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.
As part of Real Salt Lake’s troika of steady fullbacks in 2010, alongside Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert, Russell’s solid campaign on the right wing played a major role in Real Salt Lake crushing the League record for least goals allowed in a single season. And, almost as impressive, the heady Duke product manned the flank in remarkably civil style, committing just eight fouls in nearly 2,000 minutes while never being shown a caution along the way. The versatile veteran flexed his offensive muscle as well, consistently pumping in dangerous crosses from the right, six of which were finished off for RSL goals. The 31-year-old Russell entered RSL’s preseason camp in excellent condition and should prove ready to help RSL tackle the rigors of a 2011 early-season slate that will include a run at international prestige in the CONCACAF Champions League’s knockout phase.
MLS Career
2010: Started 29 of 31 appearances (2,642 minutes played) while scoring once and registering six assists across League and Cup competitions … Part of a defensive unit that led the charge in helping Real Salt Lake allow just 20 goals all season, beating the previous record of 23 GA set by the 2007 Houston squad … His five assists in MLS play were the most in his three seasons on the Wasatch Front … Committed only eight fouls and was not shown a caution across his 22 appearances in League play (1,915 minutes) … Appeared and started in five of RSL’s six CONCACAF Champions League contests (0G/1A) … Notched first assist of season on 4/10 v. SEA, his cross from the right flank met perfectly by Will Johnson’s diving header (53’) in the 2-2 home opening draw … Played an unexpected 89 min. on 4/14 @ SJ in RSL’s 3-3 draw in its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying opener, spelling an injured Chris Wingert early before supplying a late cross that resulted in Borchers’ 118’ equalizer and burying RSL’s 4th spot kick in its 5-3 PK victory … Broke 38-game scoreless streak to start the MLS portion of his career on 5/29 v. KC by slotting home rebound of saved Morales free kick, helping RSL exact revenge for its last home defeat via a 4-1 triumph … Registered his first two-assist game in MLS play on 7/02 v. NE (Espindola – 27’, Saborio – 52’), helping RSL to another home drubbing of the Revs (5-0 W) … Went the full 120 minutes on 6/02 @ DC in a grueling 1-2 OT loss in U.S. Open Cup qualifying action … Helped RSL equalize on 8/07 @ KC, his cross hitting Findley in stride for a one-timer that ended the scoring in the 1-1 draw … Notched game-winning assist on 10/16 v. DAL, his looping ball towards the penalty spot finished off with a Ned Grabavoy header (59’) in the 2-0 win … Started both legs of RSL’s Western Conference Semifinal Series against FC Dallas, playing the full 90 minutes on 10/30 @ DAL (1-2 L) before playing first 56 minutes of the second leg in Sandy on 11/06.
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.