Rostyn Griffiths

Rostyn John Griffiths (born 10 March 1988) is an Australian professional footballer currently playing for Melbourne City FC. Griffiths is a former captain of another A-League club, Perth Glory.[2] In August 2017 it was announced that Griffiths had signed a lucrative deal as a defensive midfielder for Uzbekistan giants Pakhtakor Tashkent in the Uzbek League.[3]

Rostyn Griffiths
Griffiths with Melbourne City in 2019
Personal information
Full name Rostyn John Griffiths[1]
Date of birth (1988-03-10) 10 March 1988
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
Melbourne City
Number 7
Youth career
ECU Joondalup
2003–2006 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2008Gretna (loan) 12 (0)
2008Accrington Stanley (loan) 13 (1)
2009 Adelaide United 2 (0)
2009–2010 North Queensland Fury 23 (3)
2010–2012 Central Coast Mariners 48 (4)
2012–2014 Guangzhou R&F 34 (1)
2014–2015 Perth Glory 35 (5)
2015–2016 Roda JC 18 (2)
2016–2017 Perth Glory 24 (3)
2017–2018 Pakhtakor Tashkent 16 (0)
2018– Melbourne City 44 (3)
National team
2005 Australia U-17 2 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 April 2016

One of the most expensive signings in A-League history, the big defending-midfielder has always been a standout player in the A-League. Griffiths is renowned for his ability to break up the opposition's gameplay and being the central figure to his team's build-up play.

Griffiths starred for Central Coast Mariners from 2010 until he moved to Chinese club Guangzhou R&F in 2012. That departure attracted a $1.3 million transfer fee which remains an A-League record.[4]

Club career

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Griffiths started his youth career with Australian club ECU Joondalup before moving to England to play for Blackburn Rovers where he never made a senior appearance but during the time he spent at Blackburn he joined Gretna on loan in January 2008.[5] where he made his debut for the side against Heart of Midlothian in February.[6]

Accrington Stanley

He signed a one-year deal with Blackburn in January 2008 and was sent on loan to Accrington Stanley for the remainder of his contract.[7]

Adelaide United

On 3 February 2009 he was signed as an injury replacement player by A-League club Adelaide United. With the initial agreement only covering a four-week stint, there is an option to extend that to a two-year contract.[8] However, it is a permanent deal, and not a loan.

North Queensland Fury

Griffiths playing for North Queensland Fury in 2009.

On 2 July 2009, it was announced that Griffiths would join A-League club North Queensland Fury for their inaugural season. On 8 August 2009 he started in Fury's first A-league match and scored the Fury's first ever goal in a competitive match against Sydney FC.

Guangzhou R&F

On 29 February 2012 it was announced that he had signed for Chinese Super League club Guangzhou for a fee that was undisclosed at the time, but later revealed to be $1.3 million, a record sum for an Australian transfer.[9][10]

Perth Glory (2014–2015)

On 23 January 2014 it was announced that Griffiths returned to the A-League, signing with Perth Glory.[11]

On 4 December 2014, Griffiths scored his first goal of the 2014–15 season against Sydney FC in the 84th minute before Andy Keogh scored in the 86th minute to earn a late 2–1 comeback.[12]

Roda JC

On 26 July 2015, Perth Glory released Griffiths to allow him to sign a two-year deal with newly promoted Eredivise club Roda JC.[13] Following struggles for game-time, Griffiths left Roda JC after one season on 19 April 2016.[14]

Perth Glory (2016–2017)

On 24 July 2016, Griffiths returned once more to the A-League, signing a two-year deal with Perth Glory after trialling with them on their Philippines Tour.[15] On 2 October 2016, he was announced as captain of the club.[16]

Pakhtakor Tashkent

Griffiths playing for Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan) FK in 2018

On 1 August 2017, Perth Glory announced that Griffiths would be leaving the club with immediate effect to join Uzbek League side Pakhtakor Tashkent.[17] Griffiths left Pakhtakor in May 2018, citing family reasons.[18]

Melbourne City

On 19 July 2018, Griffiths signed a two-year deal with Melbourne City, joining the club well before the start of the 2018/19 season.[19]

International career

Griffiths has played for Australia's National under 17 team, and scored a brace on his debut against Tonga.[20] While he was still playing for Blackburn, he was courted by Wales' national teams, due to a Welsh link on his Grandfather's side but, at that point, had not yet decided on his international allegiance.[21]

Personal life

His younger brother, Brent Griffiths is also a professional footballer who last played for Penang in the Malaysia Super League. The brothers were together, during their stints in the youth set up of English Premier League side, Blackburn Rovers.

Career statistics

As of match played 30 August 2020
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers 2007–08 Premier League 00000000
Gretna (loan) 2007–08 Scottish Premier League 1200000120
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2008–09 Football League Two 1312000151
Adelaide United 2008–09 A-League 20000020
North Queensland Fury 2009–10 2320000232
Central Coast Mariners 2010–11 3020000302
2011–12 1820000182
Mariners Total 4840000484
Guangzhou R&F 2012 Chinese Super League 1711000181
2013 1700000170
Guangzhou R&F Total 3411000351
Perth Glory 2013–14 A-League 92000092
2014–15 2434000283
Perth Total 3354000375
Roda JC 2015–16Eredivisie 1822000202
Perth Glory 2016–17 A-League 2432000263
Pakhtakor Tashkent 2017 Uzbek League 70000070
2018 90000090
Pakhtakor total1600000160
Melbourne City 2018–19 A-League 2313000261
2019–20 2121000222
Melbourne City total4434000483
Career total 267211500028221

Honours

Club

Central Coast Mariners

Country

Australia

References

  1. "Rostyn Griffiths". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  2. http://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/glory-name-griffiths-skipper-438601
  3. http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/money-the-reason-behind-rostyn-griffiths-exit-at-perth-glory/news-story/882bea7d0025e6ca2bd85bdd46481ee9
  4. http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2014/01/23/4563758/rostyn-griffiths-returns-to-the-a-league-with-perth-glory
  5. "Gretna add two loan youngsters". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
  6. "Hearts 2–0 Gretna". BBC Sport. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
  7. Rostyn Griffiths – Blackburn Rovers Official Site Profile Archived 12 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Adelaide signs Blackburn midfielder Archived 14 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/233122,rostyn-griffiths-off-to-china---official.aspx
  10. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/262594,13m-rostyn-griffiths-not-even-a-signed-shirt.aspx
  11. "ROSTYN GRIFFITHS RETURNS TO WA". Football Federation Australia. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
  12. "Perth Glory beats Sydney FC 2-1 with two late strikes to top A-League ladder". ABC Net. 4 December 2014.
  13. "Griffiths joins Dutch club Roda JC". Football Federation Australia. 26 July 2015.
  14. Somerford, Ben (19 April 2016). "Roda Roo Rostyn flies the coop". FourFourTwo.
  15. "Rostyn returns to Perth Glory on two-year deal". FourFourTwo. 24 July 2016.
  16. "Glory name Griffiths skipper". FourFourTwo. 2 October 2016.
  17. "Griffiths exits Glory for Uzbekistan". FourFourTwo. 1 August 2017.
  18. Somerford, Ben (30 May 2018). "Rostyn Griffiths exits Uzbek giants". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  19. "Rostyn Griffiths signs with Melbourne City". Melbourne City FC. 19 July 2018.
  20. http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oc-u17-05.html
  21. "Aussie Rostyn For Wales?". Australian Four Four Two. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
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