Mark Flekken
Squad number 23 · Bayer Leverkusen
Their 2026 World Cup
Mark Flekken travelled to the 2026 World Cup with Netherlands, wearing number 23, without ever getting on the pitch. His side played 4 matches (2 wins and 2 draws) and bowed out in the round of 32, beaten by Morocco 1-1.
The goalkeeping job went to B. Verbruggen (4 matches, 390′).
Another 3 players in the Netherlands squad ended up the same way, without a single minute. The full run is on the Netherlands team page.
Who he is
- Born
- 13 June 1993 · aged 33 at the World Cup
- Birthplace
- Kerkrade
- Club
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Height
- 1.94 m
Data: Wikidata (CC0).
Biography
Mark Maria Hubertus Flekken (born 13 June 1993) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Netherlands national team.
Early years Flekken grew up in Bocholtz, Limburg, Netherlands on the German border. His parents René and Annie used to play football themselves, and his younger brother Roy also became a goalkeeper.
Alemannia Aachen and Greuther Fürth Flekken started his career in the youth department of RKVV WDZ from Bocholtz before moving to the youth academy of Roda JC Kerkrade. In 2009, he moved across the border to the youth teams of the then 2. Bundesliga club Alemannia Aachen. On 22 September 2011, he signed his first professional contract. During the winter break of the 2012–13 3. Liga season, Flekken was appointed as the starting goalkeeper by coach René van Eck after the financially troubled club had parted ways with Michael Melka. Flekken made his debut on 26 January 2013 in a 2–0 home game against 1. FC Saarbrücken. Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Flekken moved to the 2. Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · opening summary of the article.
See all the tournament stats on the World Cup data hub.
Photo: Northside · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)