Richie Ryan is an Irish

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 professional footballer

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 who plays as a midfielder

Midfielder

A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

 for Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers F.C.

Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...

. He has agreed to sign for Dundee United

Dundee United F.C.

Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...

 on a two and a half year deal in January 2012.

Career

Ryan played his youth days for Belvedere before moving abroad. Ryan started his professional career at Sunderland

Sunderland A.F.C.

Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...

 making two substitute appearances in the Premiership

FA Premier League

The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...

 in 2003.

He signed for Scunthorpe United

Scunthorpe United F.C.

Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....

 in 2005 before signing for Boston United

Boston United F.C.

Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...

 in 2006. He left the club a year later after their double relegation, intending returning to his native Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

Ryan spent a season with Royal Antwerp before moving back to Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers F.C.

Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...

.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw with Cork City in the Setanta Cup, Sligo's first ever goal in the competition.

He struggled to gat a regular place in the side for his first year and a half as he struggled with fitness but came into his own with a string of highly impressive passing displays in the successful 2010 season.Ryan won the 2010 PFAI Player of the Year award. He was named as club captain for the 2011

Sligo Rovers 2011 Season

The 2011 Sligo Rovers F.C. season is the club's 67th season competing in the League of Ireland and the team's fifth season under the management of Paul Cook.-Squad:All players used during the season:-In:-Out:...

 season and captained the club to a second place finish in the league and an FAI Cup, which sligo won after beating Shelbourne on penalties,This was Ryan's first time winning an FAI cup as he was suspended for the 2010 Final.

Ryan signed for 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...

 side Dundee United

Dundee United F.C.

Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...

 in November 2011. He will join his new teammates in January 2012.

Honours

Personal

• PFAI Player of the Year
  PFAI Players' Player of the Year
  The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Player of the Year award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, whom is seen to have been the best player of the previous season.The...
  
  :
  • Sligo Rovers
    Sligo Rovers F.C.
    Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
    
     - 2010

Club

• FAI Cup
  FAI Cup
  The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
  
  : 2
  • Sligo Rovers
    Sligo Rovers F.C.
    Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
    
     - 2010
    2010 FAI Cup
    The 2010 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2010 FAI Ford Cup, is the 87th season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland....
    
    , 2011
    2011 FAI Cup
    The 2011 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2011 FAI Ford Cup, is the 88th season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland...
    
    
• League of Ireland Cup: 1
  • Sligo Rovers
    Sligo Rovers F.C.
    Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
    
     - 2010
    2010 League of Ireland Cup
    The 2010 League of Ireland Cup, also known as the 2010 EA Sports Cup, was the 37th season of the Irish football knockout competition.The competition was won by Sligo Rovers who defeated Monaghan United in the final on 25 September 2010 at the Showgrounds, Sligo.A total of 29 teams competed in the...