Ryan Stevenson
Encyclopedia
Ryan Cairns Stevenson is a Scottish
football player who plays for Heart of Midlothian
in the Scottish Premier League
. Stevenson began his career at Chelsea
and has also played for St. Johnstone and Ayr United
. He is a midfielder who has also been used as a striker by Hearts.
fan. He was a pupil at Kyle Academy
in Ayr
before leaving to join Chelsea
's youth academy staying in the same apartment block as John Terry
.
on a 28-day loan in October 2006. This loan was later extended until the end of the year. He then joined the club on a permanent basis during January 2007, for a five-figure sum. Just two weeks later, Stevenson scored an equaliser for Ayr United against his former club, St. Johnstone, in the third round of the Scottish Cup
in a 2–1 defeat. Stevenson scored the goal which promoted Ayr United to the First Division in 2009, in a 1–0 win over Airdrie United in the second leg of the First Division Play-off Final at New Broomfield.
on 1 February 2010 for an undisclosed five figure sum, with Rocky Visconte going the other way on loan. He made his debut for Hearts
on 10 February playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat to Celtic
at Celtic Park
. He went on to score his first competitive goal for Hearts
against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a Scottish Premier League
fixture on 18th Septmember 2010. In the absence of Kevin Kyle
, Stevenson has predominantly been used as a makeshift striker and has made a name for himself scoring somewhat notable goals, such as in wins over both halves of the Old Firm
and two against Edinburgh rivals
Hibernian
. In June 2011 Stevenson signed a one year contract extension to extend his stay at the club.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player who plays for Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. Stevenson began his career at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and has also played for St. Johnstone and Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
. He is a midfielder who has also been used as a striker by Hearts.
Youth career
Stevenson was born in Irvine, Ayrshire, and was a boyhood Ayr UnitedAyr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
fan. He was a pupil at Kyle Academy
Kyle Academy
Kyle Academy is a state-run secondary school in Ayr, Scotland, run by South Ayrshire Council. It is a non-denominational, co-educational school, serving some of the southern part of Ayr.-History:...
in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
before leaving to join Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
's youth academy staying in the same apartment block as John Terry
John Terry
John George Terry is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League...
.
St Johnstone
Having failed to break into the Chelsea first team he was given a free transfer in 2002 and signed for St. Johnstone. Stevenson made 72 league appearances for Saints, before eventually falling out of favour during 2006.Ayr United
Stevenson initially joined Ayr UnitedAyr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
on a 28-day loan in October 2006. This loan was later extended until the end of the year. He then joined the club on a permanent basis during January 2007, for a five-figure sum. Just two weeks later, Stevenson scored an equaliser for Ayr United against his former club, St. Johnstone, in the third round of the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
in a 2–1 defeat. Stevenson scored the goal which promoted Ayr United to the First Division in 2009, in a 1–0 win over Airdrie United in the second leg of the First Division Play-off Final at New Broomfield.
Hearts
Stevenson signed for HeartsHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on 1 February 2010 for an undisclosed five figure sum, with Rocky Visconte going the other way on loan. He made his debut for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on 10 February playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
. He went on to score his first competitive goal for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
fixture on 18th Septmember 2010. In the absence of Kevin Kyle
Kevin Kyle
Kevin Alistair Kyle is a Scottish footballer who plays as a centre forward for SPL club Hearts.- Early life :...
, Stevenson has predominantly been used as a makeshift striker and has made a name for himself scoring somewhat notable goals, such as in wins over both halves of the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
and two against Edinburgh rivals
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. In June 2011 Stevenson signed a one year contract extension to extend his stay at the club.
Scotland
On 6 November 2011 Stevenson was called up to the Scotland Squad for the first time as a late inclusion for their friendly against Cyprus.Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Ayr United Ayr United F.C. Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C... |
2008-09 season 2008–09 Ayr United F.C. season The 2008–09 season is the 99th season of competitive football by Ayr United.-Fixtures:-Pre season:-Scottish Second Division:-Scottish Challenge Cup:-Scottish League Cup:... |
34 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 43 | 11 |
| Ayr United Ayr United F.C. Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C... |
2009-10 season | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Hearts Heart of Midlothian F.C. Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian... |
2009-10 season | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Hearts Heart of Midlothian F.C. Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian... |
2010-11 season | 31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 |
| Hearts Heart of Midlothian F.C. Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian... |
2011-12 season | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| Total | 106 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 125 | 25 | |