Mees Hilgers
Mees Victor Joseph Hilgers is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eredivisie club Twente. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the football team|Indonesia national team].
Club career
Early career
Hilgers started playing football at ASC Nieuwland in his hometown of Amersfoort. After moving to Nijkerk, he played in the youth team of Sparta Nijkerk. At the age of ten, he moved to the academy of FC Twente.Twente
On 6 December 2018, Hilgers signed his first professional contract with Twente. He made his professional debut with Twente in a 2–1 Eredivisie win over Ajax on 5 December 2020.2022–23 season
In the 2022–23 season, Hilgers was out of action for some time from March due to a groin injury. After returning he lost his starting place to Julio Pleguezuelo. He seemed to be heading for a departure from Twente, but he signed a new contract in July 2023 until mid-2026.2024–25 season
On 13 August 2024, Hilgers scored a goal against FC [Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg] in the second leg of 2024–25 [UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round#Third qualifying round|UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round] in a 3–3 draw, but Twente lost 4–5 on aggregate.On 25 September 2024, Hilgers started and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 1–1 draw in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League league stage. He also played the following match, a 1–1 draw against Fenerbahçe at home, where he became the first Indonesian to play in the Europa League.
International career
Hilgers is a former youth international for Netherlands at under-21 level.In September 2024, Hilgers confirmed that he had decided to represent Indonesia at international level. On 1 October 2024, he was called up for 2026 [FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC third round|2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers] matches against Bahrain and China. On 10 October 2024, he made his debut against Bahrain in a 2–2 draw.
Personal life
Born in the Netherlands, Hilgers is of Indonesian descent.On 30 September 2024, Hilgers officially obtained Indonesian citizenship after being sworned as citizens of Indonesia during a ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy alongside Eliano Reijnders.