-Football-Teams.com
Michael Falkesgaard
View on GrokipediaEarly life and youth career
Early life
Michael Falkesgaard was born on 9 April 1991 in Kastrup, Denmark.[1] He was raised by a Danish father and a Filipino mother, which provided him with dual Danish-Filipino citizenship and a blend of cultural influences from an early age.[6] His mother's heritage connected him to the Philippines, while growing up in the football-passionate Danish community in Kastrup shaped his initial surroundings.[6] Falkesgaard's introduction to football came at the age of five, when he began playing informally in his local area, reflecting the sport's prominence in Danish youth culture.[6] These early experiences laid the foundation for his passion, leading him to pursue organized youth training shortly thereafter.Youth career
Michael Falkesgaard began his organized football training at the age of five with Kastrup BK, a local club in his hometown of Kastrup, Denmark, where he initially took up the goalkeeper position.[6][1] However, due to his team's dominant performances resulting in frequent lopsided victories, he saw limited action in goal and temporarily switched to an outfield role to stay more involved in matches.[6] In 2010, at the age of 19, Falkesgaard was recruited into the Brøndby IF youth academy, marking a significant step in his development as he joined one of Denmark's premier youth systems.[1] During his time there from 2010 to 2011, he reverted to goalkeeping amid puberty, a period of rapid physical growth that reached his adult height of 1.91 meters, which, combined with recurring injuries in outfield play, made the position a better fit as suggested by his mother.[6] His training emphasized goalkeeping fundamentals, including shot-stopping, distribution, and aerial command, alongside physical conditioning to leverage his increasing stature for better reach and presence in the penalty area.[6] Falkesgaard's progress in the Brøndby academy was notable; he advanced from the second youth team to the first, consistently outperforming peers in trials and sessions.[6] This led to him signing his first youth contract with the club in 2011, a milestone that positioned him among the top prospects, though only two of the eight elite talents from his generation ultimately turned professional.[6] His standout displays in academy matches, particularly in high-pressure scenarios, highlighted his composure and reflexes, paving the way for opportunities closer to the senior setup.[6]Club career
Career in Denmark
Michael Falkesgaard began his professional career with Brøndby IF, joining the senior squad in 2010 after progressing through the club's youth system. He made his debut on October 27, 2011, in a Danish Cup match against FC Copenhagen, stepping in due to an injury to the first-choice goalkeeper. Over the next few seasons, Falkesgaard primarily served as a backup, competing with established keepers like Michael Tørnes and Mikkel Andersen. In the 2012–13 Danish Superliga season, he secured eight league appearances, often coming on as a substitute or starting in less critical fixtures, which highlighted his potential but limited his overall exposure.[7][8] In July 2015, Falkesgaard transferred to Odense Boldklub on a free transfer, seeking a greater opportunity to establish himself as the primary goalkeeper. He initially claimed the starting role in the 2015–16 season, making four league appearances early on. However, in August 2015, just a few matches into his tenure, he suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during training, which sidelined him for the remainder of the calendar year and required extensive rehabilitation. Falkesgaard returned the following season, featuring in three league matches during 2016–17, but the injury significantly disrupted his development and consistency, as he struggled to regain full confidence and displace competitors like Sten Gryger. In total, he recorded seven league appearances for Odense across both seasons.[9][8] Falkesgaard moved to FC Midtjylland in June 2017 on another free transfer, joining a squad that would go on to win the 2017–18 Danish Superliga title. Despite being part of the team for the first half of the season, he did not make any first-team appearances, remaining behind starters like Jesper Hansen in the pecking order. His time at Midtjylland underscored ongoing challenges in securing regular playing time amid stiff competition from more experienced goalkeepers, compounded by the lingering effects of his earlier injury on his physical and mental readiness. These years in Denmark were marked by persistent hurdles, including intense rivalry for the starting position at top clubs and the setback from his ACL tear, which hampered his progression toward a starring role. Eager for consistent minutes to revive his career, Falkesgaard departed for Thailand in January 2018, viewing an overseas move as essential for regular first-team action.[6]Bangkok United
Falkesgaard joined Bangkok United in January 2018 and served as the primary goalkeeper during a period that saw the club achieve notable success in domestic competitions. In his debut season, the team finished as runners-up in the Thai League 1, earning 71 points across 34 matches and trailing champions Buriram United by 16 points.[10] His consistent performances in goal were instrumental in the club's defensive solidity, helping secure a top-two position for qualification to the AFC Champions League preliminary rounds. The 2022–23 campaign marked another strong showing, with Bangkok United again clinching second place in the Thai League 1 after accumulating 62 points from 30 matches, once more behind Buriram United. Falkesgaard's experience anchored the defense throughout the season, contributing to the team's qualification for continental play.[11] In the same season's Thai FA Cup, Bangkok United advanced to the final under Falkesgaard's stewardship in net, defeating opponents like Police Tero in the semifinals to reach the title match. However, they fell 0–2 to Buriram United in the final on May 28, 2023, at Rajamangala Stadium, with Falkesgaard starting and playing the full 90 minutes.[12] This runner-up finish highlighted the club's competitive edge in cup competitions during his time there.B.93
In July 2023, Falkesgaard joined B.93 on a free transfer following the end of his contract with Bangkok United, marking his return to Danish football after five years abroad.[1] The move came as B.93 entered the Danish 1st Division as a newly promoted side from the 2nd Division.[13] During the 2023–2025 period, Falkesgaard established himself as the primary goalkeeper for B.93, making 42 appearances across the two seasons in the Danish 1st Division.[11] He featured in nearly all league matches, recording 10 clean sheets while conceding 77 goals overall, providing a consistent presence in the team's defense.[11] Falkesgaard's performances contributed to B.93's stability in the second tier, particularly during survival efforts. In the 2023–24 season, the team finished with 11 wins, 6 draws, and 15 losses, securing a mid-table position that ensured they remained in the 1st Division after promotion.[14] The following 2024–25 campaign saw B.93 compete in the relegation group, ending with 6 wins, 5 draws, and 11 losses in the regular season phase, ultimately avoiding demotion through playoff results. Falkesgaard departed B.93 in July 2025 on a free transfer, pursuing a new opportunity abroad with Port F.C. in the Thai League 1.[1]Port F.C.
In July 2025, Michael Falkesgaard transferred to Port F.C. from B.93 on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract that runs until June 2026.[1] This move marked his return to the Thai League 1 after a stint in Denmark, bringing his prior experience from Bangkok United to a rival club. As of November 14, 2025, Falkesgaard has made 11 appearances in the 2025/26 Thai League 1 season for Port F.C., recording 6 clean sheets while conceding 6 goals.[2] His performances have been instrumental in the team's solid defensive record, contributing to Port F.C.'s strong start and current fourth-place standing in the league table.[15] Falkesgaard has established himself as the primary goalkeeper, adapting quickly to the high-pressure environment through his shot-stopping reliability and distribution skills, with a save percentage exceeding 78%.[2] Despite initial competition for the starting spot, Falkesgaard's experience in Thai football has facilitated a smooth integration, minimizing adaptation challenges.[16] Looking ahead, his contract positions him to play a key role through the end of the 2025/26 season, with potential opportunities to contribute toward major honours if Port F.C. sustains its early momentum.[17]International career
Denmark youth teams
Michael Falkesgaard earned call-ups to Denmark's youth national teams early in his career, reflecting his development as an emerging goalkeeper in the Danish football system. Between 2009 and 2011, he made a total of at least seven appearances across the under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 levels, serving as a backup option in friendlies and qualifiers.[4] His international youth debut came with the Denmark U18 team in 2009, where he recorded one appearance in a competitive environment that helped hone his skills against regional opponents. Later that year, on 20 August 2009, Falkesgaard featured for the Denmark U19 side in a friendly match against Hungary U19, contributing to a 1-0 victory that showcased the team's defensive solidity.[4][18] In this outing, he played the full match without conceding, demonstrating composure in goal during a tightly contested affair.[18] Falkesgaard's most extensive youth involvement was with the Denmark U20 team, where he made four appearances from 2010 to 2012, including his debut on 26 July 2010 in a preparatory fixture. These matches, often against fellow European youth sides, allowed him to gain valuable experience in high-pressure scenarios, though specific standout saves or team results from his games remain limited in public records. His role was primarily as a rotational goalkeeper, building on his club form at Brøndby IF. He also made one appearance for the Denmark U21 team on 28 March 2011.[4] Despite these early exposures, Falkesgaard never progressed to senior caps with Denmark, a decision influenced by his dual heritage—born in Denmark to a Danish father and Filipino mother—which opened eligibility for the Philippines national team. He ultimately switched allegiance in 2018, citing family ties as a key factor in pursuing opportunities there.[1][6]Philippines national team
Falkesgaard became eligible to represent the Philippines through his Filipino mother and obtained official clearance from FIFA in March 2018, allowing him to switch allegiance from Denmark's youth teams to the senior Azkals squad.[19][1] His international debut came on 22 March 2018 in a friendly match against Fiji, where he played the first half of a 3–2 victory.[5] Over the next 18 months, he earned 13 caps, primarily as the starting goalkeeper, contributing to the team's defensive efforts in key regional competitions.[5] Falkesgaard featured prominently in the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup, starting all group stage matches against East Timor (3–2 win), Thailand (1–1 draw), and Indonesia (0–0 draw), as well as the semi-final loss to Vietnam (1–2).[5] His performance helped the Philippines advance from the group stage for the first time in the tournament's history, with a notable clean sheet against Indonesia showcasing his shot-stopping ability under pressure.[20] The following year, he was selected for the Philippines' historic debut at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, starting all three group stage games against South Korea (0–1 loss), China (0–3 loss), and Kyrgyzstan (0–3 loss).[21] Despite the defeats, Falkesgaard made several key saves, including against China's Wu Lei, stabilizing the backline against stronger opponents.[22] Falkesgaard's final appearance came on 10 September 2019 in a 4–1 World Cup qualifying win over Guam, following a 5–2 loss to Syria five days earlier.[5] Post-2019, he has not received further call-ups as of November 2025, largely due to scheduling conflicts with his club commitments in the Thai League, where domestic fixtures often overlap with international windows.[23][1] Throughout his stint, Falkesgaard recorded one clean sheet and provided reliable distribution from the back, helping to bolster a defense that faced high-caliber Asian sides during a transitional period for the national team.[5]Career statistics
Club
Falkesgaard has accumulated approximately 226 appearances across his club career as a goalkeeper, without scoring any goals. His statistics span competitions including the Danish Superliga (for Brøndby IF, OB, and FC Midtjylland), the Danish 1. Division (for B.93), and the Thai League 1 (for Bangkok United and Port F.C.). He has no recorded red cards in his professional club career, with yellow cards limited to a handful across all clubs.[24][25][2] The table below breaks down his appearances and goals by club (totals across all competitions and seasons for each club, as of November 13, 2025).| Club | Seasons | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brøndby IF | 2010–2013 | 12 | 0 |
| OB | 2015 | 11 | 0 |
| FC Midtjylland | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| Bangkok United | 2018–2023 | 151 | 0 |
| B.93 | 2023–2025 | 42 | 0 |
| Port F.C. | 2025– | 10 | 0 |
International
Falkesgaard represented the Philippines senior national team on 12 occasions between 2018 and 2019, during which he scored no goals, kept 3 clean sheets, and conceded 22 goals in total.[4] His debut came in a 3–2 friendly victory over Fiji on 22 March 2018.[4] He made no further appearances after September 2019.[4] By competition, Falkesgaard featured in 3 friendlies, 4 matches at the 2018 AFF Championship, 3 games at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, and 2 World Cup qualifiers.[4]| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Mar 2018 | Fiji | 3–2 (W) | Friendly | 45 |
| 13 Oct 2018 | Oman | 1–1 (D) | Friendly | 45 |
| 17 Nov 2018 | East Timor | 2–3 (L) | 2018 AFF Championship | 90 |
| 21 Nov 2018 | Thailand | 1–1 (D) | 2018 AFF Championship | 90 |
| 25 Nov 2018 | Indonesia | 0–0 (D) | 2018 AFF Championship | 90 |
| 2 Dec 2018 | Vietnam | 1–2 (L) | 2018 AFF Championship | 90 |
| 7 Jan 2019 | South Korea | 1–0 (W) | 2019 AFC Asian Cup | 90 |
| 11 Jan 2019 | China | 0–3 (L) | 2019 AFC Asian Cup | 90 |
| 16 Jan 2019 | Kyrgyzstan | 3–1 (W) | 2019 AFC Asian Cup | 90 |
| 7 Jun 2019 | China | 2–0 (W) | Friendly | 90 |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Syria | 2–5 (L) | 2022 WC Qualification | 90 |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Guam | 1–4 (L) | 2022 WC Qualification | 90 |
