Robbie Russell (soccer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Robbie Russell

| image = RobbieRussell.JPG

| image_size = 165

| fullname = Robert Isaac Oleen Russell

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|7|16}}

| birth_place = Accra, Ghana

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| collegeyears1 = 1997–2000

| college1 = Duke Blue Devils

| years1 = 2000–2001

| clubs1 = Breiðablik

| caps1 = 12

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2002–2004

| clubs2 = Sogndal

| caps2 = 67

| goals2 = 4

| years3 = 2004–2005

| clubs3 = Rosenborg

| caps3 = 13

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2006–2008

| clubs4 = Viborg

| caps4 = 25

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2008–2011

| clubs5 = Real Salt Lake

| caps5 = 78

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2012–2013

| clubs6 = D.C. United

| caps6 = 20

| goals6 = 1

| totalcaps = 264

| totalgoals = 11

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| medaltemplates =

| pcupdate = November 1, 2012

| ntupdate =

}}

Robert Isaac Oleen Russell (born July 16, 1979) is a former Ghanaian American soccer player.

Career

=College=

Russell was born in Accra, Ghana, but grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts, and played college soccer at Duke University from 1997 to 2000 and decided he would play internationally in Iceland.

=Professional=

Russell turned professional in 2001 and spent one season at Icelandic club Breiðablik. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer but opted to try his fortunes overseas.

Russell joined Sogndal of the Norwegian Premier League, where he established himself as one of the best right backs in Norway. This fact was confirmed when Rosenborg BK also from Norway made a move for him in 2004. Russell became a starter at right back in his first season with Rosenborg BK (including two starts for the team in the UEFA Champions League) and helped the team win its 19th league title. Unfortunately he only played in a couple of matches in 2005 due to a knee injury and a change in the coaching staff. In July 2006, Russell moved to Viborg FF of the Danish Superliga. His debut for Viborg FF came in a 3–1 loss at Aalborg BK.

In July 2008, Russell ended his Scandinavian sojourn by signing with Real Salt Lake, where coach Jason Kreis was a fellow alumnus of Duke University.{{cite web|last=Lewis |first=Michael C. |url=http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9973223 |title=Soccer: RSL acquires midfielder from Danish team - Salt Lake Tribune |publisher=Sltrib.com |date=2008-07-23 |accessdate=2012-11-28}}

On November 23, 2009, Russell scored the game-winning goal of the 2009 MLS Cup in the seventh round of a penalty kick shoot out. The goal gave Real Salt Lake their first MLS championship. On May 29, 2010, he scored his first career goal for Real Salt Lake in a 4–1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards at Rio Tinto Stadium.

On November 29, 2011, Russell was traded to D.C. United for a third-round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, which became a first-round pick in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft when the SuperDraft was shortened.{{cite web|title=Robbie Russell acquired from Real Salt Lake|url=http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/11/robbie-russell-acquired-from-real-salt-lake|publisher=dcunited.com|accessdate=29 November 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201163532/http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/11/robbie-russell-acquired-from-real-salt-lake|archivedate=1 December 2011}}

File:Robbie Russell Goes From Pro Soccer to Medical School « Sonny Side of Sports.theora.ogv

Russell announced his retirement from professional soccer on May 15, 2013.{{cite web| url = http://www.dcunited.com/news/2013/05/robbie-russell-announces-retirement-heads-to-georgetown-university-post-baccalaureate-p| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130614023647/http://www.dcunited.com/news/2013/05/robbie-russell-announces-retirement-heads-to-georgetown-university-post-baccalaureate-p| archive-date = 2013-06-14| title = Robbie Russell announces retirement, heads to Georgetown University Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program {{!}} D.C. United}} He began classes in June 2013 in Georgetown University's Post-baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.voanews.com/sonny/2013/06/05/robbie-russell-goes-from-pro-soccer-to-medical-school/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608233429/http://blogs.voanews.com/sonny/2013/06/05/robbie-russell-goes-from-pro-soccer-to-medical-school/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 8, 2013|title=Robbie Russell Goes from Pro Soccer to Medical School – Sonny Side of Sports}}

Image:Robbie Russell Real Salt Lake.jpg

=International=

Although Russell never earned a cap for the United States national team, he was called into national team camps as an option for the United States right back position.

=Medical career=

Robert Russell enrolled in George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. {{When|date=November 2023}} He is currently an Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.{{When|date=November 2023}}

Honors

Real Salt Lake

Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2009
Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship: 2009

Rosenborg

Norwegian Premier League: Norwegian Premier League 2004

References

This article incorporates public domain text from the Voice of America.

External links

{{MLS player|robbie-russell}}
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060322022151/http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=search&s=Robbie%20Russell Robbie Russell articles on Yanks Abroad]}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's soccer players

Category:American expatriate men's soccer players

Category:American sportspeople of Ghanaian descent

Category:Duke Blue Devils men's soccer players

Category:Breiðablik men's football players

Category:Sogndal Fotball players

Category:Rosenborg BK players

Category:Viborg FF players

Category:Real Salt Lake players

Category:D.C. United players