Andy Russell (footballer, born 1987)

Andrew James Russell (Chinese: 羅素; born 21 November 1987) is an English-born Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee.

Andy Russell

Russell playing for Tai Po in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Andrew James Russell
Date of birth	(1987-11-21) 21 November 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth	Southampton, England
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Centre back Forward
Team information
Current team	Kitchee
Number	26
Youth career
2003–2005	HKFC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2009	Happy Valley	12	(0)
2009–2010	Mossley
2010	Chorley
2013–2014	AFC Fylde
2014–2016	South China	26	(2)
2017	Penang	8	(0)
2017–2018	Tai Po	11	(0)
2018	Liaoning Whowin	27	(4)
2019–2020	Hebei China Fortune	6	(0)
2020	→ Jiangxi Liansheng (loan)	16	(1)
2021	Jiangxi Beidamen	28	(2)
2022–2023	Sichuan Jiuniu	19	(0)
2023–	Kitchee	6	(1)
International career^‡
2016–2023	Hong Kong	22	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 May 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 October 2019

Club career

In 2008, Russell signed his first contract as a professional footballer for Happy Valley, which played in Hong Kong First Division. After returning to the UK, Russell joined Mossley in the NPL First Division North and found employment with sportswear giants Adidas. In his debut season with the club he would represent them 46 times and score two goals.^[2] He joined Chorley in 2010 when manager Garry Flitcroft took over. For the 2013–14 season, Russell chose AFC Fylde after being convinced by manager Dave Challinor.^[3] He helped the club retain the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy by beating Chorley 4–1 with one goal and one assist.^[4]

In July 2014, Russell announced on his Twitter account that he had signed for Hong Kong Premier League club South China for the 2014–15 season.^[5]

On 7 January 2017, Russell left South China for Malaysian Super League club Penang after signing a one-year contract with the club.^[6] In May 2017, Russell's contract with Penang was terminated due to poor performances.^[7]

On 27 February 2018, Russell left Tai Po, where he had played the previous half-year, for China League One club Liaoning Whowin at a six figure fee, where he could play as a native player.^[8][9]

On 25 February 2019, Russell signed with Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune.^[10]

On 16 July 2020, Russell joined China League One club Jiangxi Liansheng on loan.^[11]

In April 2021, Russell joined Jiangxi Beidamen.

In April 2022, Russell joined Sichuan Jiuniu.

On 8 February 2023, Russell returned to Hong Kong and joined Kitchee.

International career

On 14 March 2016, Russell received his first call-up for Hong Kong in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Qatar on 24 March 2016. He made his international debut in a 2–0 loss to Qatar.^[12]

On 6 November 2023, Russell announced his retirement from international football to focus more on his club career with Kitchee and family commitments.

Personal life

Russell was born in Southampton, England and moved to Hong Kong with his parents when he was 18 months old. He returned to England to attend the University of Manchester.^[3]

Russell married his wife Helen in 2018. The couple has a son named Zachary.

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 December 2022.^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
South China	2014–15	Hong Kong Premier League	10	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	3^[a]	1	17	3
	2015–16		12	0	0	0	6	1	0	0	8^[b]	0	26	1
	2016–17		4	0	0	0	–		–		1^[c]	0	5	0
	Total		26	2	2	0	8	1	0	0	12	1	48	4
Pulau Pinang	2017	Malaysia Super League	8	0	2	0	–		–		–		10	0
Tai Po	2017–18	Hong Kong Premier League	11	0	0	0	–		–		3^[d]	1	14	1
Liaoning Whowin	2018	China League One	27	4	0	0	–		–		–		27	4
Hebei China Fortune	2019	Chinese Super League	6	0	0	0	–		–		–		6	0
Jiangxi Liansheng (loan)	2020	China League One	14	1	0	0	–		–		2^[e]	0	16	1
Jiangxi Beidamen	2021		28	2	0	0	–		–		0	0	28	2
Sichuan Jiuniu	2022		19	0	0	0	–		–		0	0	19	0
Career total			139	9	4	0	8	1	0	0	17	2	168	12

1. One appearance and one goal in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield, Two appearances in 2014–15 Hong Kong season play-off
2. Two appearances in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield, One appearance in 2015–16 Hong Kong season play-off, Five appearances in Hong Kong Sapling Cup
3. Appearances in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
4. One appearance in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield, Two appearances and one goal in Hong Kong Sapling Cup
5. Appearances in China League One relegation play-offs

International

As of 17 October 2023

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Hong Kong	2016	6	0
	2017	2	0
	2018	6	0
	2019	6	0
	2020	0	0
	2021	0	0
	2022	0	0
	2023	2	0
Total		22	0

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition
1	24 March 2016	Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar	Qatar	0–2	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	3 June 2016	Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar	Vietnam	2–2	2016 AYA Bank Cup
3	6 June 2016	Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar	Myanmar	0–3	2016 AYA Bank Cup
4	6 October 2016	Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia	Cambodia	2–0	Friendly
5	11 October 2016	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Singapore	2–0	Friendly
6	6 November 2016	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Guam	3–2	EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2017 Round 2
7	9 November 2017	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Bahrain	0–2	Friendly
8	14 November 2017	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Lebanon	0–1	2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
9	27 March 2018	Kim Il-sung Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea	North Korea	0–2	2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
10	11 October 2018	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Thailand	0–1	Friendly
11	16 October 2018	Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Cikarang, Indonesia	Indonesia	1–1	Friendly
12	11 November 2018	Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan	Chinese Taipei	2–1	2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Round 2
13	13 November 2018	Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan	North Korea	0–0	2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Round 2
14	16 November 2018	Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan	Mongolia	1–5	2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Round 2
15	11 June 2019	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Chinese Taipei	0–2	Friendly
16	5 September 2019	Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia	Cambodia	1–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
17	10 September 2019	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Iran	0–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
18	10 October 2019	Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq	Iraq	0–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
19	14 November 2019	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Bahrain	0–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
20	19 November 2019	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Cambodia	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
21	7 September 2023	National Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia	Cambodia	1–1	Friendly
22	12 October 2023	Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, Bhutan	Bhutan	4–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Kitchee

• Hong Kong Premier League: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
• Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield: 2022–23
• Hong Kong FA Cup: 2022–23

References

1. 【港將衝中超】港足中堅羅素加盟中超河北華夏幸福　與馬斯真蘭奴及拿維斯做隊友 (in Chinese). Ming Pao. 25 February 2019.
2. "* Radcliffe to Ryder*". mossleyweb.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
3. "BIG INTERVIEW: Andy Russell". Lancashire Evening Post. 27 July 2013.
4. "Chorley lose Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy final to holders AFC Fylde". Lancashire Telegraph. 18 March 2014.
5. "South China announcement". twitter. 16 July 2014.
6. (in Chinese)"羅素闖檳城心繫港隊". Oriental Daily. 7 January 2017.
7. "Penang on a mission to find replacements for Ferreira and Russell". Goal.com. 15 May 2017.
8. "和富大埔中堅羅素將加盟中甲球隊遼寧宏運。". （Tai Po Football Club's official fans club. Facebook. Retrieved 27 February 2018. (in Chinese)
9. Gao, Si Kei; Chan, Chun Yiu. "羅素北上加盟遼寧宏運 李志堅：香港足球無法提供的條件". HK01. Retrieved 28 February 2018. (in Chinese)
10. "中国香港籍球员安德鲁·罗素加盟华夏". sports.sina.com. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
11. "中甲新军宣布港脚正式加盟 去年代表华夏出战6场". Sina. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.(in Chinese)
12. . Archived from the original on 22 June 2015.
13. "Andy Russell". National-football-teams.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.

External links

• Andy Russell at Soccerway
• Andy Russell on Instagram