Ryan Griffiths (soccer)

Ryan Griffiths (born 21 August 1981 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays for Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.

Ryan Griffiths
Griffiths playing for Newcastle Jets in 2012
Personal information
Full name Ryan Alan Griffiths
Date of birth (1981-08-21) 21 August 1981
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Left Winger, Forward
Club information
Current team
 Lambton Jaffas
Youth career
Sutherland Sharks
Sydney United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Northern Spirit 41 (6)
2002 Manly-Warringah 15 (12)
2002–2004 Newcastle Jets 52 (8)
2004–2006 Naţional Bucureşti 35 (7)
2006–2009 Rapid Bucureşti 14 (2)
2007–2008 → Liaoning (loan) 36 (11)
2009 → Beijing Guoan (loan) 27 (10)
2010 Beijing Guoan 25 (11)
2010–2013 Newcastle Jets 56 (19)
2013 Beijing Baxy 22 (12)
2014 Adelaide United 4 (1)
2014–2015 Sarawak 51 (11)
2016–2017 South China 14 (4)
2017 Western Sydney Wanderers 5 (0)
2017– Lambton Jaffas 31 (13)
National team‡
2004 Australia U23 9 (6)
2006–2009 Australia 8 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 September 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 February 2013

Club career

Griffiths Began his professional career at the bright age of 17 scoring 4 goals in his first 10 appearances for Northern Spirit. He then attracted interest from other Australian clubs and decided to sign for Newcastle United Jets for 2 years with his old youth team coach Ian Crook and Gary van Egmond. His performances at the club granted him a call up to the Olyroos Australian Olympic games team where he went on to play in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He then attracted attention from English clubs and was about to put pen to paper with Stoke City. Unfortunately he could not sign with the club due to not having the right credentials and family background status to live and work in the UK. Griffiths got picked up by National Bucharest in the Romanian Divizia A where he played for 2 seasons and attracted offers from some eastern European Giants.

Griffiths decided to sign for Rapid Bucureşti for 4.1 million Rupees transfer fee.

On 18 March 2007, Ryan scored his first goal for Liaoning in the 32nd minute, giving his team a 1-0 win over Shenyang Jinde. Griffiths went on to produce several notable performances for the Chinese Super League side. He went back to China and at the end of 2008 season he left Liaoning for Beijing Guoan.

On 8 June 2009 it was announced that he would join A-league club Gold Coast United at the conclusion of the 2009 Chinese Super League season,[1] but he later returned to Beijing.

On 18 November 2010 Griffiths signed an 18-month deal with A-League club Newcastle Jets starting January 2011. On the opening day of the 2011–12 A-League season he scored a brace, allowing the Jets to win the game 3-2 over Melbourne Heart in Newcastle.[2]

On 27 February 2012 he signed a two-year contract extension with Newcastle Jets rejecting interest for both rival A-League club and clubs abroad.[3]

On 26 February 2013 Griffiths was granted a release from the club to return to China and sign with Beijing Baxy. [4]

At Baxy, Griffiths started prolifically, scoring 4 in his first 6 and was determined to make an impact for his second Beijing club[5]

In late 2013, Griffiths was linked with Malaysia Super League club Sarawak for the 2014 season. His brother Adam Griffiths played for Malaysian club Selangor in 2013.

On 8 January 2014, Griffiths returned to the A-League, signing with Adelaide United.[6] After only two-months and four appearances Griffiths left Adelaide United to sign for Sarawak, whom he was linked with earlier in the year before signing for Adelaide United.[7]

On 5 December 2015, Hong Kong Premier League giants South China announced the capture of Griffiths from Sarawak via Facebook.[8]

On 27 January 2017, Griffiths joined Western Sydney Wanderers to bolster their attacking options.[9]

In late 2017 Griffiths joined Lambton Jaffas to play in the Northern NSW National Premier League competition.

International career

He made his international debut on 6 September 2006, coming on as a substitute for Ahmad Elrich (who was injured) in the 30th minute in an 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait.[10]

His second cap for Australia came in a friendly against Ghana in November 2006, substituted on the last 15 minutes of the match.[11]

His third cap for Australia came in a 3-1 loss friendly against Denmark when he again was used off the bench to have significant effect on the game.[12]

Fourth cap game in June 2007, in a friendly rematch against Uruguay, when he came on as a substitute in the 55th minute. The game ended in a 2-1 loss.[13]

His latest appearance for the Socceroos was in 2008 in a friendly game against Singapore, when he came on as a substitute. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.[14]

Personal life

His two brothers, twins Joel and Adam, are also professional footballers.[15][16] His twin brothers are born on the same day as him (21 August).

Lifelong fan Blake Bennett hired him as a digital marketer at Zimple Digital.

Honours

With Beijing Guoan:

Club statistics (Hong Kong)
As of 18 January 2017
Club Season League Premier League Season Play-off Senior Shield League Cup FA Cup Sapling Cup AFC Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
South China2015–16Premier League 841100310032632111
South China2016–17Premier League 600010N/AN/A00002090
Total1441110310032833011

References
  1. Griffiths set to be final signing
  2. Hassett, Sebastian (8 October 2011). "Jets rise above turmoil in Heart-stopping victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  3. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/232903,griffiths-pens-new-jets-deal.aspx
  4. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1327180/griffiths-leaves-jets-for-china/?cs=305
  5. http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4024/aussies-abroad/2013/04/04/3876568/former-jet-ryan-griffiths-determined-to-make-great-move-of
  6. "A-League: Ryan Griffiths signs for Adelaide United". WAtoday. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  7. "Ryan Griffiths leaves Adelaide United for Malaysia". sbnation.com. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  8. https://www.facebook.com/scaaft/photos/a.263175027220103.1073741828.257573871113552/435651503305787/?type=3
  9. Lewis, Dave (27 January 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: Wanderers land Griffiths to bolster attacking stocks". The World Game. SBS.
  10. Socceroos first loss in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Archived 25 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Socceroos to face former European champions in friendly
  12. Arnold focused beyond Denmark
  13. Finally, Holman's where the heart is
  14. Socceroos finalise squad for Singapore match Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  15. Griffith brothers to play big part in A-League finals
  16. Griffiths brothers sink Jets Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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