Robbie Ryan (footballer)

Robert Paul "Robbie" Ryan (born 16 May 1977 in Dublin) is an Irish retired footballer, who was a left back. Ryan now works as a cable linesman for London Underground.[1]

Robbie Ryan
Personal information
Full name Robert Paul Ryan
Date of birth (1977-05-16) 16 May 1977
Place of birth Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Belvedere
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1994 Huddersfield Town 15 (0)
1998–2004 Millwall 226 (2)
2004–2007 Bristol Rovers 54 (0)
2007–2008 Welling United 36 (1)
2008 Ashford Town (Kent) 1 (0)
2008 Fisher Athletic 3 (0)
2008 Croydon Athletic 18 (0)
National team
Ireland U-21 12 (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Ryan played his youth football for Belvedere. Ryan began his senior career at Huddersfield Town in July 1994 but did not make his first team debut until September 1996 when he came on as a sub in a 3–1 win over Ipswich Town.

After making just 15 Appearances for The Terriers, Ryan joined Millwall in 2000, costing the club £10,000. He made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Southend United. In the 2000–01 season he only missed four games for Millwall as they won the Football League Second Division title. The following season, Ryan played 32 league games as Millwall made the First Division play-offs, losing to Birmingham City.

At the end of his contract, Millwall offered him another one-year deal, which he declined in favour of a three-year deal with Bristol Rovers, despite dropping down two divisions. He had played 226 league games for Millwall. His last appearance in a Millwall shirt happened to be the 2004 FA Cup Final against Manchester United where he was marking Cristiano Ronaldo.[2]

Computer game Championship Manager played its part in Ryan's transfer. Utilising real-life statistical data, the game revealed to Ryan Molesworth, the son of Bristol Rovers scout Paul Molesworth, that Robbie Ryan's contract was expiring. Rovers then became interested in signing the player, which after negotiations, actually took place.[3]

In the 2004–05 season, Ryan made 40 league appearances for Bristol Rovers. In 2005–06 he played only 17 games, none at all since November. On 1 February 2007 Bristol Rovers terminated Ryan's contract.[4]

Ryan has represented the Republic of Ireland at schoolboy and youth levels playing in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia for the Republic of Ireland who came 3rd and has also picked up 12 U21 caps.

Honours

Republic of Ireland

Millwall

References
  1. Robbie Ryan: The man who marked Cristiano Ronaldo in an FA Cup final The Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2012
  2. "'People still remember me for marking Ronaldo in the FA Cup final and it's quite nice to tell my kid'". The 42. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  3. "Football transfer due to Championship Manager". www.championshipmanager.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2006.
  4. Defender Ryan released by Rovers BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2007
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