Quick Facts
Biography
Oliver Benjamin Gerbig (Chinese: 周緣德; pinyin: Zhōu Yuándé; born 12 December 1998) is a Hong Kong professional footballer of partial German descent who currently plays as a centre back for Chinese Super League club Henan.
Gerbig has played for Hong Kong U-20, 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. Since 2020, he has transferred to the University of Virginia.
Amateur career
Gerbig began his academy career playing for Inter Taipei F.C. while simultaneously playing and studying at Taipei American School.
In April 2015, Gerbig began playing for Royal Blues in Taipei at the age of 16. In his debut match, 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 with a long shot. This goal contributed to Royal Blues winning the game 3–1.
In April 2018, Gerbig joined the Taipei Red Lions, but he suffered a knee injury during this time. Not only did he leave the team after only three months of playing for the Taipei Red Lions, but he also missed the 2018 Asian Games.
In July 2018, Gerbig went to the United States to study at Coastal Carolina University and represented the Coastal Carolina Men's Soccer Team in NCAA Division I Men's Soccer. 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 and qualified for the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament.
On 29 February 2020, Gerbig announced his transfer to the University of Virginia on the social media, where he would represent Virginia Cavaliers Men's Soccer. University of Virginia is a top school for the NCAA Men's Soccer Division I program in the United States. The team has qualified for the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament over 40 times and won 7 championships. It also finished as runner-up in 2019.
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.
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
- As of 6 June 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | |
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 November 2023 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran |  Iran | 0–4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 2 | 1 January 2024 | Baniyas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |  China | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 14 January 2024 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar |  United Arab Emirates | 1–3 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 4 | 19 January 2024 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | Iran | 0–1 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 5 | 23 January 2024 | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar |  Palestine | 0–3 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 6 | 21 March 2024 | Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong |  Uzbekistan | 0–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 7 | 26 March 2024 | Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 0–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 8 | 6 June 2024 | Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong | Iran | 2–4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
Personal life
Gerbig was born in Hong Kong. He attended the Discovery Bay International School, where he began playing football. He moved to Taiwan at the age of 5.
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
Club
- Kitchee
- Hong Kong Premier League: 2022–23
- Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield: 2022–23, 2023–24
- Hong Kong FA Cup: 2022–23
