Michael Ruhs

Michael Ruhs
Personal information
Full name Michael Klaude Ruhs[1]
Date of birth (2002-08-27) 27 August 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Cecil Park, Australia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward / Winger
Team information
Current team
 Western United
Number 24
Youth career
2007–2013 Liverpool Olympic FC
2014–2015 Mounties Wanderers
2016–2019 Sydney United 58
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Sydney United 58 8 (1)
2020–2022 Macarthur FC 28 (3)
2021–2022 → Northbridge Bulls 13 (4)
2022–2023 Central Coast Mariners 15 (2)
2023– Western United 31 (4)
2023– Western United NPL 2 (2)
International career‡
2018–2019 Australia U17 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 April 2021

Michael Klaude Ruhs (born 27 August 2002) is an Australian professional soccer player who currently plays for A-League Men club Western United.

Early life

Ruhs was born in Cecil Park but raised in Horsley Park.[2] He played football since the age of five playing for Liverpool Olympic,[3] until joining Mounties Wanderers in 2014 to start his journey through the NPL pyramid.[4] Throughout his high school years, Ruhs attended Thomas Hassall Anglican College, representing the school through football including playing for the state school team in Melbourne and gaining acknowledgment from the school principal for his success.[5][6] He won the CIS Sports Awards recognising his performance at the NSW All Schools Championships and in October 2020, he successfully completed his HSC exam.[2][7][8]

Club career

Sydney United

Ruhs joined Fairfield club Sydney United in 2016, playing through the youth levels until breaking into the first team in 2019.[4] On 21 July 2019, at the age of 16 years old, Ruhs made his senior debut in a 2–0 loss against Sydney FC Youth.[7][9] His first involvement was in a Round of 32 tie against St George FC, being brought on as a stoppage-time substitute, leading into extra time with the scored tied at 3–3. Ruhs provided an assist and scored his first career goal in the 112th minute to win the match 5–3 to progress into the next round.[10][11] However, his side would soon be knocked out by Western Sydney Wanderers.[12] In total, Ruhs would make eight league appearances and one goal before departing the club in 2020.[4]

Macarthur FC

On 26 October 2020, Ruhs signed with Macarthur FC, along with United teammate Liam Rose, being part of the club's inaugural season in the A-League.[13][14] Ruhs made his unofficial debut, scoring two goals, in a friendly against Camden Tigers for the club's first match in its history.[15] His official debut would come 2 months later on 3 January 2021, being brought on in the 76th minute for Macarthur's first league home game losing 2–0 against Central Coast Mariners.[16] During a match with Northbridge Bulls, he scored two goals against his former club Sydney United on 5 April, helping his side secure a 5–0 lead before half-time.[17] He scored his first professional goal against Melbourne City on 24 April,[18] taking advantage of a loose ball by Kerrin Stokes to level the score 1–1 in the 76th minute.[19] On 12 June, Ruhs scored the winning goal in a 2–0 elimination-final win against Central Coast Mariners, running from one end of the pitch to the other to score past Mark Birighitti.[20][21]

On 13 July, Ruhs extended his contract for one year with the Bulls, having been named a 'fan favourite' by South West Voice.[22][23] On 19 February 2022, Ruhs scored in a 4–1 win against Adelaide United, making it his first and only goal for the 2021–22 A-League campaign.[24] He finished with 13 league appearances, starting in only one match.[25]

Central Coast Mariners

On 9 June 2022, Central Coast Mariners announced the signing of Ruhs ahead of the 2022–23 A-League season.[26][27] Ruhs quickly adjusted with his new club, scoring in all four games he played in during preseason reportedly, against his former club Macarthur,[28] and Western Sydney Wanderers (including matches against Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory).[29][30]

On 31 July, Ruhs scored his first goal for the club against Sydney FC, in the Australia Cup, helping his side draw 3–3 to the end of extra time before eventually losing on penalties.[31] On 5 November, he scored his first two league goals for the club, both assisted from Garang Kuol, against Western Sydney Wanderers, winning 3–0 comfortably at Western Sydney Stadium.[32][33] On 6 February 2023, Mariners terminated Ruhs' contract by mutual agreement.[34]

Western United

On 7 February, a day after departing from the Mariners, Ruhs signed a multi-deal contract with Western United that was set to expire in 2025.[35]

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 31 October 2019. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b Lulham, Amanda (7 October 2021). "A-League: Macarthur FC's Michael Ruhs grounded by chores for Bulls teammates". Archived from the original on 15 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Liverpool Olympic Football Club". Facebook. 6 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Michael Ruhs - Player Statistics". GameDay.
  5. ^ Close, Lisa (24 June 2022). "All Schools U16's Boys Football | Thomas Hassall Anglican College". newsletter.thac.nsw.edu.au.
  6. ^ "From the Principal | Thomas Hassall Anglican College". newsletter.thac.nsw.edu.au. 24 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b Pulczynski, Ian (14 October 2021). ""It's a privilege to represent the community I grew up in" - Michael Ruhs". Front Page Football.
  8. ^ "Michael Ruhs - NSW CIS Blues Award | Thomas Hassall Anglican College". newsletter.thac.nsw.edu.au. 24 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Sydney United 58 FC 0 Sydney FC 2". GameDay. 21 July 2019.
  10. ^ "St George FC v Sydney United 58 - Australia Cup Match Centre". Australia Cup. 31 July 2019.
  11. ^ Parkinson, Andrew (31 July 2019). "Brave St George suffer extra-time heartbreak to be eliminated from FFA Cup". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.
  12. ^ Bossi, Dominic (28 August 2019). "White-hot Wanderers put seven past a hapless Sydney United". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  13. ^ "Macarthur FC secure Ruhs and Rose from NSW NPL". Macarthur FC. KEEPUP. 26 October 2020.
  14. ^ "United 58 duo join A-League newcomers | MyFootball". MyFootball. 28 October 2020.
  15. ^ Rugari, Vince (25 October 2020). "Ring the bells: Macarthur FC take first step towards A-League debut". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ^ "Duo make A-League debut in front of home crowd". Southern Highland News. 7 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Sydney United 58 embarrassed by Lethal young Bulls". NPL NSW Men's. Football NSW. 5 April 2021.
  18. ^ "MW8 Match Report: Ruhs' first A-League goal splits points with City". Macarthur FC. KEEPUP. 24 April 2021.
  19. ^ Howcroft, Jonathan (25 April 2021). "Macarthur's 15-second blitz captures A-League's present and future". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "Elimination Final Report: Bulls down Mariners to set up Grand Final Qualifier with City". Macarthur FC. KEEPUP. 12 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Incredible A-League fairytale gets even better". Fox Sports. 12 June 2021.
  22. ^ "18-year old Michael Ruhs Extends with The Bulls". Macarthur FC. Macarthur FC Media. 13 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Fan favourite Michael Ruhs to keep running with the Bulls". South West Voice. 14 July 2021.
  24. ^ "The Bulls are back to winning ways". Macarthur FC. 20 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Michael Ruhs (Midfielder, Western United): 2021-22". Ultimate A-League.
  26. ^ "Mariners sign two talented youngsters in Aquilina & Ruhs". Central Coast Mariners. 9 June 2022.
  27. ^ "More exits and first new entries for Mariners squad". Central Coast News. 13 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Mariners Defeat Macarthur in Pre-Season Friendly". Central Coast Mariners. 24 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Mariners end pre-season on a high against Western Sydney". Central Coast Mariners. 1 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Michael Ruhs (Midfielder, Western United): 2022-23". Ultimate A-League.
  31. ^ "Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners - Australia Cup Match Centre". Australia Cup. 29 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners". KEEPUP. 5 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Mariners demolish Wanderers". Central Coast News. 7 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Michael Ruhs departs Central Coast". Central Coast Mariners. 6 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Western United adds exuberant young attacker Michael Ruhs". Western United FC. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.