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 AGF and the Australia national team.[3]

Alex Gersbach

Gerbach with Lens in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Alexander Joseph Gersbach[1]
Date of birth	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
Club information
Current team	AGF
Number	2
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–	AGF	4	(0)
National team^‡
2012	Australia U-17	9	(1)
2015	Australia U-20	5	(0)
2016–	Australia U-23	14	(0)
2016–	Australia	6	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 January 2021 ‡ 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]

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.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 January 2020

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Australian Institute of Sport	2013	National Premier Leagues	16	1	0	0	0	0	16	1
Sydney FC	2014–15	A-League	21	0	2	0	0	0	23	0
	2015–16		10	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
	Sydney total		31	0	2	0	0	0	33	0
Rosenborg	2016	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
	Rosenborg total		37	0	10	0	11	0	58	0
RC Lens (loan)	2017–18	Ligue 2	12	0	2	0	0	0	14	0
NAC Breda	2018–19	Eredivisie	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
AGF	2019–20	Danish Superliga	2	0	3	2	0	0	5	2
Career total			105	1	17	2	11	0	133	3

International

As of 30 December 2018

Australia national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2016	2	0
2017	2	0
2018	2	0
Total	6	0

Honours

Club

Rosenborg

• Eliteserien: 2016,[13] 2017, 2018
• Norwegian Football Cup: 2016, 2018
• Mesterfinalen: 2017

Individual

• Harry Kewell Medal: 2017[14]

See also

• List of foreign Norwegian Premier League players
• List of Sydney FC players

References

1. "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 2 July 2017. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 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. https://www.sydneyfc.com/news/alex-gersbach
5. "Sydney FC sign Alex Gersbach, one of Australia's best young footballers". SMH. 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. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
11. AUSTRALSK LANDSHOLDSSPILLER TIL AGF, agf.dk, 8 July 2019
12. "Leckie's late goal wins it for Caltex Socceroos". Football Federation Australia. 4 June 2016.
13. Stoll, Nick (25 September 2016). "Gersbach wins title with Rosenborg". The World Game. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
14. "Kerr, Mooy named Australia's best at PFA Awards". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.

External links

• Alex Gersbach at Soccerway
• Alex Gersbach – UEFA competition record