Hobie Verhulst

Hobie Verhulst (born 2 April 1993) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club AZ. He formerly played for MVV, Volendam, and Go Ahead Eagles.

Hobie Verhulst

Verhulst in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1993-04-02) 2 April 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	AZ Alkmaar
Number	12
Youth career
0000–2004	KFC
2004–2010	AZ
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2014	AZ	0	(0)
2014–2015	MVV	3	(0)
2015–2018	Volendam	107	(0)
2018–2020	Go Ahead Eagles	67	(0)
2020–	Jong AZ	18	(0)
2020–	AZ	21	(0)
International career
2007–2010	Netherlands U17	9	(0)
2010–2012	Netherlands U19	14	(0)
2012–2013	Netherlands U20	4	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 September 2024

Club career

AZ

Verhulst joined the AZ youth academy from Kooger Football Club (KFC) in 2004.^[1] By 2010, he was part of the senior squad as a backup goalkeeper, sitting on the bench for UEFA Europa League matches against Sheriff Tiraspol and BATE Borisov and several Eredivisie games during the 2010–11 season.^[2] In 2013, he won the Beloften Eerste Divisie with Jong AZ.

MVV

Failing to make a first-team appearance for AZ, Verhulst left on a free transfer to Eerste Divisie club MVV in July 2014.^[3][4] At MVV, Verhulst served as the backup to Jo Coppens. He made his professional debut on 6 February 2015, replacing the injured Coppens during a match against Sparta Rotterdam.^[5] Three days later, he played a full match against Jong Twente.^[6] Verhulst made three appearances for MVV, conceding six goals.^[7]

Volendam

After one season, Verhulst moved to Volendam, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper.^[8] Over three seasons, he played more than 100 matches and was named Player of the Season for 2016–17 by the club's supporters.^[9]

Go Ahead Eagles

In the summer of 2018, Verhulst joined Go Ahead Eagles. During the 2018–19 season, Verhulst won the Bronze Shield as the best goalkeeper of the first period in the Eerste Divisie.^[10]

Return to AZ

In 2020, Verhulst rejoined AZ, initially as a backup to Marco Bizot.^[11] He made two first-team appearances during Bizot's suspension and played four matches for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie.^[7]

In the first half of the 2022–23 season, Verhulst became AZ's first-choice goalkeeper after spending the previous season behind Peter Vindahl.^[12] However, following the winter arrival of Matthew Ryan, Verhulst lost his starting spot. After Ryan became eligible to play on 20 January 2023, Verhulst did not make another appearance that season.^[13]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 December 2023^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AZ	2010–11	Eredivisie	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2011–12		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2012–13		0	0	—		—		—		0	0
	2013–14		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MVV	2014–15	Eerste Divisie	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
Volendam	2015–16	Eerste Divisie	32	0	1	0	—		2	0	35	0
	2016–17		37	0	4	0	—		2	0	43	0
	2017–18		38	0	2	0	—		—		40	0
	Total		107	0	7	0	—		4	0	118	0
Go Ahead Eagles	2018–19	Eerste Divisie	38	0	2	0	—		4	0	44	0
	2019–20		29	0	2	0	—		–		31	0
	Total		67	0	4	0	—		4	0	75	0
AZ	2020–21	Eredivisie	2	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
	2021–22		2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	0
	2022–23		16	0	1	0	12	0	—		29	0
	2023–24		1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		21	0	1	0	14	0	0	0	36	0
Career total			199	0	12	0	14	0	8	0	233	0