{{Short description|Australian business executive, former soccer player (born 1987)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2012}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Bruce Djite | image = BruceDjite.JPG | upright = 1.1 | caption = Djite with Australia | fullname = Bruce José Djité | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|3|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Arlington County, Virginia, United States | height = 1.83 m<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruce Djite|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/bruce-djite/17498/|work=Soccerway|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bruce Djite|url=http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/player/bruce-djite/1bnu8swe7i5mi1p4grz9lmvmlc|website=Adelaide United FC|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125172117/http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/player/bruce-djite/1bnu8swe7i5mi1p4grz9lmvmlc|archive-date=25 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | position = Forward | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2003–2004 | youthclubs1 = Northern Spirit | youthyears2 = 2005 | youthclubs2 = NSWIS | youthyears3 = 2006 | youthclubs3 = AIS | youthyears4 = 2004–2006 | youthclubs4 = Marconi Stallions | years1 = 2006–2008 |clubs1 = Adelaide United |caps1 = 20 |goals1 = 6 | years2 = 2008–2010 |clubs2 = Gençlerbirliği |caps2 = 33 |goals2 = 6 | years3 = 2010 |clubs3 = → Diyarbakırspor (loan) |caps3 = 9 |goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2010–2011 |clubs4 = Gold Coast United |caps4 = 23 |goals4 = 10 | years5 = 2011–2016 |clubs5 = Adelaide United |caps5 = 113 |goals5 = 29 | years6 = 2011 |clubs6 = → Jiangsu Sainty (loan) |caps6 = 13 |goals6 = 4 | years7 = 2016–2017 |clubs7 = Suwon FC |caps7 = 39 |goals7 = 11 | years8 = 2018 |clubs8 = PSM Makassar |caps8 = 9 |goals8 = 0 | totalcaps = 259 | totalgoals = 66 | nationalyears1 = 2006 |nationalteam1 = Australia U-20 |nationalcaps1 = 13 |nationalgoals1 = 5 | nationalyears2 = 2007–2008 |nationalteam2 = Australia U-23 |nationalcaps2 = 13 |nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2008–2015 |nationalteam3 = Australia |nationalcaps3 = 9 |nationalgoals3 = 0 | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Association football}} {{medal|Team|Adelaide United}} {{medal|RU|AFC Champions League|2008}} }}
'''Bruce José Djité''' (French pronunciation: {{IPAc-en|'|dʒ|ɪ|'|t|eɪ}} {{respell|JI|tay}}; born 25 March 1987) is an Australian executive and former association football (soccer) player. {{as of |April 2024}} he is South Australian executive director of the Property Council of Australia.
Djite made a name for himself playing in the AFC Champions League, reaching the 2008 AFC Champions League final, and was named Australia League Young Footballer of the Year for 2008. He was the Gold Coast United all-time second highest goal scorer and Adelaide United all-time highest goal-scorer.<!---presumably at the time - need to ascertain if the record still holds, and add an {{as of}} date---> He played internationally for the Australia national team, debuting in 2008 and earning nine international caps, and has also played for clubs in Turkey, China, Korea, and Indonesia. In 2019 he returned to Adelaide United to become director of football for two years, and since then has occupied other executive positions in the business world. {{toc limit|3}}
==Early life and education== Bruce José Djité was born on 25 March 1987<ref name="Djite, Bruce">{{NFT player|id=26211|name=Djite, Bruce|access-date=27 January 2013}}, {{cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en-my/people/australia/23702/bruce-jose-djite |title=Bruce José Djite |work=Goal.com |access-date=27 January 2013 |archive-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202115506/https://www.goal.com/en-my/people/australia/23702/bruce-jose-djite |url-status=dead }}</ref> in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. He moved to Sydney, Australia, with his parents when he was three years old, when his Ivorian-born father,<ref name=indo/> Paulin,<ref name="djite strikes">[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/djite-strikes-out-on-his-own-and-kicks-career-goal/story-e6frg7s6-1111112430089 Djite strikes out on his own and kicks career goal – Bruce Djite is a Young Socceroo with a difference, as Ray Gatt explain]. ''The Australian''</ref> was appointed professor at the University of Western Sydney.<ref name=files2017>{{cite web | last=Files | first=Jim | title=Djite: 'Football Brings People Together' | website=The PFA | date=3 March 2017 | url=https://pfa.net.au/1v1/djite-football-brings-people-together/ | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> His mother, Lyn, was born in Togo.<ref>{{cite web | last=Migliaccio | first=Val | title=Djite ushers in new look | website=Fox Sports | date=3 June 2008 | url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/djite-ushers-in-new-look/news-story/f67acac8d1298c9271c34fae689afe04?sv=ca474b0f6600baeee6842259e2ac686c | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> He has two brothers.<ref name="djite strikes"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/bruce-djite-seeks-redemption-nine-years-after-grand-final-flogging/news-story/32dc66f75f0aa0466cd1dc1b2395fe8e | title=Djite was meant for football | date=29 April 2016 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=indo/>
Djite first played soccer during a four-month stay with his family in Ivory Coast<ref name=files2017/> in 1993, and loved it, so registered with his local amateur club. He later said "By the time I was 8 I knew soccer was all I wanted to do".<ref name=indo/> He joined the Marconi Stallions in 2004 at the age of 16, after the demise of Northern Spirit FC, whom Djite signed for in 2002–03 National Soccer League season. He continued to play with Marconi Stallions until the end of the 2005–06 season (August 2006). He trained at the NSW Institute of Sport in Sydney.<ref name="djite strikes"/>
Djite completed all of his schooling in Sydney, and then attended Macquarie University for six months, before being offered an Australian Institute of Sport football scholarship, which took him to Canberra for nine months.<ref name=indo>{{cite interview | title=Q&A with Soccer star Bruce Djite! |first=Bruce| last=Djite | website=Australia-Indonesia Youth Association | date=5 October 2018 | url=https://aiya.org.au/2018/10/05/qa-with-soccer-star-bruce-djite/ | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> There, in 2006, he attended the FFA Centre of Excellence on a football scholarship with Nikita Rukavytsya.<ref name="djite strikes"/>
He undertook a Bachelor of Business degree as an external student<ref>{{cite web | title=Adelaide United star strikes a balance | website=Griffith News |publisher= Griffith University | date=28 June 2016 | url=https://news.griffith.edu.au/2016/06/28/adelaide-united-star-strikes-a-balance/ | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> through Open Universities Australia,<ref name=ou2018>{{cite web | title=Building strength beyond the soccer field through online study | website=Open Universities Australia | date=20 June 2018 | url=https://www.open.edu.au/advice/insights/building-strength-beyond-the-field | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> at the Griffith Business School at Griffith University<ref name=au2019>{{cite web | title=What you may not know about Bruce Djite | website=Adelaide United | date=3 June 2019 | url=https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/what-you-may-not-know-about-bruce-djite/ | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> over eight years,<ref name=howcroft2019/> starting in 2011. He won Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, for maintaining a GPA of above 6.0.<ref name=uniaward>{{cite web | title=Bruce Djite scores Griffith University academic excellence award | website=Griffith News |publisher= Griffith University | date=5 April 2019 | url=https://news.griffith.edu.au/2019/04/05/bruce-djite-scores-griffith-university-academic-excellence-award/ | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Adelaide United=== ====2006–07 season==== In November 2006 at age 19 years old, Djite unsuccessfully trialled for two weeks at SV Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga in Germany. Upon his return to Australia, Djite signed for Adelaide United for the remainder of the 2006–07 A-League season, scoring three goals with an assist in thirteen matches.<ref name="djite strikes"/>
====2007–08 season==== Djite signed a three-year contract with Adelaide United in March 2007 and Djite scored his first goal for Adelaide United in a competitive fixture on 11 April 2007 in AFC Champions League against South Korea K-League champions Seongnam Ilhwa, deftly controlling the ball in the penalty box to volley it into the back of the goal net.<ref name="djite strikes"/> Djite scored his first goal in the A-League for Adelaide United against Brisbane Roar in a 2–2 draw on 25 August 2007 at Suncorp Stadium in 2007–2008 A-League followed by Adelaide United reaching 2008 AFC Champions League final and Djite scoring an increased strike ratio of 10 goals in 22 matches.<ref name="djite strikes"/>
===Gençlerbirliği=== Djite was bought by business magnate and Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer from Turkish Süper Lig club Gençlerbirliği to re-play in the A-League in 2010–11 season, Djite had scored 10 goals and registered three assists in 23 matches for Clive Palmer's Gold Coast United.<ref name="Djite brought in to replace Smeltz"/>
====2008–09 season==== On 15 May 2008, it was reported that Djite had been released from his contract with Adelaide United to sign for an unnamed European club. On 21 May 2008, Djite agreed to a three-year contract with Süper Lig club Gençlerbirliği in Turkey for the 2008–09 season.<ref name="Djite'den 3 yıllık imza">{{cite news |url=http://www.genclerbirligi.org.tr/haber_detay.asp?HID=475 |title=Djite'den 3 yıllık imza |language=tr |publisher=Gençlerbirliği |access-date=24 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228144534/http://www.genclerbirligi.org.tr/haber_detay.asp?HID=475 |archive-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Djite made his debut in the Süper Lig on 24 August 2008 in a 1–1 draw with Kocaelispor. Djite scored his first league goal for Gençlerbirliği in the 45th minute against Denizlispor on 25 October 2008. Fellow Australian James Troisi also got off the mark in a game which ended in a 2–2 draw. Djite consistently displayed his lethal acceleration, footspeed and strength in the penalty area and finished 2008–2009 Süper Lig season with 6 goals and two assists in twenty-eight matches played.<ref name="FourFourTwo, Djite"/><ref name="Djite'den 3 yıllık imza"/>
====2009–10 season==== In the 2009–10 Süper Lig off-season, Djite revealed in an interview with FourFourTwo reporter Ben Somerford, the club Hajduk Split in Croatia were interested in his services but he rejected the move.<ref name="FourFourTwo, Djite">{{cite web | url = http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/107432,djite-im-not-splitting.aspx | title = Djite: I'm Not Splitting | work = FourFourTwo | date = 10 July 2009 | access-date = 1 December 2013 | archive-date = 3 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000540/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/107432,djite-im-not-splitting.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref> Djite appeared on nine occasions on loan to Turkish club Diyarbakırspor and on five occasions for Gençlerbirliği with an assist in 2009–10 Süper Lig.<ref name="FourFourTwo, Djite"/>
===Gold Coast United=== ====2010–11 season==== On 28 August 2010, it was announced by billionaire tycoon Clive Palmer that Djite would return home to Australia to play in the 2010–2011 A-League with Gold Coast United for 3 years, replacing New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz who had joined Gençlerbirliği.<ref name="Djite brought in to replace Smeltz">{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1020231/Djite-brought-in-to-replace-Smeltz|title=Djite brought in to replace Smeltz|date=28 August 2010|publisher=SBS The World Game|access-date=28 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830190709/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1020231/Djite-brought-in-to-replace-Smeltz|archive-date=30 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Djite was given the squad number 11 and Djite would unanimously be key to the success of Gold Coast United's attack utilizing his lightning footspeed, physical strength and aerial ability in the last third of the football pitch to score 10 goals and 3 assists in 23 matches including a fine hat-trick in the 37th, 80th and 87th minutes of Gold Coast's 5–1 win and 24th match of the 2010–2011 season at Skilled Park Stadium in Gold Coast against Newcastle Jets on 22 January 2011.<ref name="Jets crash to Djite hat-trick">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-01-22/jets-crash-to-djite-hat-trick/1914854 |title=Jets crash to Djite hat-trick |date=22 January 2011|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=23 January 2011}}</ref>
===Adelaide United return=== ====2011–12 season==== On 23 March 2011, it was announced that Djite had signed a two-year contract until April 2013 for two seasons, the 2011–12 and the 2012–13 seasons with the club that gave him his first A-League contract, Adelaide United.<ref name="Djite returns to Reds">[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/prodigal-son-djite-returns-to-reds/story-e6frecj3-1226026610901 Prodigal son Djite returns to Reds]. ''The Advertiser''</ref>
Djite was given the squad number 11 and scored his first goal for Adelaide United in the 2011–12 A-League on 19 November 2011 by showing his exceptional footspeed and physical strength in the penalty area before sharply shooting past the goalkeeper Tony Warner and into the back of the goal net in the 44th minute of the 1–1 match draw against Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium in New Zealand.<ref name="Match Report: Adelaide United 1–1 Wellington Phoenix">{{cite web|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/matchcentre-lineup-report/2118/report/full|title=Match Report: Adelaide United 1–1 Wellington Phoenix|date=19 November 2011|publisher=Football Federation Australia|work=Football Australia|access-date=20 November 2011|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203081422/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/matchcentre-lineup-report/2118/report/full|url-status=dead}}</ref> Djite's five goals and two assists in twenty-four matches helped Adelaide United in qualifying for the 2012 AFC Champions League with the fifth and final goal being on 12 February 2012 at Skilled Park Stadium in the 42nd minute of Adelaide United's 20th 2011–12 season match and 2–1 win over Gold Coast United.<ref name="Gold Coast United 1 Adelaide United 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/from-silver-spoon-to-likely-wooden-spoon-for-gold-coast-20120212-1szrx.html |title=From silver spoon to likely wooden spoon for Gold Coast – Gold Coast United 1 Adelaide United 2 |date=12 February 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>
====Loan to Jiangsu Sainty==== In March 2011, due to the long 2011–2012 A-League off season, Adelaide United agreed for Djite to be loaned to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Sainty.<ref name="China's Reds Star Surprise">{{cite web |url= http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/199624,chinas-reds-star-surprise.aspx |title= China's Reds Star Surprise |publisher= au.fourfourtwo.com |access-date= 27 February 2013 |archive-date= 3 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002716/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/199624,chinas-reds-star-surprise.aspx |url-status= dead }}</ref>
Djite was given squad number 19 and debuted for Jiangsu Sainty in the 2011–2012 Chinese Super League season on 3 April 2011 in the match against Beijing Guoan. Djite scored his first goal in the 18th minute of the match, an equaliser for Jiangsu Sainty in a 1–1 draw against Henan Jianye on 30 April 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/04/30/china-pr/csl/jiangsu-shuntian/henan-jianye/1097677/|title=CSL Match Report: Jiangsu Sainty 1 – 1 Henan Jianye |date=30 April 2011|work= Soccerway |access-date=30 April 2011}}</ref> followed by the winning goal in the 55th minute of the match in a 1–0 win against Chengdu Blades on 18 June 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/06/18/china-pr/csl/jiangsu-shuntian/chengdu-blades/1097726/|title=CSL Match Report: Jiangsu Sainty 1 – 0 Chengdu Blades |date=18 June 2011|work=Soccerway |access-date=18 June 2011}}</ref> Djite scored 4 goals with an assist in 13 Chinese Super League matches, helping Jiangsu Sainty to 4th place in the league. He scored the fourth goal for Jiangsu Sainty in a 4–0 win against Dalian Shide on 2 July 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/208202,aussies-abroad-weekend-wrap.aspx|title=Aussies Abroad Weekend Wrap|author=Ben Somerford|date=2 July 2011|work=FourFourTwo|access-date=3 July 2011|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000935/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/208202,aussies-abroad-weekend-wrap.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Jiangsu Sainty 4 – 0 Dalian Shide">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/07/02/china-pr/csl/jiangsu-shuntian/dalian-shide/1097750/|title=CSL Match Report: Jiangsu Sainty 4 – 0 Dalian Shide|date=2 July 2011|work=Soccerway |access-date=2 July 2011}}</ref> and played his 14th and last Chinese Super League match in a 1–0 win against Shanghai Shenxin on 6 July 2011.<ref name="China's Reds Star Surprise"/><ref name="Jiangsu Sainty 1 – 0 Shanghai Shenxin">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/07/06/china-pr/csl/nanchang-bayi/jiangsu-shuntian/1097753/|title=CSL Match Report: Jiangsu Sainty 1 – 0 Shanghai Shenxin|date=6 July 2011|work= Soccerway |access-date=6 July 2011}}</ref>
====2012–13 season==== Djite scored a header in the 90th minute and the 1–0 match winner in the 2012 AFC Champions League for Adelaide United against South Korea K-League club Pohang Steelers, heading the ball past goalkeeper Shin Hwa-Yong,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/bruce-djite-strikes-late-to-grab-acl-win-for-adelaide-against-pohang-steelers/story-fn63e0vj-1226332120392| title = Bruce Djite strikes late to grab ACL win for Adelaide |work=The Australian | date = 18 April 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428121900/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/djite-strikes-out-on-his-own-and-kicks-career-goal/story-e6frg7s6-1111112430089| archive-date=28 April 2014|url-access=subscription}}<!---archived link doesn't seem to work properly---></ref> The goal helped Adelaide United to top of 2012 AFC Champions League Group E on 4 April 2012 and into the 2012 AFC Champions League Round of 16, where Djite led the Adelaide United attack to defeat J.League club Nagoya Grampus 1–0 on 29 May 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/kosmina-rides-luck-as-adelaide-squeezes-into-acl-quarter-finals/story-fn63e0vj-1226373080924|title=Kosmina rides luck as Adelaide squeezes into ACL quarter-finals|date=29 May 2012|work=The Australian |access-date=30 May 2012}}</ref> and into 2012 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals on 3 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-04/bunyodkor-ousts-adelaide-in-extra-time-thriller/4294576|title=Bunyodkor ousts Adelaide in extra-time thriller|date=3 October 2012|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=4 October 2012}}</ref>
On 1 December 2012, Djite scored for Adelaide United to lead 1–0 against reigning A-League champions Central Coast Mariners in the 17th minute shot from {{cvt |51.5 |m}} past the goalkeeper Justin Pasfield and into the left-hand corner of the net at Central Coast Stadium.<ref name="Adelaide United vs. Central Coast Mariners">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/12/01/australia/a-league/central-coast-mariners-fc/adelaide-united/1296803/|title=Match Report: Adelaide United – Central Coast Mariners|date=1 December 2012|work=Soccerway|access-date=2 December 2012}}, {{cite web|url=http://footballaustralia.com.au/matchcentre-lineup-report/2651/report|title=Match Summary: Adelaide United – Central Coast Mariners|date=1 December 2012|publisher=Football Federation Australia|access-date=2 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203081310/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/matchcentre-lineup-report/2651/report|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 3 February 2013, Djite once again scored for Adelaide United against Western Sydney Wanderers on 61 minutes by dribbling past three Wanderers defenders and then taking a left-footed shot from {{cvt|60.2|m}} past goalkeeper Ante Čović and into the right-hand corner of the net.<ref name="Adelaide United vs. Western Sydney Wanderers">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/02/03/australia/a-league/adelaide-united/west-sydney-fc/1296856/|title=Match Report: Adelaide United – Western Sydney Wanderers|date=3 February 2013|work=Soccerway|access-date=4 February 2013}}, {{cite web|url=http://footballaustralia.com.au/matchcentre-lineup-report/2707/report/full|title=Match Summary: Adelaide United – Western Sydney Wanderers|date=3 February 2013|publisher=Football Federation Australia|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203081307/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/matchcentre-lineup-report/2707/report/full|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He finished two years and two seasons playing in Australia for Adelaide United in 2012–13 season with two goals and two assists in 17 2012–13 A-League appearances, and played 10 times, scoring once with two assists in the 2012 AFC Champions League.<ref name="Australia – B. Djite">{{cite web |url= https://int.soccerway.com/players/bruce-djite/17498/ | title= Australia – B. Djite |work=Soccerway|access-date=29 December 2012}}</ref>
===Suwon FC=== On 26 July 2016, after showing good form in Adelaide United's championship-winning season, Djite signed with Korean club Suwon FC, joining countryman Adrian Leijer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/07/26/djites-korea-move-league-confirmed|title=Djite's Korea move from A-League confirmed|publisher=SBS|work=The World Game|date=26 July 2016}}</ref>
===PSM Makassar=== In mid-2018, Djite moved to Indonesia, aged 31,<ref name=ou2018/> and played for PSM Makassar.<ref name=indo/>
==International career== [[File:Bruce-José-Djite.jpg|thumb|right|205px|Bruce Djite playing for the Australia national football team.]] Djite is an American Australian and chose to play for Australia, although he would also have been eligible for the Ivory Coast national football team, United States national football team and Togo national football team.<ref name="djite strikes"/>
===Australia U20 national team=== Djite was a star striker for the Young Socceroos during their 2006 tournament in South America scoring five goals in thirteen caps and was also chosen in the Australia Under-20 squad to compete at the 2006 AFC Youth Championships, in India.<ref name="Arnie: Burns, Djite 'Too Young">[http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/79745,arnie-burns-djite-too-young.aspx Arnie: Burns, Djite 'Too Young'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080818032913/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/79745,arnie-burns-djite-too-young.aspx |date=18 August 2008 }}. au.fourfourtwo.com.</ref>
===Australia Olympic team=== Djite was the key striker and a mainstay in the Australia Olympic football team qualification matches for the 2008 Olympics and helped the Australia Olympic football team, the Olyroos squad, to qualify for the Beijing Olympics contributing thirteen caps and scoring two goals.<ref name="Djite sacrifices the good life to thrive in Turkey"/>
===Australia national team=== Three days before his 21st birthday, on 22 March 2008, Djite received his first international cap for the Australia national team, the Socceroos, against Singapore,<ref name="Australia and Singapore">{{cite news|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/03/23/australia-and-singapore-draw-0-0/|title=Australia and Singapore draw 0–0|author=Adrian Warren|work=theroar.com.au|date=22 March 2008|access-date=23 March 2008}}</ref> courtesy of national coach Pim Verbeek, as the replacement for, and heir apparent to Mark Viduka for the Australia national football team.<ref name="Djite sacrifices the good life to thrive in Turkey">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/djite-sacrifices-the-good-life-to-thrive-in-turkey/2008/12/13/1228585177630.html|title=Djite sacrifices the good life to thrive in Turkey|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Djite was substituted on at half-time and his best chance to score a goal for Australia came when he rounded the Singapore goalkeeper but his shot in the penalty area was blocked by Lionel Lewis, the ball going out for a corner kick.<ref name="Australia and Singapore"/>
Djite's first cap for Australia in a competitive match was when he came on as a substitute for Harry Kewell in Australia's 2010 World Cup Qualifier against Iraq on 1 June 2008.<ref name="Australia vs Iraq">{{cite news|url=http://theaustralian.com.au/news/australia-v-iraq-as-it-happened/story-e6frg6n6-1111116504777|title=Australia v Iraq as it happened|author=Anthony Raineri|work=The Australian|date=1 June 2008|access-date=22 June 2008}}</ref> Djite then again appeared in the Socceroos next match on 15 June 2008 against Qatar, coming on as a Super-sub for the 2010 World Cup Qualifier in Doha, Qatar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.smh.com.au/sport/valeri-djite-set-for-qatar-action-20080611-2opp.html|title=Valeri, Djite set for Qatar action|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=16 June 2008}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Football Federation Australia – Player Profile">{{cite news|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Socceroos/default.aspx?s=soc_player_profile&pid=702&tid=23|title=Football Federation Australia – Player Profile|work=Football Australia|access-date=18 April 2008|archive-date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527210333/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Socceroos/default.aspx?s=soc_player_profile&pid=702&tid=23|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He earned nine international caps.<ref name=howcroft2019/>
==Playing style== {{Quote_box | width= 41% | title_fnt = white | title = | bgcolor = lightblue |quoted = true |align =right |quote="Bruce Djité is a fine football player, powerful and quick, intimidating and sharp around the penalty area. "Djité is a future Socceroo star, himself and many of his football colleagues are now multi-millionaires, playing in the most taxing of the world's professional football leagues." |source=Les Murray, Order of Australia and FFA's Football Hall of Fame (Australia) speaking on Bruce José Djité.<ref name="Les ">{{cite news | url=http://www.jwff.com.au/news/article.aspx?id=34 | title=Les Murray: "How Australia can win the World Cup | author=Les Murray | author-link=Les Murray (broadcaster) | publisher=Johnny Warren Football Foundation | access-date=14 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030849/http://www.jwff.com.au/news/article.aspx?id=34 | archive-date=3 December 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>|}} As a player, Djite was known for his speed, strength and good height with ball heading skills and played in Turkey for professional football team, Gençlerbirliği S.K. of the Süper Lig.<ref name="China's Reds Star Surprise"/>
Djité was a quick bustling left forward or striker with great footspeed and acceleration who kicks and shoots the ball well with either foot.<ref>{{cite news | date=9 December 2009 | url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/808/australia/2009/12/09/1677647/exclusive-interview-socceroo-and-genclerbirligi-striker|title=Exclusive Interview: Socceroo And Genclerbirligi Striker Bruce Djite|author=Chris Paraskevas|work= Goal.com |access-date=15 January 2010}}, {{cite news | date=10 October 2007 | url=http://espnfc.com/print?id=471450&type=story| title= Adelaide's Batman and Robin|author=Jason Dasey| publisher= ESPN FC |access-date=12 January 2008}}, {{cite news | date=11 January 2007 | url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/djite-set-to-impress/story-e6frf4gl-1111112814571| title=Djite set to impress|author=Daniel Lato| publisher=Fox Sports (Australia) |access-date=12 January 2007}}</ref> He used his extreme physical strength and footspeed to out-run defenders in an A-League 2007–08 season, where he was crowned and awarded with the Rising Star Award, after scoring 10 goals in his first full season and then followed by registering six goals and two assists in his first Süper Lig 2008–09 season in Turkey.<ref name="FourFourTwo, Djite"/> In 2011, Djité was among the top-goalscorers in the league, registering 10 goals and three assists in twenty-three matches.<ref name="Djite returns to Reds"/>
==Other and later roles== Djite was a member of the Professional Footballers Australia Board between 2012 (then aged just 25<ref name=howcroft2019>{{cite web | last=Howcroft | first=Jonathan | title=Bruce Djite: 'There's much more to life than just kicking a ball around' | website=The Guardian | date=15 December 2019 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/16/bruce-djite-theres-much-more-to-life-than-just-kicking-a-ball-around | access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>) and 2016, and became involved in negotiating the whole-of-football collective bargaining agreement.<ref name=au2019/> During this time he also created an investment portfolio for himself,<ref name=howcroft2019/> and worked as a commentator for Fox Sports.<ref name=uniaward/><ref name=howcroft2019/>
In 2016, he worked part-time at PKF, an accounting firm in Adelaide, while playing for the Reds.<ref name=au2019/>
Djite was an ambassador for All Together Now, Australia's only national charity with the sole focus of erasing racism,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://alltogethernow.org.au/about-us/ambassadors/ |title=Ambassadors - All Together Now |access-date=28 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830023006/http://alltogethernow.org.au/about-us/ambassadors/ |archive-date=30 August 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> for some time before 2019.<ref name=au2019/> {{as of|2019}} he was an ambassador for Little Heroes Foundation, a South Australian charity that supports seriously ill children and their families,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.littleheroesfoundation.com.au/Ambassadors|title = Ambassadors | Supporting seriously ill children |website=Little Heroes Foundation}}</ref> and Roger Rasheed's Sports Foundation.<ref name=au2019/>
On 3 June 2019, Djite returned to his former club, A-League side Adelaide United FC taking up the role of director of football.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/djite-returns-to-the-reds-in-new-role-526059|title = Djite returns to the Reds in new role}}</ref> In the first six months in this role, the club won the FFA Cup and began their A-League campaign well. Djite signed two young newcomers, Al Hassan Toure and Louis D'Arrigo.<ref name=howcroft2019/>
He left the role in July 2021 to become the CEO of the Committee for Adelaide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Djite leaves Reds for top city post |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2021/06/08/djite-leaves-reds-for-top-city-post/ |website=InDaily |access-date=6 December 2022 |date=8 June 2021}}</ref>
On 30 November 2022, Djite was appointed as South Australian executive director of the Property Council of Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Property Council appoints Bruce Djite as SA Executive Director |url=https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/Web/Content/Media_Release/SA/2022/Property%20Council%20appoints%20Bruce%20Djite%20as%20SA%20Executive%20Director.aspx |website=Property Council of Australia |access-date=6 December 2022 |date=30 November 2022}}</ref> He remains in the role {{as of |lc=yes|April 2024}}.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Boscaini | first1=Joshua | last2=Leckie | first2=Evelyn | title=Adelaide's CBD has lots of empty offices. Could adaptive reuse help ease a tight rental market? | website=ABC News | date=13 April 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-13/adelaide-cbd-adaptive-reuse-rental-market/103686714 | access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=South Australia | website=Property Council Australia | date=9 February 2024 | url=https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/advocacy/our-divisions/south-australia | access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Djite is a multilingual, speaking French,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rise-global.com/2011/03/bruce-djite-rise-global-ambassador/|title=Rise Global Ambassador l Bruce Djite|work=rise-global.com|date=28 March 2011|access-date=10 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203084219/http://rise-global.com/2011/03/bruce-djite-rise-global-ambassador/|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> English and Turkish.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stamocostas|first1=Con|title=Socceroos still the goal for Djite|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/socceroos-still-goal-djite#:fkym0zt7FMD_XA|website=FourFourTwo|access-date=28 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527082837/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/socceroos-still-goal-djite#:fkym0zt7FMD_XA|archive-date=27 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He married, and had two children under five as of 2019.<ref name=uniaward/>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2" |Club !rowspan="2" style="width:80px;"|Season !colspan="3" style="width:105px;"|League{{efn|Includes A-League final series}} !colspan="2" style="width:105px;"|Cup !colspan="2" style="width:105px;"|Continental{{efn|Includes AFC Champions League}} !colspan="2" style="width:105px;"|Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Adelaide United |2006–07 |A-League |8||0||2||0||5||1||15||1 |- |2007–08 |A-League |12||6||5||3||3||1||20||10 |- !colspan="2"|Total !20!!6!!7!!3!!8!!2!!35!!11 |- |rowspan="3"|Genclerbirligi |2008–09 |Süper Lig |28||6||0||0||0||0||28||6 |- |2009–10 |Süper Lig |5||0||0||0||0||0||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !33!!6!!0!!0!!0!!0!!33!!6 |- ||Diyarbakırspor (loan) |2009–10 |Süper Lig |9||0||0||0||0||0||9||0 |- ||Gold Coast United |2010–11 |A-League |23||10||0||0||0||0||23||10 |- ||Jiangsu Sainty (loan) |2011 |Chinese Super League |13||4||1||0||0||0||14||4 |- |rowspan="6"|Adelaide United |2011–12 |A-League |24||5||0||0||0||0||24||5 |- |2012–13 |A-League |19||2||0||0||10||1||29||3 |- |2013–14 |A-League |21||5||0||0||0||0||21||5 |- |2014–15 |A-League |23||6||4||3||0||0||27||9 |- |2015–16 |A-League |25||11||2||0||1||0||21||11 |- !colspan="2"|Total !112!!29!!6!!3!!11!!1!!129!!33 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !210!!55!!6!!3!!19!!3!!235!!61 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:1em auto; text-align: center;" |- ! colspan="4" |Bruce Djite: Professional Career Total |- ! Teams ! Appearances ! Goals ! Goals per game |- | Clubs | {{0}}199 | {{0}}49 |align=center |{{formatnum:{{#expr: 41/165 round 2}}}} |- | <!--Australia National U-23 team-->Australia Olympic team |{{0}}13 |{{0}}{{0}}2 |align=center |{{formatnum:{{#expr: 2/13 round 2}}}} |- | Australia National team |{{0}}9 |{{0}}{{0}}0 |align=center |{{formatnum:{{#expr: 0/9 round 2}}}} |- | '''Total''' | '''{{0}}187''' | '''{{0}}43''' |align=center |'''{{formatnum:{{#expr: 43/187 round 2}}}}''' |- | style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"|''Updated to games played and goals scored 8 July 2015 (UTC)'' |}
==Honours== {{BLP unsourced section|date=April 2024}} ===Adelaide United=== * A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup: 2007 * FFA Cup: 2014 * A-League Premiership: 2015–16 * A-League Championship: 2015–16
===Individual=== * A-League Young Footballer of the Year: 2007–08 * Rising Star Award: 2007–08 * Best Team Man Award: 2012–13
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote|Bruce Djite}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Australia|Association football}} * {{FIFA player|268500}} * {{NFT player|26211}} * {{TFF player|1169963}} * {{ESPN FC|85970<!-- /bruce-djite -->}} * {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20130410010328/http://eurosport.du.ae/football/bruce-djite_prs207343/person.shtml |date=10 April 2013 |title=Bruce Djite at Eurosport }} * [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/MensU23/default.aspx?s=aus_u23men_player_profile&pid=702&tid=112 FFA – Socceroo profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527204557/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/MensU23/default.aspx?s=aus_u23men_player_profile&pid=702&tid=112 |date=27 May 2011 }} * {{K League player|20160308}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{succession box|title=A-League<br />Young Player of the Year Award|before=Adrian Leijer|after=Scott Jamieson|years=2007/08}} {{s-end}}
{{A-League Young Footballer of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Djite, Bruce}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Soccer players from Washington, D.C. Category:Australian men's soccer players Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Adelaide United FC players Category:A-League Men players Category:American emigrants to Australia Category:Australian people of Ivorian descent Category:<!-- Australian, American -->Sportspeople of Ivorian descent Category:Australian people of Togolese descent Category:<!-- Australian, American -->Sportspeople of Togolese descent Category:American people of Ivorian descent Category:American people of Togolese descent Category:Australia men's international soccer players Category:Gençlerbirliği S.K. footballers Category:Süper Lig players Category:Chinese Super League players Category:Jiangsu F.C. players Category:Suwon FC players Category:K League 1 players Category:PSM Makassar players Category:Liga 1 (Indonesia) players Category:Australian Institute of Sport soccer players Category:New South Wales Institute of Sport alumni Category:Gold Coast United FC players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China Category:Expatriate men's footballers in South Korea Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Indonesia Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in China Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in South Korea Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia Category:Griffith University alumni Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen