Christian Burgess Explained

Christian Burgess
Fullname:Christian Albert Elliot Burgess[1]
Birth Date:1991 10, df=y
Birth Place:Barking, London, England
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Union Saint-Gilloise
Clubnumber:16
Youthclubs1:Arsenal
Youthclubs2:West Ham United
Youthclubs3:Bishop's Stortford
Years1:2013–2014
Clubs1:Middlesbrough
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Hartlepool United (loan)
Caps2:41
Goals2:0
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Peterborough United (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2014–2015
Clubs4:Peterborough United
Caps4:30
Goals4:2
Years5:2015–2020
Clubs5:Portsmouth
Caps5:179
Goals5:10
Years6:2020–
Clubs6:Union Saint-Gilloise
Caps6:126
Goals6:12
Club-Update:28 March 2024

Christian Albert Elliot Burgess (born 7 October 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Union Saint-Gilloise.

Career

Youth career

Burgess began his career at Arsenal's academy and after he was released he went on to play with the youth and reserves teams at non-League Bishop's Stortford before deciding to study history at the University of Birmingham. Whilst in his second year university, Burgess earned a trial at Middlesbrough through a coach of the university's first team.

Middlesbrough

He impressed at Boro and he signed a two-year contract in July 2012.[2] He made his professional debut on 4 May 2013 in a 2–0 defeat away at Sheffield Wednesday.[3]

Hartlepool United

He joined Hartlepool United on loan in August 2013.[4] The loan deal was extended until the end of the season in December.[5] Burgess scored his first goal in professional football in a 5–0 win for Hartlepool in a Football League Trophy game against Bradford City in September 2013.[6]

Peterborough United

On 19 August 2014, Burgess signed on a month's loan for Peterborough United.[7] He completed a single game on loan, a 2–1 home defeat by Sheffield United, before completing a permanent transfer on 21 August 2014. Burgess signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[8] [9]

Portsmouth

On 25 June 2015, Burgess signed for south coast club Portsmouth as part of the summer overhaul at the club by new manager Paul Cook.

He went on to make his debut on 11 July 2015, in a pre-season friendly against local Conference South club Havant & Waterlooville.

During the 2015–16 season, in which Portsmouth reached the play-off semi-finals, Burgess made 43 appearances in all competitions, partnered in most games by either Matthew Clarke or Adam Webster.

2016–17 season

Following a successful first campaign for Pompey, during which he established himself as the club's first-choice centre back, Burgess began the 2016–17 season as one of the team's central figures. In total, Burgess made 45 appearances and scored four goals over the course of the season, as Portsmouth won the League Two title. Burgess, along with teammate and fellow defender Enda Stevens, was named in the League Two team of the year; a reward for their part in Portsmouth's league-best defensive record.[10]

2019–20 season

Burgess was awarded the EFL League One Player of the Month award in January 2020 and won the award for Portsmouth Player of the Season in the same year.

Union SG

Burgess turned down a contract extension at Portsmouth and on 7 July 2020 joined Belgian First Division B club Union SG, signing a three-year deal with the option of an additional year.[11] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory against Club NXT. At the end of the season USG were promoted, making it the second league title victory of Burgess' career. Burgess was awarded a place in the Team of the Season at the end of the season.[12]

On 21 November 2021, Burgess scored two goals for the club in a 7–1 victory against Oostende.[13] The team finished first in the regular season of their return campaign, although they would lose out on the title during the six-game playoffs, finishing second.[14]

The following year, RUSG once again qualified for the championship playoffs, having finished level on points with Genk.[15] In a close fight for first on the final day, Burgess and Union would lose out when they conceded three late goals against Club Brugge on the final day, thus losing out to Antwerp by a point.[16] During 2023, Burgess, who had missed just three games throughout the league season, was given the nickname "Air Burgey" as a nod to his aerial prowess.[17]

Personal life

He earned a BA Hons in history part-time at Teesside University,[18] having previously studied history at University of Birmingham before his move to Middlesbrough.

Career statistics

[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough2012–13Championship10000010
2013–14Championship0000
2014–15Championship0000
Total100000!10
Hartlepool United (loan)2013–14League Two410201021461
Peterborough United2014–15League One303220010335
Portsmouth2015–16League Two372400020432
2016–17League Two444100000454
2017–18League One350101020390
2018–19League One2512011100382
2019–20League One323513050454
Total1731013151!19021012
Union SG2020–21[20] Belgian First Division B27230302
2021–22[21] Belgian Pro League3442160425
2022–23Belgian Pro League37540121536
2023–24Belgian Pro League24120101362
Total122121112226014215
Career total367222846122228145130

Honours

Portsmouth

2016–17[22]

2018–19[23]

Union SG

2023–24[24]

2020–21

Individual

2016–17 League Two[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player profile: Christian Burgess.
  2. Web site: Christian Burgess handed Middlesbrough professional deal. BBC Sport. 26 June 2013.
  3. Web site: Sheff Wed 2–0 Middlesbrough. BBC Sport. 26 June 2013.
  4. Web site: Hartlepool sign Middlesbrough's Christian Burgess on loan. BBC Sport. 3 August 2013.
  5. Web site: Cooper thrilled as Boro agree to let Dolan, Burgess extend Hartlepool loans. Sunderland Echo. 17 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140317165240/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/hartlepool/cooper-thrilled-as-boro-agree-to-let-dolan-burgess-extend-hartlepool-loans-1-6338560. 17 March 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: Five-star Pools find their scoring feet. Northern Echo. 17 March 2014.
  7. Web site: BBC Sport - Middlesbrough's Christian Burgess joins Peterborough United. BBC Sport.
  8. News: BBC Sport - Peterborough United 1-2 Sheffield United. BBC Sport.
  9. Web site: Wyke Loaned/Burgess sold.
  10. Web site: League Two (Sky Sports). SkySports. en. 2017-08-09.
  11. News: Portsmouth defender Christian Burgess' completes move to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise . Rooney . Will . The News . Portsmouth.co.uk . 7 July 2020.
  12. Web site: D1B Pro League XI van het seizoen // CENTRUMVERDEDIGER 1 // Christian Burgess (Union SG). D1B Pro League XI of the Season // CENTER DEFENDER 1 // Christian Burgess (Union SG). Dutch. 6 May 2021. 23 March 2022.
  13. Web site: Royale Union Saing-Gilloise KV Oostende – Union SG: 1–7. rusg.brussels/en. 21 November 2021. 23 March 2022. 23 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220423223331/https://rusg.brussels/en/articles-en/kv-oostende-union-sg-1-7-3. dead.
  14. Web site: Times . The Brussels . Union Saint-Gilloise finish second with a chance to play in the Champions League . 2024-02-03 . www.brusselstimes.com . en.
  15. Web site: Times . The Brussels . Union Saint-Gilloise tipped as favourites to win the league in playoffs . 2024-02-03 . www.brusselstimes.com . en.
  16. Web site: Onyeagwara . Will Jeanes and Nnamdi . Royal Antwerp win Belgian title after 94th-minute Alderweireld wonder goal . 2024-02-03 . The Athletic . en.
  17. Web site: Allen . Neil . 16 May 2023 . Air Burgey is still flying high - the ex-Portsmouth favourite now adored by a new fan base amid pursuit of glory . portsmouth.co.uk.
  18. News: Christian Burgess: The Hartlepool United defender keen to learn. BBC Sport. 17 March 2014.
  19. Web site: Christian Burgess. flashscore.com.
  20. Web site: C. Burgess: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 11 January 2021.
  21. Web site: England - C. Burgess - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. 2021-11-02. uk.soccerway.com.
  22. Book: John . Anderson . Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018 . 2017 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-3397-4 . 298–299.
  23. News: Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland . Adam . Williams . BBC Sport . 31 March 2019 . 6 May 2019.
  24. Web site: Union St Gilloise end 110 year wait for third Belgian Cup victory. One Football. 9 May 2024. 10 May 2024.
  25. News: PFA teams of the year: Chelsea and Tottenham dominate Premier League XI . BBC Sport . 20 April 2017 . 7 May 2018.
  26. https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/burgess-wins-pfa-award/ Burgess Wins PFA Award
  27. https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/burgess-named-player-of-the-season/ Burgess Named Player Of The Season