Richie Ryan (footballer)

Richard Ryan (born 6 January 1985) is an Irish former professional footballer who serves as an assistant coach with USL Championship club FC Tulsa.

Richie Ryan
Ryan playing for FC Cincinnati in 2018
Personal information
Full name Richard Ryan[1]
Date of birth (1985-01-06) 6 January 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Templetuohy, Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Belvedere
2001–2003 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Sunderland 2 (0)
2005Scunthorpe United (loan) 0 (0)
2005–2006 Scunthorpe United 13 (0)
2006–2007 Boston United 13 (0)
2007–2008 Royal Antwerp 8 (0)
2008–2011 Sligo Rovers 111 (5)
2012–2013 Dundee United 36 (0)
2013 Shamrock Rovers 9 (0)
2014–2015 Ottawa Fury 41 (4)
2016 Jacksonville Armada 5 (0)
2016–2017 Miami FC 43 (0)
2018 FC Cincinnati 16 (0)
2019–2022 El Paso Locomotive 98 (0)
Total 395 (9)
International career
Republic of Ireland U18[2]
2010 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
Managerial career
2023– FC Tulsa (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Over the course of his career he played for Sunderland, Scunthorpe United and Boston United in England, Royal Antwerp in Belgium, Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland, Dundee United in Scotland, Ottawa Fury in Canada, and Jacksonville Armada, Miami FC, FC Cincinnati, and El Paso Locomotive in the United States.

Playing career edit

Ryan played his youth days for Belvedere before moving abroad. He started his professional career at Sunderland making two substitute appearances in the Premier League in 2003. His debut came in the Tyne–Wear derby in April 2003.[3]

He signed for Scunthorpe United initially on loan in March 2005.[4] This became a permanent move in June. The following season he signed for Boston United. He left the club a year later after their double relegation, intending to return to his native Ireland.

Ryan signed for Royal Antwerp in July 2007, making his competitive début in a 4–1 defeat to Kortrijk on 30 September, before moving back to Sligo Rovers. He made his League of Ireland debut for Sligo in a 1–0 defeat to Cork City at the Showgrounds on 3 August 2008.[5] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Cork City in the 2009–10 Setanta Sports Cup, Sligo's first ever goal in the competition.

He struggled to get a regular place in the side for his first year and a half as he struggled with fitness but came into his own with a string of highly impressive passing displays in the successful 2010 season. Ryan was Player of the Month in October[6] and won the 2010 PFAI Player of the Year award.[7] He was named as club captain for the 2011 season and captained the club to a second-place finish in the league and an FAI Cup, which Sligo won after beating Shelbourne on penalties. This was Ryan's first time winning an FAI Cup as he was suspended for the 2010 Final.

Ryan signed for Scottish Premier League side Dundee United in November 2011. He joined his new teammates in January 2012, making his debut as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat by Aberdeen on 2 January.[8][9]

On 25 July 2013, it was announced that Ryan had left Dundee United by mutual consent.[10] On 7 August it was announced that he had signed for Shamrock Rovers.[11] He made his league debut two days later.[12] In September Ryan won his second League of Ireland Cup.[13]

Ryan signed with North American Soccer League club Ottawa Fury FC on 10 December 2013.[14]

After two years with Ottawa, Ryan transferred to Jacksonville Armada FC on 15 December 2015.[15] Less than six-months later Ryan was on the move again, joining fellow NASL side Miami FC on 13 May 2016,[16] for a reported fee of $750,000.[17]

On 19 February 2018, Ryan signed with USL side FC Cincinnati.[18]

On 17 January 2019, Ryan signed with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC.[19] He made 107 appearances for the club before his retirement following the 2022 season.[20]

Coaching career edit

On 25 October 2022, it was announced that Ryan would join FC Tulsa as first assistant coach on 1 January 2023.[21]

Honours edit

Sligo Rovers

Shamrock Rovers

Ottawa Fury

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "Richie Ryan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  2. ^ "International Roll Of Honour". www.belvederefc.com. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Magpies see off Sunderland". BBC News. 26 April 2003.
  4. ^ "Ryan signed on loan". BBC Humber. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Extratime.ie - League of Ireland Sports news, stats, match results, features and news". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ^ [1][dead link]
  7. ^ "Ryan wins PFAI Player of the Year". RTÉ.ie. 7 November 2010. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  8. ^ "RICHIE RYAN SIGNS FOR UNITED". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United F.C. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  9. ^ Roache, Ian (3 January 2012). "Dundee United 1 Aberdeen 2: Houston questions match officials' ability to do their jobs". The Courier. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Welcome to Tannadice". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Richie Ryan signs". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Rovers 0:4 St Pat's". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  13. ^ "Rovers 2:0 Drogheda Utd". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Home". Nasl.com. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  15. ^ "ARMADA FC SIGNS 2015 NASL BEST XI MIDFIELDER RICHIE RYAN". Armadafc.com. Jacksonville Armada. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  16. ^ "THE MIAMI FC ACQUIRES IRISH MIDFIELDER RICHIE RYAN". Miamifc.com. Miami FC. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Richie Ryan Sold to Miami FC for Record-Breaking Transfer Fee". FiftyFive.One. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Irishman Richie Ryan Signs On With FCC". 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  19. ^ "El Paso Locomotive FC Signs FC Cincinnati Midfielder, Richie Ryan". Eplocomotivefc.com.
  20. ^ "RICHIE RYAN RETIRES". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  21. ^ Galbreath, Nolan. "Richie Ryan, Matt Watson, and Donovan Ricketts will Join Head Coach Blair Gavin's Technical Staff Next Season". FCTulsa.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  22. ^ "North American Soccer League Announces 2015 Best XI". North American Soccer League. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  23. ^ "North American Soccer League Announces 2017 NASL Best XI". North American Soccer League. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Inaugural Season Celebrated". Ottawa Fury FC. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2022.

External links edit