Alex Gersbach
{{short description|Australian soccer player (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alex Gersbach
| image = File:Alex Gersbach (RC Lens).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Gerbach with Lens in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|05|8}}
| birth_place = Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia
| position = Left-back
| currentclub = Western Sydney Wanderers
| clubnumber = 3
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Miranda Magpies
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Sutherland Sharks
| youthyears3 = 2012
| youthclubs3 = FNSW NTC
| youthyears4 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs4 = AIS
| years1 = 2013
| caps1 = 16
| goals1 = 1
| clubs1 = AIS
| years2 = 2014–2016
| caps2 = 31
| goals2 = 0
| clubs2 = Sydney FC
| years3 = 2016–2019
| caps3 = 37
| goals3 = 0
| clubs3 = Rosenborg
| years4 = 2018
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 0
| clubs4 = → Lens (loan)
| years5 = 2019
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| clubs5 = NAC Breda
| years6 = 2019–2021
| caps6 = 8
| goals6 = 0
| clubs6 = AGF
| years7 = 2021–2023
| caps7 = 42
| goals7 = 0
| clubs7 = Grenoble
| years8 = 2023
| caps8 = 3
| goals8 = 0
| clubs8 = Colorado Rapids
| years9 = 2023
| caps9 = 3
| goals9 = 0
| clubs9 = Colorado Rapids 2
| years10 = 2024–2025
| clubs10 = Kalmar FF
| caps10 = 19
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2025–
| clubs11 = Western Sydney Wanderers
| caps11 = 7
| goals11 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2012
| nationalteam1 = Australia U-17
| nationalcaps1 = 9
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2015
| nationalteam2 = Australia U-20
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2016–2020
| nationalteam3 = Australia U-23
| nationalcaps3 = 14
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2016–2018
| nationalteam4 = Australia
| nationalcaps4 = 6
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 14 April 2025
| nationalteam-update = 15 October 2018
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|AFC U-23 Asian Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|2020 Thailand|U-23 Team}}
}}
Alexander Joseph Gersbach ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɜːr|z|b|æ|k}} {{respell|GURZ|bak}};{{Citation|last=Football Score|title=Alex Gersbach Red Card ● Adelaide United vs Sydney FC ● Australian A-League 11/12/2015|date=11 December 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-i9ft0QUaI&t=4s|access-date=17 November 2017}} born 8 May 1997) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers, and the Australia national team.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-gersbach/ |title=Alex Gersbach |website=Worldfootball.net |date=8 May 1997 |access-date=4 February 2016}}{{Cite web |date=21 March 2024 |title=Välkommen till Kalmar FF, Alex Gersbach! |url=https://kalmarff.se/valkommen-till-kalmar-ff-alex-gersbach/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=Kalmar FF |language=sv-SE}}
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 soccer for the Miranda Magpies and Sutherland Sharks where he played as a striker.{{cite web | url=https://www.sydneyfc.com/news/alex-gersbach | title=News - Alex Gersbach | date=25 July 2014 }}
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.{{cite web | url = http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/sydney-fc-sign-alex-gersbach-one-of-australias-best-young-footballers-20140720-zv1m6.html | title = Sydney FC sign Alex Gersbach, one of Australia's best young footballers| date = 20 July 2014| publisher = SMH | access-date = 23 August 2014}}{{cite web|author=Josh Bennett |url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Melbourne-City-FC-v-Sydney-FC/760107 |title=Melbourne City FC v Sydney FC – FFA Cup Match Centre | Westfield FFA Cup |website=Theffacup.com.au |date=12 August 2014 |access-date=4 February 2016}}
He made his A-League debut on 11 October 2014 against Melbourne City when he came on for Matthew Jurman after 69 minutes.{{cite web|author=Ash Gray |url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/football-match-centre/sydney-fc-v-melbourne-city-20141009-3ho3x.html |title=Sydney FC v Melbourne City |website=Smh.com.au |date=11 October 2014 |access-date=4 February 2016}} 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=
File:Testspiel RB Salzburg Rosenborg Trondheim (5. Februar 2017) 28.jpg 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.{{cite news|title=RBK og FC Sydney enige om overgang for Alex Gersbach |url=http://www.rbk.no/news/article/1riw1rs03jima1v7xua82fxdzk/title/rbk-og-fc-sydney-enige-om-overgang-for-alex-gersbach |access-date=31 January 2016 |work=Rosenborg BK |date=31 January 2016 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205182637/http://www.rbk.no/news/article/1riw1rs03jima1v7xua82fxdzk/title/rbk-og-fc-sydney-enige-om-overgang-for-alex-gersbach |archive-date=5 February 2016 }} 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.{{cite web|title=Alex Gersbach en renfort !|url=http://www.rclens.fr/infos_2018/01/22_mercato_gersbach/index.php#ancreContenu|website=rclens.fr|publisher=RC Lens|access-date=22 January 2018|language=fr|date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072301/http://rclens.fr/infos_2018/01/22_mercato_gersbach/index.php#ancreContenu|archive-date=23 January 2018|url-status=dead}} Given the number 5 jersey, Gersbach made his debut in an unfamiliar centre-back role in a 1–0 loss to US Orléans.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
==NAC Breda==
On 23 January 2019, NAC Breda announced the signing of Gersbach on a 2.5 year contract.{{cite web|title=Gersbach op de vleugel bij NAC|url=http://www.nac.nl/108/newsid/13047/Gersbach-op-de-vleugel-bij-NAC.html|website=nac.nl|publisher=NAC Breda|access-date=23 January 2019|language=nl|date=23 January 2019|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130234422/http://www.nac.nl/108/newsid/13047/Gersbach-op-de-vleugel-bij-NAC.html|url-status=dead}}
=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.[https://www.agf.dk/klubben/nyhedsarkiv/2019/juli/agf-henter-australsk-landsholdsspiller/ AUSTRALSK LANDSHOLDSSPILLER TIL AGF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708132655/https://www.agf.dk/klubben/nyhedsarkiv/2019/juli/agf-henter-australsk-landsholdsspiller/ |date=8 July 2019 }}, agf.dk, 8 July 2019
=Grenoble=
On 31 August 2021, Gersbach secured a move to French Ligue 2 team Grenoble on a 2-year contract.{{cite web|publisher=Grenoble|url=https://www.gf38.fr/alex-gersbach-sengage-au-gf38/|title=ALEX GERSBACH S'ENGAGE AU GF38 !|date=31 August 2021|language=fr}}
= 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 three-year contract with a club-held option for the 2026 MLS season and occupies an international roster spot.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2023 |title=Colorado Rapids sign Australian international left back Alex Gersbach |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-sign-australian-international-left-back-alex-gersbach |access-date=30 January 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=30 January 2023 |title=Colorado Rapids acquire Australian international defender Alex Gersbach |url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-acquire-australian-international-defender-alex-gersbach |access-date=31 January 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=30 January 2023 |title=ALEX GERSBACH TRANSFÉRÉ EN MLS |url=https://www.gf38.fr/alex-gersbach-transfere-en-mls/ |access-date=30 January 2023 |language=fr}} Gersbach made his debut for the Rapids starting in a 4-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC on 26 February 2023.
= Kalmar FF =
=Western Sydney Wanderers=
On 15 January 2025, it was announced that Gersbach had returned to Australia, signing for the Western Sydney Wanderers on a two and a half year deal.{{Cite web |date=15 January 2025|title=Gersbach agrees to deal with the Red & Black|url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/gersbach-agrees-to-deal-with-the-red-black/|publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers FC}} This was a controversial move as he previously played for Sydney derby rivals, Sydney FC. On 13 April, he scored his first A-Leagues goal, which was the 500th goal of the 2024–25 A-League Men season.{{cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-goal-record-shattered-details-latest-news/|title=Aussie football record shattered after another goal fest in Isuzu UTE A-League|first=Sacha|last=Pisani|website=A-Leagues|date=14 April 2025}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/leckies-late-goal-wins-it-for-caltex-socceroos/1t6um90miuej51d50809w58sqj|title=Leckie's late goal wins it for Caltex Socceroos|publisher=Football Federation Australia|date=4 June 2016}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|30 January 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals | ||||||||
| Australian Institute of Sport
|2013 |16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| rowspan="3"|Sydney FC
|rowspan=2|A-League |21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2015–16
|10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Sydney total | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| rowspan="4"|Rosenborg
|2016 |rowspan="3"|Eliteserien |19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2017
|15 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2018
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Rosenborg total | 37 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
| rowspan="1"|RC Lens (loan)
|rowspan="1"|Ligue 2 |12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| rowspan="1"|NAC Breda
|rowspan="1"|Eredivisie |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4"|AGF
|rowspan="3"|Danish Superliga |4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2020–21
|3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2021–22
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|AGF total | 8 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| rowspan=3|Grenoble
|rowspan=2|Ligue 2 |25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 2022–23
|17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Grenoble total | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Colorado Rapids
|2023 |MLS |3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Colorado Rapids 2 (loan)
|2023 |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!149||1||25||3||13||0||187||4 |
=International=
{{updated|30 December 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!colspan="3"|Australia | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 6 | 0 |
Honours
=Player=
Rosenborg
- Eliteserien: 2016,{{cite news|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/09/25/gersbach-wins-title-rosenborg|title=Gersbach wins title with Rosenborg|publisher=The World Game|date=25 September 2016|access-date=26 September 2016|author=Stoll, Nick}} 2017, 2018
- Norwegian Football Cup: 2016, 2018
- Mesterfinalen: 2017
Australia U-23
=Individual=
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerway|alexander-joseph-gersbach/367531}}
- {{UEFA player|250097896|Alex Gersbach}}
{{Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Australia squads
| bg = #FCD116
| fg = #008751
| bordercolor = #008751
| list1 =
{{Australia squad 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}
{{Harry Kewell Medal}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gersbach, Alex}}
Category:Soccer players from Sydney
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Australia men's youth international soccer players
Category:Australia men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:Australia men's international soccer players
Category:Australian people of German descent
Category:Australian people of Greek descent
Category:Sportspeople of Greek descent
Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Aarhus Gymnastikforening players
Category:Grenoble Foot 38 players
Category:Colorado Rapids players
Category:Western Sydney Wanderers FC players
Category:National Premier Leagues players
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Norway
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden
Category:2017 FIFA Confederations Cup players