Robbie Ryan

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Personal information
Robbie Ryan
Full name	Robert Paul Ryan
Date of birth	May 16, 1977 (age 29)
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height	5 ft 11 in
Playing position	Left back
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1993 - 1994 1994 - 1998 1998 - 2004 2004 - 2007	Belvedere Huddersfield Town Millwall Bristol Rovers	15 (0) 226 (2) 54 (0)
National team
	Ireland U-21	12
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:33, 1 February 2007 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Robert 'Robbie' Ryan (born 16 May 1977 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish professional football (soccer) player, who is a left back. He is currently without a club after leaving Bristol Rovers in February 2007.

Ryan began his career at Huddersfield Town in July 1994 but didn't make his first team debut until September 1996 when he came on as a sub in a 3-1 win over Ipswich Town.

After making just 15 Appearances for The Terriers, Ryan joined Millwall in 2000, costing the club £10,000. He made his debut in a 0-0 draw with Southend United. In the 2000-01 season he only missed four games for Millwall as they won the Football League Second Division title. The following season, Ryan played 32 league games as Millwall made the First Division play offs, losing to Birmingham City.

At the end of his contract, Millwall offered him another one-year deal, which he declined in favour of a three-year deal with Bristol Rovers, despite dropping down two divisions. He had played 226 league games for Millwall. His last appearance in a Millwall shirt happened to be the FA Cup Final against Manchester United where he was marking Cristiano Ronaldo.

Computer game Championship Manager played its part in Ryan's transfer. Utilising real-life statistical data, the game revealed to Ryan Molesworth, the son of Bristol Rovers scout Paul Molesworth, that Robbie Ryan's contract was expiring. Rovers then became interested in signing the player, which after negotiations, actually took place.^[1]

In the 2004-05 season, Ryan made 40 league appearances for Bristol Rovers. In 2005-06 he played only 17 games, none at all since November. On February 1, 2007 Bristol Rovers terminated Ryan's contract.^[2]

Ryan has represented Ireland at schoolboy and youth levels playing in the FIFA World Youth Champions in Malaysia for the Republic of Ireland who came 3rd and has also picked up 12 U21 caps.