Australian goalkeepers have a history of making a positive impact on English football.
Mark Bosnich won the Premier League with Manchester United and two League Cups with Aston Villa. Mark Schwarzer won the title with Leicester City and a League Cup with Middlesbrough, also reaching the Europa League final with Fulham in 2010. Adam Federici is currently at Bournemouth, John Filan was once of Wigan, Brad Jones was previously at Liverpool and Middlesbrough. The list goes on and on.
All up eight Aussies have spent time between the sticks in the Premier League. There have been many more at other levels of the English game, from Jamie Young to Alex Cisak, mostly recently at Leyton Orient.
In terms of goalkeeping talent, Australian punches well above its weight. Mat Ryan is the latest man off the Aussie production line to join England’s top flight. The 25-year old has joined Premier League new boys Brighton & Hove Albion to replace outgoing David Stockdale. After ending a 34-year absence from the top division, the Seagulls are looking to stay there.
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But just who is Mat Ryan? The shot-stopper was a teenage phenomenon who hails from western Sydney, the same part of Australia that Bosnich, Schwazrer, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and many other quality footballers came from. Ryan made his first-team debut at the age of 18 with A-League side the Central Coast Mariners, after the first-choice keeper went down with a season-ending injury in training.
Ryan’s rise was swift. In just three years with the Mariners he won just about everything on offer – a premiership, a championship, the A-League goalkeeper of the year award and he was named the best player in the 2012 grand final.
He then moved to Europe to join Belgian side Club Brugge, where he collected more silverware. Ryan adjusted to the higher level, won the Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year award two years in a row and helped Club Brugge to the 2015 Belgian Cup. At international level he succeeded Schwarzer, playing all three World Cup games for Australia at the 2014 World Cup. At the 2015 Asian Cup he helped the Socceroos win the tournament on home soil, claiming the Golden Glove award in the process.
Ryan’s ascension continued when he joined Valencia two years ago. After interest from Liverpool, the keeper was off to La Liga. But things turned sour in Spain after a succession of different managers and a knee injury. Los Che churned through seven head coaches in the past two years, including Gary Neville, in one of the tumultuous periods in the club’s history.
Ryan got back to his best with a five-month loan spell with Genk, recording 11 clean sheets in 24 matches. But the Premier League beckoned and the Socceroo has landed in England. The easy-going tennis-loving Australian, who grew up as an Arsenal fan and has Scottish heritage, will the last line of defence for Chris Hughton’s men.
Not the tallest of goalkeepers, Ryan makes up for it with agility and speed. A fantastic distributor, he is comfortable with the ball at his feet and playing as a sweeper-keeper.
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Little known at this stage in the UK, Bosnich is a believer in Ryan’s talent. He’s tipped the already vastly experienced 25-year old to successfully establish himself in the Premier League.
“He’s the most talented young goalkeeper in Australia I’ve seen,” Bosnich says.
“It will take him time but if people are patient with him, of course he can be. He played very well when he when back to Genk in the Europa League. He did well at Valencia when he was given the opportunity, unfortunately, he got injured. But he’s an excellent goalkeeper.”
“It’s fantastic news for Australian football that Maty’s joining Brighton. Obviously, we’ve got a line with Australian goalkeepers that have done very well in England – Mark Schwarzer, myself, John Filan, Adam Federici. I said to him it’s a wonderful thing, you’re going to the most exciting league in the world. It will be a great experience for him.”
