Ruel Sotiriou

Ruel Sotiriou

Personal information
Full name	Ruel Dimitrios Sotiriou [1]
Date of birth	(2000-08-24) 24 August 2000 (age 24) [1]
Place of birth	Edmonton, England
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) [1]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Bristol Rovers
Number	10
Youth career
0000–2017	Leyton Orient
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2024	Leyton Orient	153	(35)
2017–2018	→ Heybridge Swifts (loan)	3	(2)
2018	→ Leatherhead (loan)	3	(1)
2018	→ Bishop's Stortford (loan)	3	(0)
2018–2019	→ Chelmsford City (loan)	2	(0)
2019	→ Hampton & Richmond (loan)	9	(6)
2019	→ Dover Athletic (loan)	2	(2)
2024–	Bristol Rovers	4	(1)
International career‡
2019	Cyprus U19	3	(0)
2019–2021	Cyprus U21	8	(3)
2024–	Cyprus	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:52, 8 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 March 2024 (UTC)

Ruel Dimitrios Sotiriou (born 24 August 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One 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. ^[2] 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. ^[3] He then played in the 3–0 league defeat at Torquay United on 25 November. ^[4]

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. ^[5] He also scored in the 3–3 draw with Grays Athletic on 6 January 2018. ^[6]

On 29 January he made a further switch to Leatherhead on a work experience deal. ^[7] Again he scored on his debut, opening the scoring in the second minute of Leatherhead's 4–1 win at Hendon on 30 January. ^[8]

On 18 September 2018, Sotiriou went on loan to Bishop's Stortford of the Isthmian League Premier Division, making four appearances. ^{[9] [10]} At the end of October, he made a fourth loan move, this time to National League South club Chelmsford City, ^[11] where he made two appearances.

On 22 February 2019, Sotiriou went on a month's loan to Hampton & Richmond Borough, ^[12] which was later extended until the end of the season. ^[13] He scored six goals in nine appearances for Hampton, including both goals in the 2–1 win at home to Wealdstone on 13 April. ^[14]

Dover Athletic and return to Orient

On 1 November 2019, he joined National League side Dover Athletic on a month's loan. ^[15] 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. ^[16] 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'." ^[17] On 26 November, Sotiriou scored twice in the 4–3 league defeat at home to Maidenhead United. ^[18]

Returning to Orient on 28 November, ^[19] 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. ^[20]

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. ^[21] He scored in the second minute of his next match, the 1–1 draw at Newport County on 29 December. ^[22]

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. ^[23]

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

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. ^[25] 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. ^[26] On 7 September 2024, he scored a first goal for the club, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to equalise in an eventual 2–1 defeat to Barnsley. ^[27]

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. ^[28]

Sotiriou made his debut for the senior Cyprus national team on 21 March 2024 in a friendly against Latvia. ^[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 September 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leyton Orient	2017–18 [1]	National League	3	0	2	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	6	0
	2019–20 [30]	League Two	10	5	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	11	5
	2020–21 [31]		22	1	0	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	25	1
	2021–22 [32]		34	9	1	0	1	0	4 [lower-alpha 2]	2	40	11
	2022–23 [33]		42	9	1	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	45	9
	2023–24 [34]	League One	42	11	2	1	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	47	12
	Total		153	35	6	1	3	0	12	2	174	38
Heybridge Swifts (loan)	2017–18	Isthmian League North Division	3	2	0	0	—		0	0	3	2
Leatherhead (loan)	2017–18	Isthmian League Premier Division	3	1	0	0	—		0	0	3	1
Bishop's Stortford (loan)	2018–19	Isthmian League Premier Division	3	0	0	0	—		1	1	4	1
Chelmsford City (loan)	2018–19 [1]	National League South	2	0	0	0	—		0	0	2	0
Hampton & Richmond (loan)	2018–19 [1]	National League South	9	6	0	0	—		0	0	9	6
Dover Athletic (loan)	2019–20 [1]	National League	2	2	1	1	—		0	0	3	3
Bristol Rovers	2024–25 [35]	League One	4	1	0	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	6	1
Career total			179	47	7	2	3	0	14	3	203	52

1. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
2. Appearances in the Football League Trophy

Honours

Leyton Orient

• EFL League Two: 2022–23 ^[36]

Individual

• EFL League Two Player of the Month: March 2022 ^[23]

References

1. Ruel Sotiriou at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
2. "Profile at Leyton Orient F.C." Leyton Orient F.C. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
3. "Gillingham 2–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
4. "Torquay United 3–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
5. "Waltham Abbey 3–3 Heybridge Swifts". Pitchero / Waltham Abbey F.C. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
6. "Heybridge Swifts 3–3 Grays Athletic". FWP. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
7. "Leatherhead bring Sotiriou in from Orient". Nonleague Daily. 29 January 2018.
8. "Hendon 1–4 Leatherhead". FWP. 30 January 2018.
9. "Leyton Orient's Ruel Sotiriou joins Bishop's Stortford on loan". Local london. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
10. "Ruel Sotiriou: Bishop's Stortford appearances". Bishop's Stortford F.C. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
11. "Sotiriou Makes Chelmsford City Loan Move". Leyton orient F.C. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
12. "Sotiriou signs on loan from Leyton Orient". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
13. "Orient pair with Hampton & Richmond for rest of season". Non League Daily. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
14. "Hampton & Richmond 2–1 Wealdstone". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
15. "O's striker Sotiriou joins Dover Athletic on loan". Hackney Gazette. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
16. "Ruel Sotiriou scores on debut as Dover Athletic knock Southend United out of the FA Cup". Kent Live. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
17. "Leyton Orient striker Ruel Sotiriou 'buzzing' after scoring FA Cup winner for Dover Athletic against Southend". Kent Online. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
18. "Dover Athletic 3–4 Maidenhead United". BBC Sport. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
19. "Ruel Sotiriou returns to E10". Leyton Orient F.C. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
20. "Report: Bristol Rovers 1–1 Leyton Orient (4–2 on Pens)". Leyton Orient. 4 December 2019.
21. "Leyton Orient 1–3 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
22. "Newport County 1–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
23. "Ruel Sotiriou wins SkyBet League Two Player of the Month". www.leytonorient.com. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
24. "Leyton Orient confirm summer 2024 retained list". www.leytonorient.com. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
25. "Bristol Rovers sign striker Ruel Sotiriou". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
26. "Ruel Sotiriou to leave Leyton Orient". www.leytonorient.com. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
27. "Barnsley 2–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
28. "Ruel Sotiriou called up to Cyprus under-21 squad days after FA Cup heroics for Dover Athletic". guardian-series.co.uk. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
29. "Cyprus v Latvia game report". Soccerway. 21 March 2024.
30. "Games played by Ruel Sotiriou in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
31. "Games played by Ruel Sotiriou in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
32. "Games played by Ruel Sotiriou in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
33. "Games played by Ruel Sotiriou in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
34. "Games played by Ruel Sotiriou in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
35. "Games played by Ruel Sotiriou in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
36. "Leyton Orient 2-0 Crewe: Richie Wellens' side seal League Two title". Sky Sports. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.

External links

• Ruel Sotiriou at Soccerway