Oliver Benjamin Gerbig (; born 12 December 1998) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Chinese Super League club Henan and the Hong Kong national team.
Gerbig has played for Royal Blues and Taipei Red Lions in the Taiwan Football Premier League. In 2018, he began playing NCAA Division I Men's Soccer at Coastal Carolina University in the United States. In 2020, he transferred to the University of Virginia.
Early career Gerbig began his academy career playing for Inter Taoyuan while simultaneously playing and studying at the Taipei American School.
In April 2015, Gerbig began playing for Royal Blues in Taipei at the age of 16. On his debut, a league match against Taichung City on 1 November 2015, he was substituted in at 41 minutes, and 4 minutes later, he scored his first goal for the club. This goal contributed to Royal Blues winning the game 3–1.
In April 2018, Gerbig joined Taipei Red Lions, but suffered a knee injury after only three months playing for the team.
College career In July 2018, Gerbig went to the United States to study at Coastal Carolina University and represent the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the NCAA Division I. In two years, he appeared in 35 matches as the main centre back. In the second year, he helped the team win the 2019 Sun Belt Conference.
On 29 February 2020, Gerbig announced his transfer to the University of Virginia, where he would represent the Virginia Cavaliers.
Professional career Kitchee On 24 July 2022, Kitchee announced an agreement for Gerbig to join in the 2022–23 season. Gerbig made his professional debut in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 match against BG Pathum United on 19 August 2022.
Gerbig established himself as a first-choice centre back during the 2022–23 season by starting all 18 league matches. He also score twice in a group stage match in the Sapling Cup against Resources Capital on 1 February 2023.
Henan After impressive performances during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup group stage matches, Gerbig attracted interest from Chinese clubs. On 29 February 2024, Gerbig joined Chinese Super League club Henan for a transfer fee of RMB $1 million.
Dalian Yingbo (loan) On 14 July 2024, Gerbig was loaned to China League One club Dalian Yingbo for the rest of the season.官方：原河南队后卫周缘德租借加盟大连英博 手機網易網 14 July 2024
International career Gerbig represented Hong Kong U-20 in the 13th National Games of the People’s Republic of China in 2017. In the 2018 Asian Games the following year, although Gerbig was once again selected for the 40-man roster of Hong Kong U-23, he had to sit out on the Asian Games due to injury.
In March 2019, Gerbig was called up again in the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers and played for the first time against North Korea U-23, where Hong Kong U-23 lost by two goals in the final match.
On 16 November 2023, Gerbig made his international debut for Hong Kong in the World Cup qualifiers against Iran.
On 26 December 2023, Gerbig was named in Hong Kong's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
Career statistics International
National teamYearAppsGoalsHong Kong20231020241602025110202650Total330
#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetition116 November 2023Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran0–42026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round21 January 2024Baniyas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates2–1Friendly314 January 2024Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–32023 AFC Asian Cup419 January 2024Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar0–12023 AFC Asian Cup523 January 2024Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar0–32023 AFC Asian Cup621 March 2024Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round726 March 2024Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan0–32026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round86 June 2024Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong2–42026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
Personal life Gerbig was born in Hong Kong. He was born to a German father and Hong Kong mother. Gerbig attended the Discovery Bay International School, where he began playing football. He moved to Taiwan at the age of five.
After moving to Taiwan, Gerbig attended Taipei European School. He transferred to Taipei American School two years later, where he graduated high school in 2017.
Honours Kitchee Hong Kong Premier League: 2022–23 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield: 2022–23, 2023–24 Hong Kong FA Cup: 2022–23
Hong Kong FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup: 2026
References
External links