 McGowan training with the Australia national team | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ryan James McGowan | ||
| Date of birth | 15 August 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Adelaide, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender / Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Shandong Luneng Taishan | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2004 | Para Hills Knights | ||
| 2004–2006 | SASI | ||
| 2006–2008 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006 | Para Hills | 10 | (1) |
| 2008–2013 | Heart of Midlothian | 57 | (2) |
| 2009–2010 | → Ayr United (loan) | 28 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Partick Thistle (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2013– | Shandong Luneng Taishan | 29 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005–2006 | Australia U-17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Australia U-20 | 21 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Australia U-23 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012– | Australia | 7 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 January 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 July 2013 | |||
Ryan McGowan (born 15 August 1989)[1] is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays forShandong Luneng Taishan in the Chinese Super League, as a defender. He has previously played for Para Hills Knights and Heart Of Midlothian, with loan spells at Ayr United and Partick Thistle. McGowan has represented Australia at U-17, U-20, U-23 and at full international level.[2]
Club career
Hearts
McGowan began his career at Para Hills Knights[3] and was part of the South Australian Sports Institute,[4] before moving to Scottish Premier League club Hearts in 2006 and was promoted to the first-team in 2008.[3] He was the captain of hearts under 19 squad[3] before making his SPL debut as substitute on 13 May that year in the final league match of the 2007-08 season against Gretna.[5]Shortly after he signed a five year contract with the club.[3] After just the one first team appearance he was sent out on loan to Ayr United at the start of 2009-10 season.
On his return under new manager Jim Jefferies he played as a substitute against Hamilton on 21 August 2010,[6] and against Celtic[7] before being sent out on loan again to Partick Thistle. Once back he made six more appearances that season,[8] with his first start for Hearts on 7 May againstRangers[9]
On 23 July 2011, he started the 2011–12 season with a Sky Sports 'Man of the Match' performance against Rangers at Ibrox.[10] He began to establish himself as a member of the first team and played in the Europa League qualifiers against Paks[11][12] and in the second leg against Tottenhamat White Hart Lane, where Hearts drew 0-0 (losing 5-0 on aggregate).[13] McGowan scored his first goal for Hearts in an Edinburgh derby on 2 January.[14] Later in the same game he headbutted Ivan Sproule in the stomach, which the referee viewed and took no action, however the SFA compliance officer opened an investigation.[15] The compliance officer offered a two match ban.[16] Hearts denied it was violent conduct but accepted the ban offered.[17] The 2011-12 SPL season was a good one for McGowan, scoring 3 goals - including one in the 127th Scottish Cup Final against Hibs - and winning the Hearts Young Player of the Year award.[18] Ahead of the last day of summer transfer window, Rangers made a bid for Hearts duo McGowan and David Templeton worth combined £1.3m valuation for the duo but the move rejected.[19] Templeton went on to join Rangers but McGowan stayed, explaining that he needs to keep his international career status alive.[20]
On 23 January 2013, it was announced that Hearts had accepted a bid of around £400,000 from Chinese side Shandong Luneng Taishan.[21] In all McGowan made seventy three appearances for the club.[22]
Ayr United (loan)
In October 2009, he was loaned out to First Division team Ayr United.[23] Making his debut on 24 October against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[24] In January 2010, the loan was extended until the end of the season.[25] In total, he made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal for Ayr.[26]
Partick Thistle (loan)
On 15 February 2011, he joined First Division team Partick Thistle on a three month loan deal[27] and made his debut the same night.[28] In all he made eight appearances before returning to Hearts at the start of April.[29]
Shandong Luneng Taishan
On 7 January 2013, McGowan signed a two year contract with Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng Taishan.[30] He made his Chinese Super League debut for Shangdong Luneng Taishan on 9 March 2013 against Dalian Aerbin.[31]
International career
McGowan was part of the Australia team that qualified for the AFC Youth Championship 2008 in November 2007.[32] McGowan was selected for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt; his brother and teammate Dylan McGowan, was not selected.[33]
McGowan started in the first match for the Young Socceroos in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and received a yellow and a straight red against the Czech Republic for a studs up challenge which resulted in a penalty.[34] He received his first call-up to the Australia senior squad in August 2012, when he was selected for the friendly match against Scotland,[35] making his debut as a late substitute replacing Sasa Ognenovski.[36] McGowan was booed by some sections of the home support due to his Hearts connections,[37] with the game being played at their Edinburgh rivals Hibernian's ground.[38]
