Ian Ryan (born: 9 June 1987) is a very promising young central defender who has already got a First Division winners medal under his belt. The Dubliner spent unsuccessful spells at both Kilkenny City and Waterford United, and it wasn’t until 2006 that Ryan got his first real taste of League of Ireland action. After appearing three times from the bench when on-loan from Waterford to Shamrock Rovers in their ill-fated Premier Division campaign in 2005, Ryan was re-signed permanently by the Hoops for their first ever season outside the top tier. And, it was a move which proved fruitful, as Ryan made 17 appearances (13 starts/4 subs) and formed part of a watertight defence which conceded just 13 goals on their way to lifting the First Division title.
 
Ryan was rewarded for his performances with a new contract for 2007, and he played in thirteen (9 starts/4 subs) of Rovers’ first fifteen league games, before being loaned out to bottom-of-the-table, Longford Town, at the beginning of the July transfer window. He made his debut for Longford when starting the 4-2 defeat away to Saint Patrick’s Athletic on 15 July, and he went on to make a further nine league appearances (5 starts/4 subs) as the midlanders narrowly failed to pull off a miracle by avoiding relegation. During his time at Flancare Park, the centre-half found his very first and only goal to date in senior soccer when he scored an injury-time consolation in the televised home game with Drogheda United on 28 September.
 
Ryan was unfortunate to miss out on the club’s run to the FAI Cup final against Cork City, as he had earlier played for Shamrock Rovers in their defeat to Sligo Rovers in the second round of the competition, incidentally just fourteen days before he went to Longford. Ryan was one of a number of players released by Rovers that were quickly snapped up by John Gill for Dundalk’s 2008 First Division campaign.
 
Profile last updated: February 2008