Ryan Green
Encyclopedia
Ryan Michael Green is a Wales
international footballer who plays as a defender
for Hereford United. He is perhaps best known for breaking Ryan Giggs
's record as the youngest player to be capped for the Wales national football team
, a record which has since been surpassed.
, Green began his career as a trainee with Wolverhampton Wanderers
turning professional in October 1997. He made his Wolves first team debut on 10 November 1998, in a 2–1 victory against Sheffield United
at Molineux
. After 70 minutes he suffered a medial ligament injury which sidelined him for six months. He struggled to establish himself at Wolves and joined Torquay United
on loan in March 2001, playing ten times as Torquay successfully fought off relegation to the Conference
. However he scored an own goal in the final game of the season, a 3–2 win away to Barnet
which nonetheless resulted in Torquay surviving at Barnet's expense.
He moved to Millwall
on a free transfer in October 2001, and almost joined Bradford City
in 2002, a move scuppered by the financial impact on Football League clubs of the ITV Digital
collapse. Instead he joined Cardiff City
on a monthly contract in November 2002, joining Sheffield Wednesday
two weeks later. He was released by Wednesday at the end of the season, joining Hereford United
in July 2003.
In three seasons with Hereford he made a total of 117 appearances, scoring 4 goals. His first senior goal came against Telford United
when, in the third minute of injury time, he ran the length of the pitch to get into a position to score the winning goal. He scored his most notable goal in his final match for the Bulls, the 2006 Conference play-off final
against Halifax Town
. In the second period of extra time, he curled a shot into the top left corner of the goal, which secured Hereford's return to the Football League. However he left shortly afterwards, on 31 May 2006, signing a two-year contract with Bristol Rovers
.
Green made 33 league appearances in his first season with the Pirates but suffered a nasty foot injury in the 4–3 defeat to Grimsby Town
, which sidelined him for several weeks and ruled him out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy
final. A broken jaw and further achilles problems in a volatile match at Swindon Town
ruled him out for the rest of the following season. A hamstring injury sustained in a pre-season friendly added to Green's injury nightmare. His contract was not renewed, and he left the club on 8 May 2009.
On 5 June 2009 Green re-signed for Hereford United
on a one year deal for season 2009–2010.
on 3 June 1998 was also his senior football debut. This made Green the youngest player ever to play for Wales, at the age of 17 years and 226 days, the record was previously held by Ryan Giggs. Green's record stood until it was surpassed by Lewin Nyatanga
, it is currently held by Gareth Bale
. Wales manager Bobby Gould
went on to select him for a match against Tunisia
, his second and final cap to date. Green also represented Wales at youth and under 21 level.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international footballer who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Hereford United. He is perhaps best known for breaking Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
's record as the youngest player to be capped for the Wales national football team
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, a record which has since been surpassed.
Career
Born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Green began his career as a trainee with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
turning professional in October 1997. He made his Wolves first team debut on 10 November 1998, in a 2–1 victory against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
. After 70 minutes he suffered a medial ligament injury which sidelined him for six months. He struggled to establish himself at Wolves and joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan in March 2001, playing ten times as Torquay successfully fought off relegation to the Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. However he scored an own goal in the final game of the season, a 3–2 win away to Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
which nonetheless resulted in Torquay surviving at Barnet's expense.
He moved to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on a free transfer in October 2001, and almost joined Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in 2002, a move scuppered by the financial impact on Football League clubs of the ITV Digital
ITV Digital
ITV Digital was a British digital terrestrial television broadcaster, which launched a pay-TV service on the world's first digital terrestrial television network as ONdigital in 1998 and briefly re-branded as ITV Digital in July 2001, before the service ceased in May 2002. Its main shareholders...
collapse. Instead he joined Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on a monthly contract in November 2002, joining Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
two weeks later. He was released by Wednesday at the end of the season, joining Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in July 2003.
In three seasons with Hereford he made a total of 117 appearances, scoring 4 goals. His first senior goal came against Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
when, in the third minute of injury time, he ran the length of the pitch to get into a position to score the winning goal. He scored his most notable goal in his final match for the Bulls, the 2006 Conference play-off final
Conference National Playoff Final 2006
The 2005-06 Conference National Playoff Final took place on 20 May 2006 and was contested between Halifax Town and Hereford United. It was held at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester for the first time, the previous Playoff Finals having been held at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke...
against Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
. In the second period of extra time, he curled a shot into the top left corner of the goal, which secured Hereford's return to the Football League. However he left shortly afterwards, on 31 May 2006, signing a two-year contract with Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
.
Green made 33 league appearances in his first season with the Pirates but suffered a nasty foot injury in the 4–3 defeat to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, which sidelined him for several weeks and ruled him out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final. A broken jaw and further achilles problems in a volatile match at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
ruled him out for the rest of the following season. A hamstring injury sustained in a pre-season friendly added to Green's injury nightmare. His contract was not renewed, and he left the club on 8 May 2009.
On 5 June 2009 Green re-signed for Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on a one year deal for season 2009–2010.
International career
Green's international career was brief and unusual; his full international debut against MaltaMalta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
on 3 June 1998 was also his senior football debut. This made Green the youngest player ever to play for Wales, at the age of 17 years and 226 days, the record was previously held by Ryan Giggs. Green's record stood until it was surpassed by Lewin Nyatanga
Lewin Nyatanga
Lewin John Nyatanga is a Welsh footballer who plays for Bristol City and the Wales national team as a defender.-Derby County:...
, it is currently held by Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale
Gareth Frank Bale is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team. Bale began his professional career with Southampton in 2005 and was transferred to Tottenham two years later...
. Wales manager Bobby Gould
Bobby Gould
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Gould is an English former footballer and manager.-Playing career:Born in Coventry, Gould started his career at Coventry City, making his debut for the club whilst still an apprentice at the age of 16. He did not sign professional until June 1964...
went on to select him for a match against Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
, his second and final cap to date. Green also represented Wales at youth and under 21 level.
External links
- Ryan Green player profile at bristolrovers.co.uk
- Ryan Green player profile at wolves.co.uk