Alex Gersbach

Alexander Joseph Gersbach (/ˈɡɜːrzbæk/ GURZ-bak;[2] born 8 May 1997) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a left back for MLS team Colorado Rapids and the Australia national team.[3]

Alex Gersbach
Gerbach with Lens in 2018
Personal information
Full name Alexander Joseph Gersbach[1]
Date of birth (1997-05-08) 8 May 1997[1]
Place of birth Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
 Colorado Rapids
Number 16
Youth career
Miranda Magpies
Sutherland Sharks
2012 FNSW NTC
2012–2014 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 AIS 16 (1)
2014–2016 Sydney FC 31 (0)
2016–2019 Rosenborg 37 (0)
2018 → Lens (loan) 12 (0)
2019 NAC Breda 7 (0)
2019–2021 AGF 8 (0)
2021–2023 Grenoble 42 (0)
2023– Colorado Rapids 3 (0)
2023 → Colorado Rapids 2 3 (0)
International career‡
2012 Australia U-17 9 (1)
2015 Australia U-20 5 (0)
2016–2020 Australia U-23 14 (0)
2016– Australia 6 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Australia
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Third place2020 ThailandU-23 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 January 2020

He made his debut for Australia in 2016, having previously played numerous times for the nation's youth teams.

Early life

Born in Auburn, Sydney to a father of German descent and a mother of Greek descent, Gersbach grew up in Sutherland, in Sydney's South East. For the majority of his school years he attended St Patrick's College, Sutherland, before leaving for the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra where he also attended Canberra High School. Gersbach played his youth football for the Miranda Magpies and Sutherland Sharks where he played as a striker.[4]

Club career

Sydney FC

On 20 July 2014, Sydney FC announced that they had signed Gersbach to a two-year deal. Alex was previously given the number 13 jersey, but later swapped with Christopher Naumoff for the number 16. Rated as one of Australia's most promising young footballers, he made his senior professional debut for the club at the age of 17 years and 3 months in the 2014 FFA Cup Round of 32 tie against Melbourne City FC at Morshead Park on 12 August 2014 which Sydney FC won 3–1 after extra time.[5][6]

He made his A-League debut on 11 October 2014 against Melbourne City when he came on for Matthew Jurman after 69 minutes.[7] He put in a promising performance as Sydney FC drew 1–1.

For the 2015–16 A-League season, Gersbach was given the number 3 jersey.

Rosenborg
Gersbach playing for Rosenborg in 2017

On 31 January 2016, it was announced that Gersbach had signed with Norwegian club, Rosenborg BK of the Tippeligaen for a reported fee of $500,000.[8] Gersbach made his Tippeligaen debut for Rosenborg on 19 March 2016 at home to Stromsgodset where he played a full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home victory.

Loan to Lens

On 22 January 2018, Lens announced the signing of Gersbach on a six-month loan deal, with the view to make it a permanent three-year deal at the end of his stint.[9] Given the number 5 jersey, Gersbach made his debut in an unfamiliar centre-back role in a 1–0 loss to US Orléans.

NAC Breda

On 23 January 2019, NAC Breda announced the signing of Gersbach on a 2.5 year contract.[10]

AGF

In July 2019, Gersbach moved to Denmark and joined AGF on a 3-year contract, also getting reunited with his former teammate from the national team Mustafa Amini.[11]

Grenoble

On 31 August 2021, Gersbach secured a move to French Ligue 2 team Grenoble on a 2-year contract.[12]

Colorado Rapids

After playing two seasons for Grenoble, Gersbach joined Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids on 30 January 2023 for a reported fee of €300.000. Gersbach signed a 3 year contract with a club-held option for the 2026 MLS season and occupies an international roster spot.[13][14][15] Gersbach made his debut for the Rapids starting in a 4-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC on 26 February 2023.

International career

On 25 September 2015, Gersbach was selected to play for the Young Socceroos to play in the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualification. In March 2016 Gersbach received his first call up to the senior team when he was named in the squad to face Tajikistan and Jordan in World Cup Qualifiers on 24 and 29 March.

On 4 June 2016, Gersbach made his first international appearance for Australia, coming on for Brad Smith against Greece in the 82nd minute and later setting up Mathew Leckie's last second winner.[16]

Career statistics

Club
As of 30 January 2023
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Australian Institute of Sport 2013 National Premier Leagues 1610000161
Sydney FC 2014–15 A-League 2102000230
2015–16 1000000100
Sydney total3102000330
Rosenborg 2016 Eliteserien 1905030270
2017 1504050240
2018 30103070
Rosenborg total370100110580
RC Lens (loan) 2017–18 Ligue 2 1202000140
NAC Breda 2018–19 Eredivisie 70000070
AGF 2019–20 Danish Superliga 40320072
2020–21 30310061
2021–22 10002030
AGF total806320163
Grenoble 2021–22 Ligue 2 2501000260
2022–23 1702000190
Grenoble total3203000350
Colorado Rapids 2023 MLS 30200050
Colorado Rapids 2 (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro 30000030
Career total 14912531301874

International
As of 30 December 2018
Australia
YearAppsGoals
201620
201720
201820
Total60

Honours

Club

Rosenborg

Individual

See also

References
  1. "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 2 July 2017. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2017.
  2. Football Score (11 December 2015), Alex Gersbach Red Card ● Adelaide United vs Sydney FC ● Australian A-League 11/12/2015, retrieved 17 November 2017
  3. "Alex Gersbach". Worldfootball.net. 8 May 1997. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. "News - Alex Gersbach". 25 July 2014.
  5. "Sydney FC sign Alex Gersbach, one of Australia's best young footballers". SMH. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  6. Josh Bennett (12 August 2014). "Melbourne City FC v Sydney FC – FFA Cup Match Centre | Westfield FFA Cup". Theffacup.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. Ash Gray (11 October 2014). "Sydney FC v Melbourne City". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. "RBK og FC Sydney enige om overgang for Alex Gersbach". Rosenborg BK (in Norwegian). 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  9. "Alex Gersbach en renfort !". rclens.fr (in French). RC Lens. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  10. "Gersbach op de vleugel bij NAC". nac.nl (in Dutch). NAC Breda. 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. AUSTRALSK LANDSHOLDSSPILLER TIL AGF Archived 8 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, agf.dk, 8 July 2019
  12. "ALEX GERSBACH S'ENGAGE AU GF38 !" (in French). Grenoble. 31 August 2021.
  13. "Colorado Rapids sign Australian international left back Alex Gersbach". 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  14. "Colorado Rapids acquire Australian international defender Alex Gersbach". 30 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  15. "ALEX GERSBACH TRANSFÉRÉ EN MLS" (in French). 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  16. "Leckie's late goal wins it for Caltex Socceroos". Football Federation Australia. 4 June 2016.
  17. Stoll, Nick (25 September 2016). "Gersbach wins title with Rosenborg". The World Game. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  18. "Kerr, Mooy named Australia's best at PFA Awards". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
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