Ryan Griffiths (soccer)
Ryan Griffiths | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 21, 1981 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Football coach, former professional footballer |
| Years active | 1998–2017 (player) |
| Known for | Assistant manager at Newcastle Olympic FC; former professional striker |
Ryan Griffiths (born 21 August 1981) is an Australian football coach currently holding the position of assistant manager at Newcastle Olympic FC in the National Premier Leagues Northern NSW. Previously, he was a professional football striker before retiring.
Club career
Starting his professional journey at 17, Griffiths netted 4 goals across 10 matches playing for Northern Spirit. He subsequently secured a two-year contract with Newcastle United Jets, working under managers Ian Crook and Gary van Egmond. His impressive displays led to his selection for the Olyroos Australian Olympic squad competing in the Athens Olympics.
Griffiths drew attention from English clubs and came close to joining Stoke City, but was unable to obtain the required work permit. He then moved to Romania's top division, signing with National Bucharest in Divizia A, where he played for two seasons and attracted interest from prominent Eastern European teams. Subsequently, he transferred to Rapid București for a fee of 4.1 million Rupees.
On 18 March 2007, Griffiths scored his inaugural goal for Chinese Super League team Liaoning, securing a 1–0 victory against Shenyang Jinde. Following strong performances, he moved to Beijing Guoan at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign.
In June 2009, it was revealed that Griffiths would join A-League side Gold Coast United after completing the Chinese season; however, he later returned to Beijing. On 18 November 2010, Griffiths penned an 18-month deal with Newcastle Jets starting January 2011. He began the 2011–12 A-League season by scoring twice, leading the Jets to a 3–2 triumph over Melbourne Heart.
On 27 February 2012, he renewed his contract with Newcastle Jets for an additional two years, turning down offers from competing A-League clubs and overseas teams. On 26 February 2013, Griffiths was released to return to China, signing for Beijing Baxy, where he scored four goals in his initial six appearances.
Towards the end of 2013, reports linked Griffiths with Malaysia Super League outfit Sarawak, where his brother Adam Griffiths had played for Selangor earlier that year. On 8 January 2014, he rejoined the A-League by signing with Adelaide United. After only two months and four games, he departed Adelaide to join Sarawak.
On 5 December 2015, Hong Kong Premier League club South China announced they had signed Griffiths from Sarawak. Later, on 27 January 2017, he signed with Western Sydney Wanderers to bolster their attacking options.
In late 2017, Griffiths joined the Northern NSW National Premier League side Lambton Jaffas.
International career
Griffiths made his international debut on 6 September 2006 as a substitute replacing an injured Ahmad Elrich during a qualifier for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup against Kuwait. His second international appearance occurred in November 2006 during a friendly match versus Ghana, entering play in the final quarter-hour. His third cap came off the bench in a friendly defeat of 3-1 against Denmark, where he made an impact after coming on.
In June 2007, Griffiths earned his fourth cap in a friendly rematch against Uruguay, entering as a substitute in the 55th minute during a match that ended in a 2–1 loss. His last outing for Australia took place in 2008 when he appeared as a substitute in a scoreless friendly against Singapore.
Personal life
Ryan Griffiths shares his birthdate, 21 August, with his twin siblings Joel and Adam Griffiths, who are also professional football players. He currently holds the position of Director at the digital marketing firm Geek Media.
Honours
Achievements with Beijing Guoan:
- Chinese Super League Title: 2009
Club statistics (Hong Kong)
| 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 China | 2015–16 | Premier League | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 11 |
| South China | 2016–17 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 11 | ||