Robbie Kruse

Robbie Thomas Kruse (/ˈkruːs/ KROOSS;[7] German: [ˈkʁuːzə];[8] born 5 October 1988) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a forward who formerly played for the Australia national team. He played his junior football with Albany Creek in the Pine Rivers district to the near north of Brisbane and began his professional career with A-League side Brisbane Roar and later Melbourne Victory before moving to Germany in 2011.[9][10][11]

Robbie Kruse
Kruse playing for Australia at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
Personal information
Full name Robbie Thomas Kruse[1]
Date of birth (1988-10-05) 5 October 1988[1]
Place of birth Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward, winger, attacking midfielder[3][4][5][6]
Youth career
2004–2005 QAS
2005–2006 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Brisbane Roar 26 (4)
2009–2011 Melbourne Victory 39 (16)
2011–2013 Fortuna Düsseldorf 41 (4)
2012 → Fortuna Düsseldorf II 2 (0)
2013–2017 Bayer Leverkusen 21 (2)
2015–2016 → VfB Stuttgart (loan) 3 (0)
2017 Liaoning Whowin 4 (0)
2017–2019 VfL Bochum 42 (8)
2019–2022 Melbourne Victory 40 (3)
2023 Brisbane Roar 1 (0)
International career‡
2004–2005 Australia U17 11 (3)
2006 Australia U20 5 (0)
2011–2019 Australia 75 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Australia
AFC Asian Cup
Winner2015 Australia
Runner-up2011 Qatar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:09, 7 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 January 2019

Club career

Brisbane Roar

Recruited in 2006 by Miron Bleiberg, Kruse was injured during an otherwise successful A-League pre-season during training.[12] He scored on his debut against Wellington Phoenix on 5 October 2007, his nineteenth birthday, with what was to be the winning goal for that game.[13][14]

On 19 October 2007, Kruse struck against the Newcastle Jets for his second goal of his A-League career.[15] On 16 November, he got his third with an excellent curling effort to the far post as Brisbane beat Melbourne 1–0.[16]

Kruse and his close friend Michael Zullo formed a good partnership with each playing either side of a striker in a three-man attack for Brisbane which coincided with a seven match unbeaten streak.[17]

Kruse's place in Roar's starting line-up was in jeopardy at the beginning of the 2008 A-League season after he was involved in an altercation outside a Queensland nightspot. The fight resulted in Kruse needing stitches and the then-19-year-old incurring the wrath of club coach Frank Farina, who offered Kruse only a short-term contract as a replacement for the injured Massimo Murdoca for the 2009–10 season.[18][19]

Melbourne Victory

Kruse was linked to a move to reigning A-League premiers Melbourne Victory following the departure of Melbourne striker Danny Allsopp to Qatar club Al-Rayyan.[20] On 10 September 2009, it was confirmed that Kruse had left the Roar for Melbourne Victory.[21]

Kruse made his first appearance for the Victory on 13 September 2009 against Wellington Phoenix after replacing Ney Fabiano at the 58th minute. He scored his first goal for the Victory in the 4–0 demolition of Gold Coast United on 28 November 2009.

A highlight of Kruse's professional career was when he scored a first half hat-trick on 16 January 2010 against the Perth Glory.[22] The Victory went on to win 6–2 as the Glory had no answer for Kruse's pace and well timed runs. His fifth goal came against Sydney FC in the major semi final when struck a curling shot which left Sydney FC keeper Clint Bolton no chance as it tore into the top right corner. His sixth goal for Melbourne came against Gold Coast United when he rounded goalkeeper and former teammate Glen Moss to slide the ball into the open net.

He was the first player to score a brace in a Melbourne derby, helping Victory to a 3–1 win over their rivals Melbourne Heart in December 2010.

At Victory, Kruse was known for turning his career around through his development and change of attitude, no longer getting caught up in off-field incidents like he did whilst in Brisbane, and taking his footballing potential much more seriously.

Fortuna Düsseldorf
Kruse playing for Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2012.

Following his form for the Victory, Kruse signed with German side Fortuna Düsseldorf on a three-year contract beginning with the 2011–12 season.[23] He made his competitive debut for the club on 24 July 2011 in a league match against SC Paderborn 07, making a substitute appearance in the second half.[24] Kruse started in Fortuna's return to the Bundesliga in the 2012–13 season. He provided a flick on for Schahin leading to the first goal and a neat cross for Schahin's second. Fortuna went on to win the match 2–0 over Augsburg.[25] He scored his first goal in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim.[26] In the 2–0 win over Hamburger SV, he scored his second goal of the Bundesliga campaign and then provided the assist for Fortuna's second.[27]

Bayer Leverkusen
Kruse with Bayer Leverkusen in 2015

Kruse signed a three-year contract with German side Bayer Leverkusen for €1.5 million on 28 April 2013.[28] He made his run-on debut against Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on 21 September 2013, scoring two goals in a 4–1 victory.

Loan to VfB Stuttgart

On 31 August 2015, Kruse signed with VfB Stuttgart on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy.[29] He made his first appearance for VfB Stuttgart in the away match against Hertha BSC on 11 September 2015, as a replacement for Martin Harnik early in the second half. The loan deal was prematurely terminated on 1 February 2016.[30]

Liaoning Whowin

In May 2017, Kruse terminated his contract with Liaoning Whowin due to unpaid wages.[31]

VfL Bochum

On 21 July 2017, Kruse joined German club VfL Bochum.[32] He scored his debut goal for the club on 10 September 2017, netting the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Darmstadt 98.[33]

Return to Melbourne Victory

In July 2019, Kruse returned to the A-League, signing a two-year contract with Melbourne Victory.[34]

Kruse was named as the Victory Medalist for the 2020–21 season; he made 19 appearances but no goals and one assist in that season.[35]

Kruse left the Victory in June 2022 upon the expiration of his contract.[36][37][38]

Return to Brisbane Roar

In February 2023, Brisbane Roar announced that Robbie Kruse would be returning to the club for the 2023 A-League season.[39] Kruse only played 8 minutes for the Roar (against Sydney FC) before being released at the end of the season.[40]

International career
Kruse with Australia in 2013

On 28 December 2010, following his impressive level of play in the A-League Kruse was selected in the Australian national team's 23-man squad for the 2011 Asian Cup. On 5 January 2011, he made his Socceroos debut, coming off the bench against UAE in a pre-Asian Cup friendly match. On 25 January 2011, Kruse scored his first international goal, in a 6–0 victory over Uzbekistan in the semi-final of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. In the final of the competition, he made a substitute appearance and almost scored a header with his first touch of the ball. Australia lost the final 1–0 in extra time.

Kruse scored his second international goal in a friendly match against Wales on 10 August 2011, which Australia won 2–1.[41] He scored his third goal against Jordan on 11 June 2013, in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in which Australia won 4–0, and in which he was also Man of the Match, with two more assists on top of his goal.[42] He missed out on a spot in the team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with an injury.[43]

Kruse was named as part of Australia's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad. He made his first appearance of the tournament as a starter in Australia's first group game against Kuwait. He started Australia's second group game against Oman, scoring Australia's second goal of the game off a Massimo Luongo assist, in an eventual 4–0 win, with him being named man of the match in the same match.

Kruse started in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Final. However, in the middle of the second half, he suffered an Achilles injury and was substituted off for James Troisi. Australia went on to win the match 2–1 with the match-winning goal coming through Troisi. Scans revealed that although Kruse's injury was not as serious as initially feared, he would still spend four months on the sidelines.

In May 2018, he was named in Australia's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[44]

Career statistics

Club
Kruse in 2015
As of 7 May 2023[9][10][45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Queensland Roar 2007–08 A-League 174–00–174
2008–09 A-League 40–10–50
2009–10 A-League 50–––50
Total264001000274
Melbourne Victory 2009–10 A-League 205––40245
2010–11 A-League 1911––402311
Total39160000804716
Fortuna Düsseldorf II 2011–12 Regionalliga West 20–––20
Fortuna Düsseldorf 2011–12 2. Bundesliga 11010––120
2012–13 Bundesliga 30430––334
Total414400000454
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2013–14 Bundesliga 15221–40213
2014–15 Bundesliga 4010–2070
2015–16 Bundesliga 9010–50150
2016–17 Bundesliga 0020–1030
Total2826100120463
VfB Stuttgart (loan) 2015–16 Bundesliga 3010––40
Liaoning 2017 Chinese Super League 4000––40
VfL Bochum 2017–18 2. Bundesliga 30710––317
2018–19 2. Bundesliga 14100––141
Total448100000458
Melbourne Victory 2019–20 A-League 11200–21133
2020–21 A-League 190–––190
2021–22 A-League Men 10150–10161
Total403500031484
Brisbane Roar 2022–23 A-League Men 1000––10
Total228371711023126939
  1. Includes Australia Cup, DFB-Pokal, Chinese FA Cup
  2. Includes A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

International
As of match played 25 January 2019[46]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia 2011142
201270
201381
201430
201561
2016100
2017121
2018100
201950
Total755
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kruse goal.[46]
List of international goals scored by Robbie Kruse
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
125 January 2011Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar Uzbekistan6–06–02011 AFC Asian Cup
210 August 2011Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Wales2–02–1Friendly
311 June 2013Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Jordan3–04–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
413 January 2015Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia Oman2–04–02015 AFC Asian Cup
55 October 2017Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca, Malaysia Syria1–01–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Australia

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. "Robbie Kruse". Melbourne Victory FC. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. "Humble Kruse on life in the Bundesliga". Bundesliga. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  4. Bernard, Grantley. "Kruse boosts attack for Melbourne Victory ahead of clash with former team Brisbane Roar". Herald Sun. News Corp. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. "'Skippy' the Bayer Socceroo". Bundesliga. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. Lynch, Michael (11 December 2020). "Socceroo star set to miss Victory's A-League season start". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. Bundesliga (5 December 2013), Leverkusen's Robbie Kruse - Australia's Footballer of the Year, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 8 November 2018
  8. Krech, Eva-Maria; Stock, Eberhard; Hirschfeld, Ursula; Anders, Lutz Christian (2009). Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch [German Pronunciation Dictionary] (in German). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. p. 679. ISBN 978-3-11-018202-6.
  9. "Robbie Kruse". aleaguestats.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  10. "Robbie Kruse" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  11. "Robbie Kruse". worldfootball.net. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  12. "Phoenix ready to samba". tvnz.co.nz. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  13. "Debutant Kruse seals win for Roar". smh.com.au. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  14. Ritson, Jon (5 October 2007). "Brissie Boys Grab First Home Win". fourfourtwo.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  15. "Jets and Roar draw". foxsports.com.au. 19 October 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  16. "Victory fear deja-vu after another loss". theage.com.au. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  17. Davis, Greg (17 November 2007). "Robbie Kruse is Roar talent". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  18. "Robbie Kruse risks Roar future after late-night punch-up". couriermail.com.au. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  19. "Punched Roar winger Robbie Kruse warned on clubbing". couriermail.com.au. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  20. "Allsopp joins Qatar's Al-Rayyan". melbournevictory.com.au. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  21. "Robbie Kruse leaves Brisbane Roar to join Melbourne". couriermail.com.au. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
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  24. "Aussies Abroad Weekend Wrap". FourFourTwo. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  25. "Kruse Shines In Bundesliga Debut". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
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  27. "Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. Hamburger SV 2 – 0". Soccerway. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  28. "Bayer sichert sich die Dienste von Kruse". kicker (in German). 28 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  29. "Robbie Kruse joins VfB". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  30. "Robbie Kruse returns to Leverkusen". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  31. "2 Australian players terminate contracts with Chinese team". apnews.com. Associated Press. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  32. "Robbie Kruse verstärkt den VfL" [Robbie Kruse strengthens the VfL] (in German). VfL Bochum. 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  33. "Kruse scores late winner for Bochum". FourFourTwo. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  34. "Robbie Kruse re-joins Melbourne Victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 2019.
  35. "Recap: 2020/21 Victory Medal". Melbourne Victory FC. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  36. "ROBBIE KRUSE DEPARTS MELBOURNE VICTORY". Melbourne Victory FC. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  37. Monetverde, Marco. "Ex-Socceroo Robbie Kruse departs Melbourne Victory". The Australian. News Corp. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  38. Monetverde, Marco. "Ex-Socceroo Robbie Kruse departs Melbourne Victory". News.com.au. News Corp. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  39. "Striker Robbie Kruse completes return to Brisbane Roar". au.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  40. "Former Socceroo attacker among five players released by Roar". KeepUp.com.au. 11 May 2023.
  41. "Cahill, Kruse goals sink Wales". The World Game. SBS. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  42. "Socceroos one step closer to Brazil". footballaustralia.com.au. 11 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  43. "Kruse gives up World Cup dream". FourFourTwo. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  44. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced?". goal.com. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  45. "R. Kruse". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  46. "Kruse, Robbie". National Football Teams. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  47. "Australia beat South Korea after extra time". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
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