Sjel de Bruyckere

Michaël "Sjel" de Bruyckere (6 February 1928 – 20 September 2011) was a Dutch footballer who played as a forward for Willem II and the Netherlands national 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.

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 Wilhelmina, 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.

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.

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

Personal life De Bruyckere died in Australia in 2011. His ashes were partly scattered over the pitch of his beloved Willem II in Tilburg.

Honours Willem II Netherlands Football League Championship: 1951–52, 1953–54

Wilhelmina Victorian State League Division 2 Champions: 1956