Renny Smith

Renny Smith
Personal information
Full name Renny Piers Smith[1]
Date of birth (1996-10-03) 3 October 1996 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth Epsom, England
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Oxford City
Number 15
Youth career
–2013 Chelsea
2013–2015 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Burnley 0 (0)
2016 → GAIS (loan) 10 (0)
2016–2017 Vicenza 2 (0)
2017 → Mantova (loan) 13 (1)
2017–2018 Südtirol 26 (0)
2018–2020 FC Dordrecht 62 (8)
2020–2022 WSG Tirol 37 (3)
2023– Oxford City 25 (1)
International career
2014 Austria U18 2 (0)
2014 Austria U19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:54, 9 March 2024 (UTC)

Renny Piers Smith (born 3 October 1996) is an English-born Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Oxford City.[4] He has also represented Austria internationally at under-18 and under-19 level.[3]

Career

Smith was born in Epsom, Surrey, and attended the Whitgift School in South Croydon.[5] He started his career in the youth team at Chelsea where he stayed until early 2013, before he made the decision to leave following a difference in opinion over his playing position.[5] He subsequently joined London rivals Arsenal on a two-year scholarship, a move which followed him being on trial at clubs Liverpool and Manchester City.[6] He featured regularly for Arsenal's youth team over various competitions including the UEFA Youth League, but he failed to make the breakthrough to the first team. He failed to earn a professional deal and was released in the summer of 2015 following the end of his scholarship.[7]

In August 2015, he signed for Championship side Burnley on a three-year contract, following a successful trial against Sheffield.[7] He was placed immediately into the Development Squad. In February 2016 he joined Swedish Superettan side GAIS on a season-long loan, following a successful two-week trial.[8] During his time with the club he made ten league appearances, however, he was predominantly used as a substitute or remained on the bench.[9]

In August 2016, he was recalled early from his loan with GAIS and was sold to Italian Serie B side Vicenza for a nominal fee.[10] He made his professional debut for the side in November 2016, replacing Francesco Signori as a substitute in the 1–0 league win over Trapani Calcio.[9] On 31 January 2017, Smith joined Lega Pro side Mantova on loan.[11][12]

On 5 July 2018, Smith joined Dutch side Dordrecht on a three-year deal.[13]

On 15 September 2020, Smith joined Austrian Bundesliga side WSG Tirol on a free transfer.[14] He left the club at the end of the 2021-22 season.

On 26 September 2023, Smith signed for Oxford City.[15]

International career

Despite being born in England, Smith qualifies to represent Austria through his maternal grandfather.[5] His father, Renny Sr., alerted the Austrian Football Association of his eligibility, and in April 2014 he received his first call-up to the under-18 side for a friendly against Denmark, after the Association had scouted him in Arsenal youth team fixtures.[16] He made his debut in the 2–1 win.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 December 2016.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burnley 2015–16[9] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
GAIS (loan) 2016[9] Superettan 10 0 0 0 — — 10 0
Vicenza 2016–17[9] Serie B 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Mantova (loan) 2016–17[9] Lega Pro 13 1 0 0 — — 13 1
Career total 25 1 0 0 0 0 — 25 1

References

  1. ^ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Renny Smith". 11v11. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b Renny Smith at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ Renny Smith: To play for Austria would be my dream englishplayersabroad.com
  5. ^ a b c "RENNY SMITH MAKES AUSTRIA DEBUT". Das Wunderkid. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  6. ^ "ARSENAL SIGN DEFENDER RENNY SMITH FROM CHELSEA". Das Wunderkid. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Renny Settles In". Burnley FC. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Clarets youngster joins Swedish side GAIS". Burnley FC. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Renny Smith - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Renny Smith leaves for Italy". Up The Clarets. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Renny Piers Smith è biancorosso". Vicenza Calcio. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  12. ^ "31/01/2017 Ultimi colpi in chiusura di calciomercato". Mantova F.C. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Renny Smith versterkt FC Dordrecht" (in Dutch). FC Dordrecht. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  14. ^ "WSG schlägt neuerlich am Transfermarkt zu" (in German). WSG Swarovski Tirol. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  15. ^ https://twitter.com/OxCityFC/status/1706734612062650672
  16. ^ a b "RENNY SMITH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW- ON ARSENAL, AUSTRIA AND HIS AIMS FOR NEXT SEASON". Das Wunderkid. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2016.