Matthew Ryan (goalkeeper)
Encyclopedia
Mathew Ryan is an Australian football (soccer) goalkeeper currently playing for A-League
club Central Coast Mariners.
in Western Sydney
and played for local club Blacktown City in the youth ranks of the New South Wales Premier League
. He is one of a long list of former Blacktown City players to play for the Central Coast Mariners, including Adam Kwasnik
, Mustafa Amini
, Nicholas Fitzgerald
and Bernie Ibini-Isei
. After playing the 2009-10 season for their youth team, and after several call-ups to the senior team, he was given a 3-year senior contract. He was signed as the reserve goalkeeper for the Mariners, with the intention of learning under their experienced custodian Jess Vanstrattan
, but was picked as goalkeeper after regular starter Jess Vanstrattan
was ruled out for the remainder of the year with an injury.
Making his debut for the Mariners in a pre-season friendly against the Central Coast Lightning
, he made his A-League
debut in Round 4 of the 2010-11 season
against Sydney FC
, which ended in a 1-1 draw. His error gifted Sydney FC the opening goal, but Ryan showed great character to bounce back and deliver a series of consistent performances, consigning the much more experienced 34-year-old injury replacement goalkeeper, Paul Henderson
, to the bench.
He kept a record 12 clean sheets in his debut season, with some tipping him to achieve higher honours or even become a future Socceroos keeper due to his high level of talent and composure for his age, with Mariners manager Graham Arnold
stating that he has 'plenty of character' and is 'an exceptional young talent'. The culmination of Ryan's success in the 2010-11 season saw him named the NAB Young Footballer of the Month for December 2010. This season also saw Ryan named in the PFA’s A-League Team of the Season shortlist.
in an Olympic Qualifier against Iraq.
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Central Coast Mariners.
Club Career
Ryan was born in PlumptonPlumpton, New South Wales
Plumpton is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Plumpton is located 46 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
in Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
and played for local club Blacktown City in the youth ranks of the New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
. He is one of a long list of former Blacktown City players to play for the Central Coast Mariners, including Adam Kwasnik
Adam Kwasnik
Adam Kwasnik is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for the Australian A-League club the Central Coast Mariners.-Club career:...
, Mustafa Amini
Mustafa Amini
Mohammad Mustafa Amini is an Australian football player currently playing for the Central Coast Mariners on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. He was signed from the AIS team which played in the 2009-10 Youth League season...
, Nicholas Fitzgerald
Nicholas Fitzgerald
Nicholas Fitzgerald , is an Australian football player currently playing for Brisbane Roar FC in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:...
and Bernie Ibini-Isei
Bernie Ibini-Isei
Bernie Ibini-Isei is a Nigerian-Australian football player who plays for the A-League club Central Coast Mariners.-Club career:...
. After playing the 2009-10 season for their youth team, and after several call-ups to the senior team, he was given a 3-year senior contract. He was signed as the reserve goalkeeper for the Mariners, with the intention of learning under their experienced custodian Jess Vanstrattan
Jess Vanstrattan
Jess Kedwell Vanstrattan is an Australian football goalkeeper currently without a club.-Club career:Born in Gosford, New South Wales, Vanstrattan started his career for Northern Spirit in Sydney, NSW.-Verona:...
, but was picked as goalkeeper after regular starter Jess Vanstrattan
Jess Vanstrattan
Jess Kedwell Vanstrattan is an Australian football goalkeeper currently without a club.-Club career:Born in Gosford, New South Wales, Vanstrattan started his career for Northern Spirit in Sydney, NSW.-Verona:...
was ruled out for the remainder of the year with an injury.
Making his debut for the Mariners in a pre-season friendly against the Central Coast Lightning
Central Coast Lightning
Central Coast FC, formerly known as Central Coast Lightning is a semi-professional association football club, based and located on the Central Coast of New South Wales. They are the main "feeder" club for the professional A-League club, the...
, he made his A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
debut in Round 4 of the 2010-11 season
2010–11 A-League
The 2010–11 A-League season is the sixth season of the Australian football championship since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season began on 5 August 2010 and concluded on 13 February 2011. The addition of brought the total number of teams to 11...
against Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
, which ended in a 1-1 draw. His error gifted Sydney FC the opening goal, but Ryan showed great character to bounce back and deliver a series of consistent performances, consigning the much more experienced 34-year-old injury replacement goalkeeper, Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson (footballer)
Paul John Henderson is an Australian football goalkeeper who is currently playing for Sydney Olympic.-Club career:Henderson started his career in club football in Australia...
, to the bench.
He kept a record 12 clean sheets in his debut season, with some tipping him to achieve higher honours or even become a future Socceroos keeper due to his high level of talent and composure for his age, with Mariners manager Graham Arnold
Graham Arnold
Graham James Arnold is a former coach of the Australian national football team. He was appointed to work as an assistant to Frank Farina in 2000. The two replaced Raul Blanco, who was the interim coach in charge after Terry Venables decided not to renew his contract with Soccer Australia after...
stating that he has 'plenty of character' and is 'an exceptional young talent'. The culmination of Ryan's success in the 2010-11 season saw him named the NAB Young Footballer of the Month for December 2010. This season also saw Ryan named in the PFA’s A-League Team of the Season shortlist.
International Career
Ryan made his debut for the Australian U-23Australia national under-23 football team
The Australia Olympic football team, more commonly known as the Olyroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia at association football in the Olympic Games...
in an Olympic Qualifier against Iraq.
| Club | Season | A-League A-League The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company... |
Finals | Asia AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs... |
Other 1 | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
 Central Coast Mariners |
2010-11 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||||
| 2011-12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |||||
Honors
Personal Honours:- Most Clean Sheets (12) - 2010-11 with Michael TheoklitosMichael TheoklitosMichael Theoklitos is an Australian football player for the Brisbane Roar.-Early career:Theoklitos made several appearances in the Australian National Soccer League before moving away to Blackpool in England as a youngster, where he only played three games due to an injury sustained shortly after...
- A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Young Player of the Year: 2010–112010–11 A-LeagueThe 2010–11 A-League season is the sixth season of the Australian football championship since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season began on 5 August 2010 and concluded on 13 February 2011. The addition of brought the total number of teams to 11... - Joe Marston MedalJoe Marston MedalThe Joe Marston Medal is an A-League award given to the player of the match in the A-League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 1990, previously the award was also given to the best player in the National Soccer League grand final. The medal is named after Joe Marston, who played for Australia...
20112011 A-League Grand FinalThe 2011 A-League Grand Final was the sixth A-League Grand Final taking place on 13 March 2011 at Suncorp Stadium. It was the final match in the A-League 2010–11 season, played between premiers and runners-up .-The match:...