Ryan Smith (footballer)

Ryan Smith

Smith in 2006
Personal information
Full name	Ryan Craig Matthew Smith
Date of birth	(1986-11-10) 10 November 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth	Islington, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2006	Arsenal	0	(0)
2005–2006	→ Leicester City (loan)	17	(1)
2006–2007	Derby County	15	(0)
2007–2009	Millwall	17	(0)
2008–2009	Southampton	13	(0)
2009–2010	Crystal Palace	5	(0)
2010–2011	Sporting Kansas City	32	(4)
2012	Chivas USA	21	(0)
2013	Skoda Xanthi	12	(0)
Total		132	(5)
International career‡
2002	England U16	6	(2)
2003	England U17	3	(0)
2004–2005	England U18	2	(1)
2004–2006	England U19	6	(1)
2004–2006	England U20	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 March 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 October 2012

Ryan Craig Matthew Smith (born 10 November 1986) is an English footballer.

Personal

Smith's father is American, from Alaska and his mother is of English heritage, with his grandparents hailing from Montego Bay. He first attended St. Aloysius College secondary school, which was attended by West Ham United midfielder Joe Cole, before moving on to Highams Park School, where he was a classmate of Jamie O'Hara.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career

Arsenal

An England youth international, Smith started his career at Arsenal. He made his Arsenal debut against Rotherham United on 28 October 2003 at the age of 16. Arsenal won the tie 9–8 on penalties with Smith converting his spot kick. ^[1] He also managed to start against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough. All of the six matches in which he played for Arsenal were in the League Cup, including a game on 9 November 2004 against Everton which saw him go off injured after 20 minutes.

Leicester City

On 30 September 2005, Smith was signed by Leicester City on loan for the whole of the 2005–06 season. He scored his first career goal in a 4–2 win over Sheffield United. ^[2] He returned to Arsenal on 10 March 2006. ^[3]

Derby County

On 4 August 2006, Smith agreed personal terms on a 3-year contract with Championship outfit Derby County. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Southampton on 6 August. After struggling to adapt and break into a Derby side pushing for promotion, plus the arrival of several midfielders in the January transfer window, Smith was sold.

Millwall

Smith moved on loan to League One side Millwall on 21 March 2007 on an initial one-month loan deal, but this was extended on 17 April 2007 to run until the end of the 2006–07 season. Smith impressed during his time on loan at Millwall and manager Willie Donachie expressed an interest in retaining the youngster's services. ^[4] In July 2007 Millwall paid £150,000 for Smith, who signed a two-year contract with the club. ^[5]

Southampton

On 3 October 2008, he joined Southampton initially on a three-month loan. ^[6] The transfer became permanent on 1 January 2009, when Smith signed a 6-month contract. ^[7] He was released by Southampton on 2 May 2009.

Crystal Palace

On 26 August 2009, he signed a contract with Crystal Palace. ^[8] He made his Crystal Palace first team debut on 27 August in the 2–0 League Cup defeat to Manchester City coming on as a substitute in the second half. He left on 25 January 2010 after coming to the end of his short-term contract. ^[9]

Kansas City Wizards/Sporting KC

On 27 January, Smith joined Grimsby Town on trial, playing for The Mariners in a behind the closed doors friendly against Hull City at Blundell Park. ^[10] On 2 February 2010, it was reported that Smith would join Kansas City Wizards on trial during their preseason training camp in Arizona, ^[11] and on 2 March he signed a two-year deal with the club. ^[12] Smith scored on his Kansas City debut in a 4–0 win over D.C. United.

While still under contract to Sporting Kansas City, Smith left in June 2011, eventually trialing in Spain with Real Zaragoza in July. ^[13] Kansas City declined to transfer him, however.

Chivas USA

On 21 November 2011, Sporting Kansas City traded Smith's rights to Chivas USA in exchange for two 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft picks. ^[14]

Xanthi

Smith signed with Greek club Skoda Xanthi on 29 December 2012. ^[15]

Career statistics

(correct as of 30 March 2010)

Club	Season	League			Cup [16]			Europe			Play-Offs			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Arsenal	2003–04	0	0	0	3	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0	0
Arsenal	2004–05	0	0	0	3	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0	0
Total	2003–2006	0	0	0	6	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	0	0
Leicester (loan)	2005–06	17	1	3	2	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	19	1	3
Total	2005–2006	17	1	3	2	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	19	1	3
Derby	2006–07	15	0	2	5	0	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	0	3
Total	2006–2007	15	0	2	5	0	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	0	3
Millwall (loan)	2006–07	6	0	3	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	0	3
Millwall	2007–08	16	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	16	0	0
Millwall	2008–09	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	0
Total	2006–2009	17	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	0	0
Southampton	2008–09	13	0	1	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	0	1
Total	2006–2009	13	0	1	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	0	1
Crystal Palace	2009–10	5	0	0	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	0	0
Total	2009–present	5	0	0	1	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	0	0
Sporting Kansas City	2010	25	3	6	0	0	0	na	na	na	-	-	-	1	1	6
Total	2010–present	1	1	1	0	0	0	na	na	na	-	-	-	1	1	1
Career totals		68	2	7	15	0	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	83	2	24

References

1. "Match Report – Arsenal v Rotherham United – 28 Oct 2003". Arsenal F.C. 25 May 2004. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
2. "Leicester 4-2 Sheff Utd". BBC. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
3. "Smith ends Foxes stint". football.co.uk. 10 March 2006. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
4. "RYAN'S MAN FOR LIONS". Daily Mirror. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
5. "Millwall tie up Rams winger Smith". BBC. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
6. "Saints sign Smith". Southampton FC. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
7. "Smith deal sealed". Southampton FC. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
8. "Breaking news: Smith completes Eagles switch". croydonadvertiser.co.uk. 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
9. "Smith Departs Palace". Crystal Palace FC. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
10. "Grimsby Town | News | Latest News | Latest News | Town Beaten by Tigers". www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
11. The Back Post: Ryan Smith joins Wizards in Arizona
12. Smith agrees MLS deal
13. "Private Site".
14. "Sporting deal Smith to Chivas USA for supplemental picks | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011.
15. "Smith Signs with Xanthi; Valencia Rumored Out". 28 December 2012.
16. Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield

External links

• Ryan Smith at Major League Soccer
• Ryan Smith at Soccerbase
• Official website: www.ryansmith11.com