Callum William McCowatt (born 30 April 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Danish Superliga club Silkeborg IF and the New Zealand national team.

Callum McCowatt
McCowatt playing for New Zealand in 2023
Personal information
Full name Callum William McCowatt[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-30) 30 April 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand[2]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Left winger[3]
Team information
Current team
Silkeborg
Number 17
Youth career
–2012 Greenhithe
2013 Forrest Hill Milford United
2013–2014 East Coast Bays
2016 Team Wellington
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018[4] Western Suburbs 55 (30)
2017–2018 Auckland City 20 (9)
2018–2019 Eastern Suburbs 16 (21)
2019–2020 Wellington Phoenix 25 (1)
2020–2023 Helsingør 81 (18)
2023– Silkeborg 39 (5)
International career
2015 New Zealand U-17 4 (0)
2017–2019 New Zealand U-20 5 (0)
2021 New Zealand U-23 6 (0)
2019– New Zealand 21 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:43, 2 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:08, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Following his graduation from Westlake Boys High School, McCowatt joined the Olé Football Academy in early 2015, playing league football for Olé-affiliated club Western Suburbs. During his time with the academy, McCowatt was named in the youth squad of Team Wellington for the 2016 National Youth League season.[5]

Auckland City

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Following his time at Western Suburbs, McCowatt moved to ISPS Handa Premiership club Auckland City along with fellow Olé graduates Dalton Wilkins and Owen Parker-Price on 26 September 2017.[6] Though he was originally intended for the youth team[citation needed], McCowatt eventually started every game Auckland City played that season, including the FIFA Club World Cup and OFC Champions League campaigns. McCowatt scored the only goal in the grand final as Auckland City defeated Team Wellington 1–0 to lift the league title.[7][8]

Following McCowatt's success in his debut season, in which he formed an attacking trio with Ryan de Vries and Emiliano Tade, he earned a trial with Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam, but was not offered a contract.[9]

Eastern Suburbs

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On 21 November 2018, McCowatt continued his relationship with the Olé academy, signing with affiliated club Eastern Suburbs. He scored 21 goals in 16 appearances in the 2018–19 season,[10] including a hat-trick in the grand final against Team Wellington which his team won 3–0. He was awarded the Steve Sumner Trophy for player of the match.[11]

Wellington Phoenix

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On 26 June 2019, it was announced that McCowatt signed with the Wellington Phoenix who play in the A-League on a one-year deal.[12] McCowatt scored his first goal for the Phoenix in their FFA Cup lost to the Brisbane Strikers[13] before he made his professional debut in a 0–1 loss to Western United in the Phoenix season opener.[10]

FC Helsingør

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On 6 September 2020, McCowatt signed a contract with FC Helsingør who play in the Danish 1st Division.[14][15] On 18 October 2020, McCowatt made his debut for FC Helsingør, when he was substituted on in the 70th minute.[16] McCowatt scored his first goal for the club against HB Køge in the Danish 1st Division promotion group match.[17]

Silkeborg IF

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After three seasons at Helsingør, Danish Superliga club Silkeborg IF confirmed on 4 July 2023, that McCowatt had joined the club on a deal until the end of 2027.[18] McCowatt made his Silkeborg debut on 23 July 2023 in the season opener against Brøndby IF, being substituted on in the 82nd minute.[19] On 4 August 2023, McCowatt scored his first goal for Silkeborg in a 2–1 league win over Vejle BK.[20]

International career

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McCowatt got his first international call-up for the New Zealand U17 team for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[21] He played four matches, starting in one.[22] McCowatt was named in the New Zealand U20 squad for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[23] He was named in the starting lineup in 3 matches but failed to score.[22]

McCowatt made his senior international debut on 15 November 2019, starting for New Zealand in a friendly against Ireland. McCowatt opened the scoring, marking his first ever goal for the national team, before New Zealand went on to lose 1–3.[24]

On 25 June 2021, McCowatt was called up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with the New Zealand U-23's.[25] He made his Olympics debut on 22 July 2021 in the OlyWhites' first ever Olympic win, a 1-0 victory against South Korea.[26]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 16 December 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Auckland City 2017–18[27] NZFC 20 9 6[a] 2 1[b] 0 27 11
Eastern Suburbs 2018–19[28] NZFC 16 21 16 21
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2019–20[29] NZFC 1 0 1 0
Wellington Phoenix 2019–20[30] A-League 25 1 1 1 1[c] 0 27 2
Helsingør 2020–21 Danish 1st Division 24 3 24 3
2021–22 27 6 2 0 29 6
2022–23 30 9 3 1 33 10
Total 81 18 5 1 86 19
Silkeborg 2023–24 Danish Superliga 32 5 8 3 40 8
2024–25 7 0 3 1 10 1
Total 39 5 11 4 0 0 0 0 50 9
Career total 182 54 17 6 6 2 2 0 207 62
  1. ^ Appearances in OFC Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in A-League Finals

International

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As of match played 18 November 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
New Zealand 2019 1 1
2021 3 0
2022 6 0
2023 7 1
2024 4 2
Total 21 4
As of match played on 18 November 2024
Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.[31]
List of international goals scored by Callum McCowatt
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 14 November 2019 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland   Republic of Ireland 1–0 1–3 Friendly
2 12 16 June 2023 Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden   Sweden 1–0 1–4 Friendly
3 20 15 November 2024 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand   Vanuatu 8–1 8–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 21 18 November 2024 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand   Samoa 1–0 8–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Auckland City

Eastern Suburbs

  • New Zealand Football Championship Championship: 2018–19

Silkeborg

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: New Zealand" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ "CALLUM MCCOWATT". New Zealand Olympic Committee. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. ^ Callum McCowatt at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ "CF Yearbooks 2000-2021".
  5. ^ "Team Wellington Youth Squad named for 2016 Campaign". Team Wellington. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Navy Blues sign Ole Academy trio". Auckland City FC. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  7. ^ Voerman, Andrew (1 April 2018). "When Auckland City needed a winner, Callum McCowatt found a way". Stuff. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  8. ^ Voerman, Andrew (1 April 2018). "Late Callum McCowatt goal gives Auckland City a record seventh national title". Stuff. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Young Kiwi footballers Callum McCowatt and Eli Just set for spells at European clubs". Stuff. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Wellington Phoenix youngster Callum McCowatt sure the goals will come". Stuff. 15 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Callum McCowatt stars as Eastern Suburbs win national men's football league final". Stuff. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Gun Kiwi goal-scorer Callum McCowatt steps up with Wellington Phoenix". Stuff. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  13. ^ Rollo, Phillip (8 August 2019). "Wellington Phoenix pay the penalty in shock FFA Cup defeat against Strikers". Stuff. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  14. ^ "FC HELSINGØR PICKS UP NEW ZEALAND STRIKER". FC Helsingør (in Danish). 6 September 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Callum McCowatt goes Danish". NZ Football. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  16. ^ a b "C. McCowatt". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  17. ^ "fc helsingor-hb koge". 1st Division (in Danish). Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Silkeborg IF har købt den newzealandske landsholdsspiller Callum McCowatt i FC Helsingør" [Silkeborg IF has bought the New Zealand national team player Callum McCowatt from FC Helsingør.]. Silkeborg IF (in Danish). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Silkeborg IF 1-2 Brøndby". ESPN. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Callum McCowatt kom ind fra bænken og udlignede for SIF, inden Alexander Lind sikrede sejren på 2-1 over Vejle i overtiden" [Callum McCowatt came on from the bench and equalized for SIF, before Alexander Lind secured the 2-1 victory over Vejle in extra time.]. Silkeborg IF (in Danish). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Football: NZ U-17s named for World Cup". The New Zealand Herald. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  22. ^ a b "C.McCowatt". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Talented New Zealand team heading into Fifa Under-20 World Cup full of confidence". Stuff. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  24. ^ Voerman, Andrew. "Callum McCowatt scores on debut as new-look All Whites lose to Republic of Ireland". Stuff. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  25. ^ "Squads named for Tokyo 2020". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  26. ^ Rollo, Phillip. "OlyWhites make perfect start to Tokyo Olympics with famous win over South Korea". Stuff. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Auckland City FC Squad Stats 2017/18". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Eastern Suburbs AFC Squad Stats 2018/19". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Wellington Phoenix Reserves Squad Stats 2019/20". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Wellington Phoenix Squad Stats 2019/20". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Callum McCowatt". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  32. ^ Mignon, Jacob (9 May 2024). "Kæmpe rød jubel i Parken: Silkeborg vinder pokalfinalen". DR (in Danish). Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Silkeborg IF – AGF". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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