Jurgen Mattheij

Jurgen Mattheij (born 1 April 1993) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Eredivisie club Excelsior.

Jurgen Mattheij

Mattheij in 2020
Personal information
Date of birth	(1993-04-01) 1 April 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Excelsior
Number	16
Youth career
	Alexandria '66
	Sparta Rotterdam
	Excelsior
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2019	Excelsior	175	(8)
2019–2020	Sparta Rotterdam	26	(2)
2020–2024	CSKA Sofia	79	(9)
2025–	Excelsior	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:57, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Rotterdam, Mattheij began his professional career at Excelsior in 2011. In his eight seasons with the club, he played in 188 games and scored 9 goals. In June 2019, he joined Sparta Rotterdam^[1] before moving to CSKA Sofia a year later. Mattheij soon established himself as a key player for "the reds", becoming the team's captain.

He also developed a knack for scoring decisive goals, including a last-minute one in extra time in the second leg against Viktoria Plzeň, held on 26 August 2021, to secure the team's entry into the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, and the winning goal against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad in a First League match that took place on 20 December 2021.^[2]

During 2021, he managed a career-high 7 goals in all tournaments.^[2] Mattheij's winning strike against CSKA 1948 on 8 November was voted Goal of the Season for 2021.^[3] In June 2024, following a period during which he was sidelined due to injury issues, he left the team upon the expiration of his contract.^[4]

On 30 December 2024, Mattheij returned to Excelsior, on a contract until the end of the 2024–25 season.^[5]

Career statistics

As of 21 February 2025

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
Excelsior	2011–12	Eredivisie	12	1	0	0	–		–		12	1
	2012–13	Eerste Divisie	16	0	0	0	–		–		16	0
	2013–14		10	1	1	0	–		1	0	12	1
	2014–15	Eredivisie	20	0	4	1	–		–		24	1
	2015–16		21	0	2	0	–		–		23	0
	2016–17		31	3	2	0	–		–		33	3
	2017–18		33	0	0	0	–		–		33	0
	2018–19		32	3	1	0	–		1	0	34	3
	Total		175	8	11	1	–		2	0	188	9
Sparta Rotterdam	2019–20	Eredivisie	26	2	1	0	–		–		27	2
CSKA Sofia	2020–21	First League	25	3	6	0	9	0	–		40	3
	2021–22		22	4	3	0	12	1	1	0	38	5
	2022–23		26	1	2	0	5	1	0	0	33	2
	2023–24		6	1	3	0	0	0	–		9	1
	Total		79	9	14	0	26	2	1	0	120	11
Excelsior	2024–25	Eerste Divisie	1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
Career total			281	19	26	1	26	2	3	0	336	22

Honours

Team

CSKA Sofia

• Bulgarian Cup: 2020–21

Individual

• Best goal in Bulgarian football for 2021^[3]
• Best defender in Bulgarian football for 2021^[6]
• Best foreign player in Bulgarian football for 2021 (shared with Jordy Caicedo)^[6]