Richie Ryan – Captain of the Capital

Ryan has featured in 192 professional football matches, in the top divisions of Ireland, Scotland, and Belgium.

November 6th, 2011.  AVIVA Stadium, Dublin.  Shelbourne and Sligo Rovers battle for the FAI Cup, Ireland’s version of the FA Cup.  Twenty-one thousand strong hold their breath as Sligo Rovers midfielder Richie Ryan steps up to take his club’s second penalty of the shootout.  Ryan jogs up, and crisply deposits his penalty into the bottom-right corner, past Shelbourne ‘keeper Dean Delaney.  The penalty would turn out to be the winner, as Sligo Rovers successfully defended their 2010 FAI Cup title…

The path to Fury FC captaincy has been long and winding for Richie Ryan.  The 29 year-old Clonmel native was named Fury FC’s inaugural captain on Monday, after a selection process involving his teammates and coaches.

Ryan moved to England in 2001 to join Sunderland’s esteemed youth academy, and spent two years developing with the Black Cats’ youth team before making the jump to the club’s first team in 2003.  Ryan made two appearances for the Black Cats, one against fierce rivals Newcastle United in the 2003 Tyne-Wear Derby.

Ryan moved to League One’s Scunthorpe United in 2005, and appeared in thirteen matches for The Iron.  Ryan moved to one of my personal favorite lower-league clubs, Boston United, the following season, only spending one season with The Pilgrims before heading onto the continent and joining Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp.

After one season with Royal Antwerp, Ryan returned to Ireland, spending three seasons with Sligo Rovers, winning two FAI Cups (albeit, he was suspended for the 2010 final) and a League Cup in 2010.

Ryan spent last season with Scottish Premiership mainstays Dundee United, appearing in thirty-six matches for The Terrors.  He briefly returned to his native Ireland, featuring in nine matches for powerhouse Shamrock Rovers before signing with Fury FC on December 10th.

Ryan is a solid anchor-type midfielder, who distributes the ball very well.  Don’t expect a boatload of goals from him, as he’s compiled a grand total of five goal in 192 professional games- that’s not his role.  He’ll bring quality leadership on- and off-pitch, and should play a key role in all three phases of play.

During the pre-season, he and Sinisa Ubiparipovic appeared to have found some excellent chemistry on the left side of the midfield.  This combination, joined in the midfield by Nicki Paterson in Marc Dos Santos’ attacking 4-3-3, will be the key for the Fury going forward.

The Fury will begin their season Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, as they take on the Strikers.  Kick-off at 7:30 ET.