View source for Robbie Kruse

{{Short description|Australian footballer (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Robbie Kruse
| image = 2017 Confederation Cup - CHIAUS - Robbie Kruse (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kruse playing for [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] at the [[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
| full_name = Robbie Thomas Kruse<ref name="FIFA">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Australia |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=15 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611000407/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=11 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|10|5|df=y}}<ref name="FIFA"/>
| birth_place = [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], Australia
| height = 1.79 m<ref>{{cite web |title=Robbie Kruse |url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/robbie-kruse |website=Melbourne Victory FC |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=18 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318080759/https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/player/robbie-kruse |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]], [[winger (association football)|winger]], [[attacking midfielder]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Humble Kruse on life in the Bundesliga |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/0000244145.jsp |website=Bundesliga |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bernard |first1=Grantley |title=Kruse boosts attack for Melbourne Victory ahead of clash with former team Brisbane Roar |url=https://amp.heraldsun.com.au/sport/kruse-boosts-attack-for-melbourne-victory-ahead-of-clash-with-former-team-brisbane-roar/news-story/b609f5a99989e244917d1adff040c672 |website=Herald Sun |publisher=News Corp |access-date=22 December 2021 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222054628/https://amp.heraldsun.com.au/sport/kruse-boosts-attack-for-melbourne-victory-ahead-of-clash-with-former-team-brisbane-roar/news-story/b609f5a99989e244917d1adff040c672 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Skippy' the Bayer Socceroo |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/0000239979.jsp |website=Bundesliga |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Michael |title=Socceroo star set to miss Victory's A-League season start |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroo-star-set-to-miss-victory-s-a-league-season-start-20201211-p56mtk.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=11 December 2020 |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2004–2005
| youthclubs1 = [[Queensland Academy of Sport|QAS]]
| youthyears2 = 2005–2006
| youthclubs2 = [[Australian Institute of Sport Football Program|AIS]]
| years1 = 2007–2009
| clubs1 = [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
| caps1 = 26
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 2009–2011
| clubs2 = [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
| caps2 = 39
| goals2 = 16
| years3 = 2011–2013
| clubs3 = [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]]
| caps3 = 41
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2012
| clubs4 = → [[Fortuna Düsseldorf II]]
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2013–2017
| clubs5 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| caps5 = 21
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2015–2016
| clubs6 = → [[VfB Stuttgart]] (loan)
| caps6 = 3
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2017
| clubs7 = [[Liaoning Whowin]]
| caps7 = 4
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2017–2019
| clubs8 = [[VfL Bochum]]
| caps8 = 42
| goals8 = 8
| years9 = 2019–2022
| clubs9 = [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
| caps9 = 40
| goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2023
| clubs10 = [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
| caps10 = 1
| goals10 = 0
| totalcaps= 219
| totalgoals= 37
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2005
| nationalteam1 = [[Australia national under-17 soccer team|Australia U17]]
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 2006
| nationalteam2 = [[Australia national under-20 soccer team|Australia U20]]
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2011–2019
| nationalteam3 = [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]
| nationalcaps3 = 75
| nationalgoals3 = 5
| club-update = 06:09, 7 May 2023 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 25 January 2019
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[AFC Asian Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015 Australia]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011 Qatar]]|}}
}}
'''Robbie Thomas Kruse''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|uː|s}} {{respell|KROOSS}};<ref>{{Citation|last=Bundesliga|title=Leverkusen's Robbie Kruse - Australia's Footballer of the Year|date=5 December 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0taXQd_K_A&t=1s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/F0taXQd_K_A |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=8 November 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> {{IPA|de|ˈkʁuːzə|lang}};<ref>{{cite book|last1=Krech|first1=Eva-Maria|last2=Stock|first2=Eberhard|last3=Hirschfeld|first3=Ursula|last4=Anders|first4=Lutz Christian|title=Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch|trans-title=German Pronunciation Dictionary|language=de|year=2009|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-11-018202-6|page=679}}</ref> born 5 October 1988) is an Australian former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]]. He played his junior football with Pine Rivers Soccer Club in the Pine Rivers district to the near north of Brisbane and began his professional career with [[A-League]] side [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] and later Melbourne Victory before moving to Germany in 2011.<ref name="A-League Stats">{{cite web|url=http://aleaguestats.com/ALeagueStats_25Players_26.html|title=Robbie Kruse|publisher=aleaguestats.com|access-date=22 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="kicker">{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/vereine/2011-12/67339/vereinsspieler_kruse-robbie-thomas.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912121839/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/vereine/2011-12/67339/vereinsspieler_kruse-robbie-thomas.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2011|title=Robbie Kruse|language=de|publisher=[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="worldfootball">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/robbie-kruse/|title=Robbie Kruse|date=22 January 2017 |publisher=worldfootball.net|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Brisbane Roar===
Recruited in 2006 by [[Miron Bleiberg]], Kruse was injured during an otherwise successful [[A-League]] pre-season during training.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/1230161 | title = Phoenix ready to samba | publisher = tvnz.co.nz | date = 13 July 2007 | access-date = 9 August 2011}}</ref> He scored on his debut against [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]] on 5 October 2007, his nineteenth birthday, with what was to be the winning goal for that game.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/roar-end-home-drought/2007/10/05/1191091370049.html | title = Debutant Kruse seals win for Roar | date = 5 October 2007 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = smh.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/62571,brissie-boys-grab-first-home-win.aspx | title = Brissie Boys Grab First Home Win | date = 5 October 2007 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = fourfourtwo.com | first = Jon | last = Ritson | archive-date = 18 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120318202305/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/62571,brissie-boys-grab-first-home-win.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref>

On 19 October 2007, Kruse struck against the Newcastle Jets for his second goal of his A-League career.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22616629-23215,00.html | title = Jets and Roar draw | date = 19 October 2007 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = foxsports.com.au}}</ref> On 16 November, he got his third with an excellent curling effort to the far post as Brisbane beat Melbourne 1–0.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Victory-fear-dejavu-after-another-loss/2007/11/18/1195321598252.html | title = Victory fear deja-vu after another loss | date = 18 November 2007 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = theage.com.au}}</ref>

Kruse and his close friend [[Michael Zullo]] formed a good partnership with each playing either side of a striker in a three-man attack for Brisbane which coincided with a seven match unbeaten streak.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/kruse-missile-is-roar-talent/story-e6frepmf-1111114902495 | title = Robbie Kruse is Roar talent | date = 17 November 2007 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = couriermail.com.au | first = Greg | last = Davis}}</ref>

Kruse's place in Roar's starting line-up was in jeopardy at the beginning of the 2008 A-League season after he was involved in an altercation outside a Queensland nightspot. The fight resulted in Kruse needing stitches and the then-19-year-old incurring the wrath of club coach Frank Farina, who offered Kruse only a short-term contract as a replacement for the injured Massimo Murdoca for the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/kruses-roar-future-in-doubt/story-e6frepmf-1111117954229 | title = Robbie Kruse risks Roar future after late-night punch-up | date = 5 November 2008 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = couriermail.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/kruse-hurt-in-pub-punch/story-e6frepmf-1111117118362 | title = Punched Roar winger Robbie Kruse warned on clubbing | date = 6 August 2008 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = couriermail.com.au}}</ref>

===Melbourne Victory===
Kruse was linked to a move to reigning A-League premiers Melbourne Victory following the departure of Melbourne striker Danny Allsopp to Qatar club Al-Rayyan.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=29176 | title = Allsopp joins Qatar's Al-Rayyan | date = 8 September 2009 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = melbournevictory.com.au | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110821175349/http://melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=29176 | archive-date = 21 August 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> On 10 September 2009, it was confirmed that Kruse had left the Roar for Melbourne Victory.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/robbie-kruse-leaves-brisbane-roar-to-join-melbourne/story-e6frep5o-1225771495069 | title = Robbie Kruse leaves Brisbane Roar to join Melbourne | date = 10 September 2009 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = couriermail.com.au}}</ref>

Kruse made his first appearance for the Victory on 13 September 2009 against Wellington Phoenix after replacing [[Ney Fabiano]] at the 58th minute. He scored his first goal for the Victory in the 4–0 demolition of Gold Coast United on 28 November 2009.

A highlight of Kruse's professional career was when he scored a first half hat-trick on 16 January 2010 against the Perth Glory.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/robbie-kruses-hat-trick-seals-6-2-for-melbourne-victory/story-e6frf9if-1225820411681 | title = Robbie Kruse's hat-trick seals 6–2 for Melbourne Victory | date = 17 January 2010 | access-date = 10 August 2011 | publisher = heraldsun.com.au}}</ref> The Victory went on to win 6–2 as the Glory had no answer for Kruse's pace and well timed runs. His fifth goal came against Sydney FC in the major semi final when struck a curling shot which left Sydney FC keeper [[Clint Bolton]] no chance as it tore into the top right corner. His sixth goal for Melbourne came against [[Gold Coast United]] when he rounded [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] and former teammate [[Glen Moss]] to slide the ball into the open net.

He was the first player to score a brace in a [[Melbourne Derby (A-League)|Melbourne derby]], helping Victory to a 3–1 win over their rivals [[Melbourne Heart]] in December 2010.

At Victory, Kruse was known for turning his career around through his development and change of attitude, no longer getting caught up in off-field incidents like he did whilst in Brisbane, and taking his footballing potential much more seriously.

===Fortuna Düsseldorf===
[[File:Robbie Kruse, Fortuna Düsseldorf.jpg|thumb|left|Kruse playing for [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] in 2012.]]
Following his form for the Victory, Kruse signed with German side [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] on a three-year contract beginning with the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/199923,kruse-completes-fortuna-deal.aspx|title=Kruse Completes Fortuna Deal|date=26 March 2011|publisher=Australian FourFourTwo|access-date=26 March 2011|archive-date=4 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004033047/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/199923%2Ckruse-completes-fortuna-deal.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his competitive debut for the club on 24 July 2011 in a league match against [[SC Paderborn 07]], making a substitute appearance in the second half.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aussies Abroad Weekend Wrap|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/210058,aussies-abroad-weekend-wrap.aspx|work=FourFourTwo|access-date=12 August 2011|date=25 July 2011}}</ref>
Kruse started in Fortuna's return to the Bundesliga in the 2012–13 season. He provided a flick on for Schahin leading to the first goal and a neat cross for Schahin's second. Fortuna went on to win the match 2–0 over Augsburg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/249057,kruse-shines-in-bundesliga-debut.aspx | title = Kruse Shines In Bundesliga Debut |access-date=26 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829064321/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/249057,kruse-shines-in-bundesliga-debut.aspx |archive-date=29 August 2012 }}</ref>
He scored his first goal in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aussies-abroad/news/1128193/Kruse-nets-in-Bundesliga |title=Kruse nets in Bundesliga |publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au |date=11 November 2012 |access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref> In the 2–0 win over Hamburger SV, he scored his second goal of the Bundesliga campaign and then provided the assist for Fortuna's second.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/11/23/germany/bundesliga/dusseldorfer-tus-fortuna-1895-ev/hamburger-sv/1300888/ |title = Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. Hamburger SV 2 – 0 |publisher=Soccerway |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref>

===Bayer Leverkusen===
[[File:Robbie-Kruse-2015-08.jpg|thumb|right|Kruse with [[Bayer Leverkusen]] in 2015]]
Kruse signed a three-year contract with German side [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] for €1.5 million on 28 April 2013.<ref name=krusesigning>{{cite news|title=Bayer sichert sich die Dienste von Kruse|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayer-sichert-sich-die-dienste-von-kruse-585412/artikel|access-date=3 May 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=28 April 2013|language=de}}</ref> He made his run-on debut against Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on 21 September 2013, scoring two goals in a 4–1 victory.

====Loan to VfB Stuttgart====
On 31 August 2015, Kruse signed with [[VfB Stuttgart]] on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2015/verpflichtung-robbie-kruse/page/3889-1-1-.html|title=Robbie Kruse joins VfB|work=vfb.de|publisher=[[VfB Stuttgart]]|date=31 August 2015|access-date=31 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120175008/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2015/verpflichtung-robbie-kruse/page/3889-1-1-.html|archive-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> He made his first appearance for VfB Stuttgart in the away match against Hertha BSC on 11 September 2015, as a replacement for [[Martin Harnik]] early in the second half. The loan deal was prematurely terminated on 1 February 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2016/abgang-robbie-kruse/page/4151-1-1-.html|title=Robbie Kruse returns to Leverkusen|work=vfb.de|publisher=[[VfB Stuttgart]]|date=1 February 2016|access-date=1 February 2016}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Liaoning Whowin===
In May 2017, Kruse terminated his contract with [[Liaoning Whowin F.C.|Liaoning Whowin]] due to unpaid wages.<ref>{{cite web|title=2 Australian players terminate contracts with Chinese team|url=https://apnews.com/e389d926c7e341ab9d37fb5061f8e320/2-Australian-players-terminate-contracts-with-Chinese-team|website=apnews.com|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=18 May 2017|date=18 May 2017}}</ref>

===VfL Bochum===
On 21 July 2017, Kruse joined German club [[VfL Bochum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vfl-bochum.de/site/_home/aktuelles/17422_robbiekruseverstaerktdenvflp.htm|title=Robbie Kruse verstärkt den VfL|trans-title=Robbie Kruse strengthens the VfL|language=de|publisher=[[VfL Bochum]]|date=21 July 2017|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724103315/http://www.vfl-bochum.de/site/_home/aktuelles/17422_robbiekruseverstaerktdenvflp.htm|archive-date=24 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He scored his debut goal for the club on 10 September 2017, netting the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/kruse-scores-late-winner-for-bochum-472974|title=Kruse scores late winner for Bochum|newspaper=[[FourFourTwo]]|date=11 September 2017|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911121311/https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/kruse-scores-late-winner-for-bochum-472974|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Return to Melbourne Victory===
In July 2019, Kruse returned to the [[A-League]], signing a two-year contract with [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/robbie-kruse-re-joins-melbourne-victory-20190723-p529yl.html|title=Robbie Kruse re-joins Melbourne Victory|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

Kruse was named as the Victory Medalist for the 2020–21 season; he made 19 appearances but no goals and one assist in that season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Recap: 2020/21 Victory Medal |url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/recap-202021-victory-medal |website=Melbourne Victory FC |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021}}</ref>

Kruse left the Victory in June 2022 upon the expiration of his contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=ROBBIE KRUSE DEPARTS MELBOURNE VICTORY |url=https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/robbie-kruse-departs-melbourne-victory |website=Melbourne Victory FC |date=8 June 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Monetverde |first1=Marco |title=Ex-Socceroo Robbie Kruse departs Melbourne Victory |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/exsocceroo-robbie-kruse-departs-melbourne-victory/news-story/4e3d39ec0be1da99ab64dc5789590ee3 |website=The Australian |publisher=News Corp |access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Monetverde |first1=Marco |title=Ex-Socceroo Robbie Kruse departs Melbourne Victory |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/exsocceroo-robbie-kruse-departs-melbourne-victory/news-story/4e3d39ec0be1da99ab64dc5789590ee3 |website=News.com.au |publisher=News Corp |access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref>

=== Return to Brisbane Roar ===
In February 2023, Brisbane Roar announced that Robbie Kruse would be returning to the club for the 2023 A-League season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Striker Robbie Kruse completes return to Brisbane Roar |url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/striker-robbie-kruse-completes-return-035549943.html |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=au.sports.yahoo.com |language=en-AU}}</ref> Kruse only played 8 minutes for the Roar (against [[Sydney FC]]) before being released at the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Socceroo attacker among five players released by Roar|url=https://keepup.com.au/news/a-league-transfers-robbie-kruse-departs-brisbane-roar/|website=KeepUp.com.au|date=11 May 2023 }}</ref>

In November 2023, Kruse became the [[Brisbane Roar FC Youth|Brisbane Roar Academy]] Development and Talent ID coach.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roar |first1=Brisbane |title=Roar lock in Academy staff |url=https://brisbaneroar.com.au/news/roar-lock-in-academy-staff |website=Brisbane Roar Official Website |date=7 November 2023 |publisher=Brisbane Roar |access-date=20 December 2023}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Robbie Kruse 2013.jpg|thumb|right|252px|Kruse with [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in 2013]]
On 28 December 2010, following his impressive level of play in the [[A-League]] Kruse was selected in the Australian national team's 23-man squad for the 2011 Asian Cup. On 5 January 2011, he made his [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroos]] debut, coming off the bench against [[United Arab Emirates national football team|UAE]] in a pre-[[2011 AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]] friendly match. On 25 January 2011, Kruse scored his first international goal, in a 6–0 victory over [[Uzbekistan national football team|Uzbekistan]] in the semi-final of the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]]. In the final of the competition, he made a substitute appearance and almost scored a header with his first touch of the ball. Australia lost the final 1–0 in extra time.

Kruse scored his second international goal in a friendly match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] on 10 August 2011, which Australia won 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cahill, Kruse goals sink Wales|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/news/1068159/Cahill-Kruse-goals-sink-Wales|work=The World Game|publisher=SBS|access-date=12 August 2011|date=11 August 2011}}</ref> He scored his third goal against [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] on 11 June 2013, in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in which Australia won 4–0, and in which he was also Man of the Match, with two more assists on top of his goal.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/socceroos-one-step-closer-to-brazil/68808 | title = Socceroos one step closer to Brazil | publisher = footballaustralia.com.au | date = 11 June 2013 | access-date = 11 June 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162022/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/socceroos-one-step-closer-to-brazil/68808 | archive-date = 14 July 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He missed out on a spot in the team for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] with an injury.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/kruse-gives-world-cup-dream | title = Kruse gives up World Cup dream | publisher = FourFourTwo | date = 27 February 2014 | access-date = 8 July 2014}}</ref>

Kruse was named as part of Australia's [[2015 AFC Asian Cup]] squad. He made his first appearance of the tournament as a starter in Australia's first group game against [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]]. He started Australia's second group game against [[Oman national football team|Oman]], scoring Australia's second goal of the game off a [[Massimo Luongo]] assist, in an eventual 4–0 win, with him being named [[man of the match]] in the same match.

Kruse started in the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Final]]. However, in the middle of the second half, he suffered an Achilles injury and was substituted off for [[James Troisi]]. Australia went on to win the match 2–1 with the match-winning goal coming through Troisi. Scans revealed that although Kruse's injury was not as serious as initially feared, he would still spend four months on the sidelines.

In May 2018, he was named in Australia's 23-man squad for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] in Russia.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb | title = Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced? | website = goal.com | access-date = 17 May 2018}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
[[File:Robbie kruse.jpg|thumb|right|Kruse in 2015]]
{{Updated|7 May 2023}}<ref name="A-League Stats"/><ref name="kicker"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/robbie-kruse/17608/|title=R. Kruse|website=Soccerway|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Australia Cup]], [[DFB-Pokal]], [[Chinese FA Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Brisbane Roar FC|Queensland Roar]]
|[[2007–08 Queensland Roar FC season|2007–08]]
|[[A-League]]
|17||4||colspan=2|–||0||0||colspan=2|–||17||4
|-
|[[2008–09 Queensland Roar FC season|2008–09]]
|A-League
|4||0||colspan=2|–||1||0||colspan=2|–||5||0
|-
|[[2009–10 Brisbane Roar FC season|2009–10]]
|A-League
|5||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||5||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!26!!4!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!27!!4
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|[[2009–10 Melbourne Victory FC season|2009–10]]
|A-League
|20||5||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||4||0||24||5
|-
|[[2010–11 Melbourne Victory FC season|2010–11]]
|A-League
|19||11||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||4||0||23||11
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!39!!16!!0!!0!!0!!0!!8!!0!!47!!16
|-
|[[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] II
|[[2011–12 Regionalliga|2011–12]]
|[[Regionalliga West]]
|2||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||2||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Fortuna Düsseldorf]]
|[[2011–12 Fortuna Düsseldorf season|2011–12]]
|[[2. Bundesliga]]
|11||0||1||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||12||0
|-
|[[2012–13 Fortuna Düsseldorf season|2012–13]]
|[[Bundesliga]]
|30||4||3||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||33||4
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!41!!4!!4!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!45!!4
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen]]
|[[2013–14 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2013–14]]
|Bundesliga
|15||2||2||1||colspan=2|–||4||0||21||3
|-
|[[2014–15 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2014–15]]
|Bundesliga
|4||0||1||0||colspan=2|–||2||0||7||0
|-
|[[2015–16 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2015–16]]
|Bundesliga
|9||0||1||0||colspan=2|–||5||0||15||0
|-
|[[2016–17 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2016–17]]
|Bundesliga
|0||0||2||0||colspan=2|–||1||0||3||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!28!!2!!6!!1!!0!!0!!12!!0!!46!!3
|-
|[[VfB Stuttgart]] (loan)
|[[2015–16 VfB Stuttgart season|2015–16]]
|Bundesliga
|3||0||1||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||4||0
|-
|[[Liaoning F.C.|Liaoning]]
|[[2017 Chinese Super League|2017]]
|[[Chinese Super League]]
|4||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||4||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[VfL Bochum]]
|[[2017–18 VfL Bochum season|2017–18]]
|2. Bundesliga
|30||7||1||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||31||7
|-
|[[2018–19 VfL Bochum season|2018–19]]
|2. Bundesliga
|14||1||0||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||14||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!44!!8!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!45!!8
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
|[[2019–20 Melbourne Victory FC season|2019–20]]
|A-League
|11||2||0||0||colspan=2|–||2||1||13||3
|-
|[[2020–21 Melbourne Victory FC season|2020–21]]
|A-League
|19||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||19||0
|-
|[[2021–22 Melbourne Victory FC season|2021–22]]
|A-League Men
|10||1||5||0||colspan=2|–||1||0||16||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!40!!3!!5!!0!!0!!0!!3!!1!!48!!4
|-
|[[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
|[[2022–23 Brisbane Roar FC season|2022–23]]
|A-League Men
|1||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||1||0
|-
!colspan=3|Total!!228!!37!!17!!1!!1!!0!!23!!1!!269!!39
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{{Updated|match played 25 January 2019}}<ref name="nft">{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/41168/Robbie_Kruse.html|title=Kruse, Robbie|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]
|2011||14||2
|-
|2012||7||0
|-
|2013||8||1
|-
|2014||3||0
|-
|2015||6||1
|-
|2016||10||0
|-
|2017||12||1
|-
|2018||10||0
|-
|2019||5||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!75!!5
|}

:''Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kruse goal.''<ref name="nft"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Robbie Kruse
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 25 January 2011 || [[Khalifa International Stadium]], [[Doha]], Qatar || {{fb|UZB}} || align="center"|6–0 || align="center"|6–0 || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage|2011 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 10 August 2011 || [[Cardiff City Stadium]], [[Cardiff]], Wales || {{fb|WAL}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–1 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 11 June 2013 || [[Docklands Stadium]], [[Melbourne]], Australia || {{fb|JOR}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|4–0 || [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || 13 January 2015 || [[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]], Australia || {{fb|OMN}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|4–0 || [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|2015 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|5 || 5 October 2017 || [[Hang Jebat Stadium]], [[Malacca]], Malaysia || {{fb|SYR|1980}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Australia'''
*[[AFC Asian Cup]]: [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/afc_asian_cup_australia_2015_squads_in_full.html|title=AFC Asian Cup 2015, Australian Squad|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>  runner-up [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/squad/_/id/628/league/AFC.ASIAN.CUP/season/2011|title=AFC Asian Cup 2011, Australian Squad|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
* [[Melbourne Victory]] Young Player of the Year: [[2009–10 Melbourne Victory season|2009–10]], [[List of Melbourne Victory FC records and statistics|2010–11]]
* A-League PFA Team of the Season: [[2010–11 A-League#All-Star team|2010–11]]
* [[PFA Footballer of the Year Awards|Harry Kewell Medal]]: 2012–13
* [[PFA Footballer of the Year Awards|PFA Footballer of the Year]]: 2012–13

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/KOW.html#RobbieKruse Aussie Footballers] Kowalski to Kyriazopoulos 
* {{NFT player|41168}}
* {{Soccerway|robbie-kruse/17608}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Australia squads
| bg = #FCD116
| fg = #008751
| bordercolor = #008751
| list1 = 
{{Australia squad 2011 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2015 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list =
{{2010–11 A-League PFA Team of the Season}}
{{Harry Kewell Medal}}
{{PFA Men's Footballer of the Year}}
{{Melbourne Victory FC Player of the Year}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kruse, Robbie}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Australian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Australian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Australia men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:AFC Asian Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:2011 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:2015 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:2017 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2019 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:Brisbane Roar FC players]]
[[Category:Melbourne Victory FC players]]
[[Category:Fortuna Düsseldorf players]]
[[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:Liaoning F.C. players]]
[[Category:VfL Bochum players]]
[[Category:A-League Men players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Chinese Super League players]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport soccer players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in China]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Brisbane]]
[[Category:Marquee players (A-League Men)]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]