Mathew David Ryan is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish club F.C. Copenhagen and the Australia national team.
Standing just over 183 cm tall (6ft), Ryan is not regarded as being particularly tall for a goalkeeper, but he is confident, well-built and agile. Ryan is a strong and assured goalkeeper who makes up for his relative lack of height with a muscular build that ensures that he fills his goal. Ryan is positionally sound, but also not afraid to come off his line and communicates well with the defenders. Ryan's biggest asset is his accurate ball distribution by hand and foot over a range of distances.
Born in Sydney, Ryan played youth football for Marconi Stallions, Blacktown City and Central Coast Mariners. He made his senior debut for Blacktown before moving to the Mariners' senior squad in 2010. In 2013, Ryan moved to Club Brugge, where he played for two years before joining Valencia. Making his senior international debut in 2012, he has since established himself as Australia's first-choice goalkeeper, effectively succeeding his childhood idol Mark Schwarzer. He represented the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, winning the Best Goalkeeper award at the latter tournament which his country won on home soil. |
