Acquired
RSL: Signed to a Senior roster contract on 7/25 from Danish side Viborg FF
It’s the image you’ll always remember when you see the “2009 MLS Cup Champion” banner at Rio Tinto Stadium and think back on that special night in Seattle – Robbie Russell, on his knees, head towards the sky, eyes closed, fists clinched … and knowing he’s about to get pummeled in celebration by his teammates. When you hit the championship-clinching penalty kick to give your club its first title and an entire state its first pro champion in nearly 40 years you’ll always be remembered fondly. But perhaps nobody deserved the moment more than the well-traveled Russell, who embodied the mold in which the RSL Technical Staff re-built the team – an American veteran with overseas experience and character that sacrifices for the team and is ready when called upon.
After starting 18 of his 19 appearances through September, Russell would fall out of the first XI in October, but he was ready to step in at right back when Tony Beltran went down to injury late in the Eastern Conference Semifinal opener against Columbus. After overcoming some shaky moments in the second leg win at Columbus, Russell would turn in a yeoman-like effort in the East Final at Chicago, putting in a hard-working 119 minutes before leaving just before penalty kicks. A week later against the Galaxy in Seattle it was Russell seeing it through to completion in penalties, stepping up in the seventh round to hit RSL’s equivalent of “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”
MLS Career
2009: Versatile veteran plied his trade at right back, center back and holding midfielder in 2009, notching a pair of helpers in 19 appearances (18 starts) … Answered the call in the postseason, starting all four of RSL’s contests en route to claiming its first MLS Cup crown … Started on the backline in 9 straight contests (dating back to 4/18 @ NY), the streak ending with his red card suspension served on 6/13 @ LA … First helper of the season came in RSL’s historic onslaught on 4/25 v. NE, his assist on Escalada’s 81’ score leading to the fourth goal in the Utah side’s 6-0 result … Missed match on 8/08 v. SEA after suffering an injury (L rectus femoris strain) early in the match on 7/24 v. DAL … Assist on Campos tally (18’) on 8/29 @ KC snapped a 15-game streak without a helper and helped RSL to just its second road win of the season, a 1-0 victory at CommunityAmerica Ballpark … Spelled an injured Tony Beltran for the last 11 min. on 10/31 v. CLB in Leg One of the Eastern Conf. Semifinal Series … Maintained the line-up spot for RSL’s 3-2 win in Leg Two on the series on 11/05 @ CLB … Started and played until the dying moments on 11/14 @ CHI in the Eastern Conf. Championship, exiting the 0-0 draw in the 120’, just moments before RSL’s 5-4 triumph in penalties … Would not be left out of the PK fun on 11/22 v. LA in MLS Cup 2009 at Seattle’s Qwest Field, a sturdy 120-minute performance on the backline being rewarded with a spot in RSL lore … Stepped up to convert the championship-clinching spot kick in the 7th round of penalties, giving RSL a 5-4 shootout win and its first MLS Cup crown in the process.
2008: Signed to RSL’s Senior roster on 7/25 from Danish side Viborg FF …One of five players with European club experience that joined the RSL roster in 2008 … Versatile player saw time at right fullback, right midfield & center back during his 11 regular season appearances … Made his RSL – and MLS – debut with a 17-minute appearance off the bench on 7/28 v. TOR in a 2-1 win … Followed that up with his first MLS start and a 90-minute performance as a right back on 8/16 @ HOU in a 3-4 defeat … Replaced an injured Nat Borchers at center-back on 10/18 v. DAL and put in a solid 90 minutes in partnership with Jamison Olave in a 3-1 victory … Started in two of RSL’s three MLS Cup Playoff appearances, registering two vital assists in 207 postseason minutes … One of six players to record multiple helpers in the ’08 postseason … Helped RSL to victory in his 27 min. appearance on 11/01 v. CHV in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal Series, his quick 90’ throw-in ending up in the back of the net courtesy of a Javier Morales cross and Yura Movsisyan finish in a dramatic 1-0 win … Helped RSL get on the board in Game 2 of the WSS @ CHV on 11/08, notching an assist on Dema Kovalenko’s 39’ tally in a 2-2 draw that advanced the squad to the conference final … Played all 90 min. on 10/15 v. NY in a 0-1 loss in the Western Conference Final.
International Club Career
2006-08: Viborg FF – Danish Superligaen (First Division): Played in 31 contests for Viborg FF of the Danish first division in two seasons with the club … Was a regular first-choice selection for Viborg in 2006/07, when he played in 26 contests … Injuries limited Russell to only five appearances during the 2007/08 campaign.
2004-06: Rosenborg BK – Norwegian Tippeligaen (First Division): Made 13 appearances for Rosenborg BK during portions of three seasons with the Norwegian powers … Became the starter at right back for the squad during its 2004 championship season, logging nine appearances against league competition and four more during UEFA Champions League, making the short list of American players competing in the prestigious competition at the time … Made substitute appearances in Champions League play on 9/14/04 @ Panathinaikos (1-2 L) and 9/29/04 v. Arsenal (1-1 T) … Started and went the full 90 minutes in Rosenborg’s next two CL games on 10/20 v. PSV Eindhoven (1-2 L) and 11/02/04 @ PSV (0-1 L) … Injuries and a coaching change saw his playing time decrease during the latter half of his Rosenborg stint, as he made only two league appearances in both the 2005 and ’06 Tippeligaen seasons before reestablishing himself in Denmark.
2001-04: Sogndal I.L. – Norwegian Tippeligaen (First Division): Scored four goals in 63 league appearances for Sogndal, establishing himself as one of the Norwegian Tippeligaen’s best right backs during his tenure with the squad … Got his feet wet during his Norwegian stint by playing in five contests during the 2001 campaign … Followed that up with 24 appearances in both the 2002 & ’03 seasons, scoring one goal each year … Scored twice in 14 games during the first half of the 2004 season before being sought out by Rosenborg.
2000: Breidablik – Icelandic Urvalsdeild (First Division): His initial taste of European soccer came during an amateur stint with Icelandic side Breidablik in 2000 … Made 12 appearances in Iceland during the summer prior to his senior campaign at Duke.
College / High School
Was a standout at Duke University, tallying 12 goals and 21 assists while starting 73 of his 75 games with the Blue Devils … Was named a Second-Team All-American following his junior and senior seasons and was a member of All-ACC Teams during each of his four seasons in Durham … Served as team captain during two seasons … Named a Gatorade Parade High School All-American during his senior year at Amherst H.S. and played his club soccer with Western United F.C. out of Springfield, MA, and Boston-based club CRU.
Personal
Born in Accra, Ghana, the worldly Russell has lived on four different continents (Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe) … Moved to the United States with his family as a teenager, landing in Amherst, MA … Currently lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Tiana.
