Ruel Sotiriou Explained

Ruel Sotiriou
Full Name:Ruel Dimitrios Sotiriou
Birth Date:24 August 2000
Birth Place:Edmonton, England
Height:1.80 m
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Bristol Rovers
Clubnumber:10
Youthyears1:–2017
Youthclubs1:Leyton Orient
Years1:2017–2024
Clubs1:Leyton Orient
Caps1:153
Goals1:35
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Heybridge Swifts (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:2
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Leatherhead (loan)
Caps3:3
Goals3:1
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Bishop's Stortford (loan)
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Chelmsford City (loan)
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:2019
Clubs6:→ Hampton & Richmond (loan)
Caps6:9
Goals6:6
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Dover Athletic (loan)
Caps7:2
Goals7:2
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Bristol Rovers
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Cyprus U19
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019–2021
Nationalteam2:Cyprus U21
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:Cyprus
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:26 June 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22 March 2024 (UTC)

Ruel Dimitrios Sotiriou (born 24 August 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Bristol Rovers. Born in England, he has represented Cyprus at under-19, under-21 and full international levels.

Club career

Leyton Orient

Debut and early loans

Sotiriou made his first team debut for Orient as a substitute in the goalless draw with Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup Fourth qualifying round on 14 October 2017.[1] He then made further substitute appearances in two home league defeats against Macclesfield Town and Gateshead in late October. On 4 November, he appeared as a late substitute for Zain Westbrooke in the 2–1 defeat at Gillingham in the FA Cup first round.[2] He then played in the 3–0 league defeat at Torquay United on 25 November.[3]

He joined Heybridge Swifts on a month's loan in December 2017, scoring on his debut in the 3–3 draw at Waltham Abbey on 30 December.[4] He also scored in the 3–3 draw with Grays Athletic on 6 January 2018.[5]

On 29 January he made a further switch to Leatherhead on a work experience deal.[6] Again he scored on his debut, opening the scoring in the second minute of Leatherhead's 4–1 win at Hendon on 30 January.[7]

On 18 September 2018, Sotiriou went on loan to Bishop's Stortford of the Isthmian League Premier Division, making four appearances.[8] [9] At the end of October, he made a fourth loan move, this time to National League South club Chelmsford City,[10] where he made two appearances.

On 22 February 2019, Sotiriou went on a month's loan to Hampton & Richmond Borough,[11] which was later extended until the end of the season.[12] He scored six goals in nine appearances for Hampton, including both goals in the 2–1 win at home to Wealdstone on 13 April.[13]

Dover Athletic and return to Orient

On 1 November 2019, he joined National League side Dover Athletic on a month's loan.[14] His debut came in the FA Cup First Round tie at home to EFL League One side Southend United on 10 November. Coming on as an 81st minute substitute for Steven Rigg, Sotiriou scored the only goal of the game three minutes later.[15] He later said, "For the goal I literally took a touch out of my feet, I was going to square it to Inih but I thought 'No I'm going to take a shot'."[16] On 26 November, Sotiriou scored twice in the 4–3 league defeat at home to Maidenhead United.[17]

Returning to Orient on 28 November,[18] Sotiriou came on as a second-half substitute for Conor Wilkinson in the EFL Trophy Second Round match at Bristol Rovers on 4 December. The tie ended 1–1, and Sotiriou missed the last penalty as Orient lost 4–2 in the shoot-out.[19]

Sotiriou made his Football League debut on 26 December 2019, coming on as a second-half substitute for Dan Happe, and scoring in the 3–1 home defeat to Colchester United.[20] He scored in the second minute of his next match, the 1–1 draw at Newport County on 29 December.[21]

After scoring six goals in eight matches, Sotiriou was awarded the EFL League Two Player of the Month award for March 2022, his goals helping steer Orient away from the relegation zone.[22]

Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Sotiriou was offered a new contract.[23]

Bristol Rovers

On 26 June 2024, Sotiriou agreed to join fellow League One side Bristol Rovers on a three-year deal with the option for a further season.[24] Although the striker was due to be out of contract, an undisclosed fee was agreed in order to avoid the need for a compensation committee hearing.[25]

International career

Sotiriou made his debut for Cyprus internationally in March 2019 when he appeared in the 2020 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification for Cyprus, but these were cancelled during the qualification due to Covid-19. He first appeared with the Cyprus U21 team in their attempt to qualify for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the autumn of 2019.[26]

Sotiriou made his debut for the senior Cyprus national team on 21 March 2024 in a friendly against Latvia.[27]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leyton Orient2017–18National League3020001060
2019–20League Two105000010115
2020–21221001020251
2021–223491010424011
2022–23429100020459
2023–24League One42112110204712
Total15335613012217438
Heybridge Swifts (loan)2017–18Isthmian League North Division32000032
Leatherhead (loan)2017–18Isthmian League Premier Division31000031
Bishop's Stortford (loan)2018–19Isthmian League Premier Division30001141
Chelmsford City (loan)2018–19National League South20000020
Hampton & Richmond (loan)2018–19National League South96000096
Dover Athletic (loan)2019–20National League22110033
Career total17546722013319751

Honours

Leyton Orient

2022–23[28]

Individual

March 2022[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Profile at Leyton Orient F.C.. 16 December 2017 . Leyton Orient F.C..
  2. Web site: Gillingham 2–1 Leyton Orient . 4 November 2017 . 16 December 2017 . BBC Sport.
  3. Web site: Torquay United 3–0 Leyton Orient . 25 November 2017 . 16 December 2017 . BBC Sport.
  4. Web site: Waltham Abbey 3–3 Heybridge Swifts . 30 December 2017 . 29 January 2018 . Pitchero / Waltham Abbey F.C..
  5. Web site: Heybridge Swifts 3–3 Grays Athletic . 6 January 2018 . 29 January 2018 . FWP.
  6. Web site: Leatherhead bring Sotiriou in from Orient . 29 January 2018 . Nonleague Daily.
  7. Web site: Hendon 1–4 Leatherhead . 30 January 2018 . FWP.
  8. Web site: Leyton Orient's Ruel Sotiriou joins Bishop's Stortford on loan . 18 September 2018 . 4 December 2019 . Local london.
  9. Web site: Ruel Sotiriou: Bishop's Stortford appearances . 12 December 2019 . Bishop's Stortford F.C..
  10. Web site: Sotiriou Makes Chelmsford City Loan Move . 30 October 2018 . 4 December 2019 . Leyton orient F.C..
  11. Web site: Sotiriou signs on loan from Leyton Orient . 22 February 2019 . 10 December 2019 . Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C..
  12. Web site: Orient pair with Hampton & Richmond for rest of season . 31 March 2019 . 10 December 2019 . Non League Daily.
  13. Web site: Hampton & Richmond 2–1 Wealdstone . 13 April 2019 . 10 December 2019 . Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C..
  14. Web site: O's striker Sotiriou joins Dover Athletic on loan . 1 November 2019 . 11 December 2019 . Hackney Gazette.
  15. Web site: Ruel Sotiriou scores on debut as Dover Athletic knock Southend United out of the FA Cup . 10 November 2019 . 11 December 2019 . Kent Live.
  16. Web site: Leyton Orient striker Ruel Sotiriou 'buzzing' after scoring FA Cup winner for Dover Athletic against Southend . 11 November 2019 . 11 December 2019 . Kent Online.
  17. Web site: Dover Athletic 3–4 Maidenhead United . 26 November 2019 . 11 December 2019 . BBC Sport.
  18. Web site: Ruel Sotiriou returns to E10 . 28 November 2019 . 11 December 2019 . Leyton Orient F.C..
  19. Web site: Report: Bristol Rovers 1–1 Leyton Orient (4–2 on Pens) . 4 December 2019 . Leyton Orient.
  20. Web site: Leyton Orient 1–3 Colchester United . 26 December 2019 . 8 January 2020 . BBC Sport.
  21. Web site: Newport County 1–1 Leyton Orient . 29 December 2019 . 8 January 2020 . BBC Sport.
  22. Web site: Ruel Sotiriou wins SkyBet League Two Player of the Month. www.leytonorient.com. 8 April 2022. 8 April 2022.
  23. Web site: Leyton Orient confirm summer 2024 retained list. www.leytonorient.com. 30 April 2024. 26 June 2024.
  24. Web site: Bristol Rovers sign striker Ruel Sotiriou. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 June 2024. 26 June 2024.
  25. Web site: Ruel Sotiriou to leave Leyton Orient. www.leytonorient.com. 26 June 2024. 26 June 2024.
  26. Web site: Ruel Sotiriou called up to Cyprus under-21 squad days after FA Cup heroics for Dover Athletic . guardian-series.co.uk . 12 November 2019. 7 August 2021 .
  27. Web site: Soccerway. Cyprus v Latvia game report. 21 March 2024.
  28. Web site: 22 April 2023 . Leyton Orient 2-0 Crewe: Richie Wellens' side seal League Two title . 23 April 2023 . Sky Sports.