Ryan Sweeney (footballer)

Ryan Sweeney (born 15 April 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Burton Albion.

Ryan Sweeney
Personal information
Full name Ryan Sweeney[1]
Date of birth (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997
Place of birth Kingston upon Thames, England, United Kingdom
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) [2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Burton Albion
Number 6
Youth career
2005–2015 AFC Wimbledon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 AFC Wimbledon 13 (0)
2016–2019 Stoke City 0 (0)
2017 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 16 (0)
2017–2018 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 23 (3)
2018–2019 → Mansfield Town (loan) 25 (1)
2019–2021 Mansfield Town 82 (4)
2021–2023 Dundee 67 (8)
2023– Burton Albion 10 (0)
International career‡
2015 Republic of Ireland U19 5 (0)
2017–2018 Republic of Ireland U21 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 24 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:00, 16 October 2018 (UTC)

Early life

Sweeney was born in Kingston upon Thames and attended Richard Challoner School in New Malden where he was captain of the school football team.[3][4] Sweeney's brother Dan was also in the academy at AFC Wimbledon[5] and currently plays for Stevenage.

Playing career

AFC Wimbledon

Sweeney began his career with his local club AFC Wimbledon, joining their youth academy at the age of eight in 2005.[6] He signed his first professional contract with AFC Wimbledon in February 2015.[7] Sweeney made his Football league début for AFC Wimbledon on 6 April 2015, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute during the 4–0 away loss against Dagenham and Redbridge.[8] He started Wimbledon's next match on 11 April 2015, a 0–0 draw against Oxford United at Kingsmeadow, and was named man of the match.[9]

Sweeney began the 2015–16 season with the club's under-21 side before injury to Karleigh Osborne saw Neal Ardley give Sweeney his chance in defence against Luton Town on 13 February 2016.[10] Wimbledon won the match 4–1 and Sweeney earned praise for his performance.[11] He kept his place in the side until he was sent-off for conceding a penalty in a 2–1 defeat at Morecambe on 12 March 2016.[12] Sweeney signed a new contract with Wimbledon in March 2016 after attracting interest from Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.[13] On 4 August 2016 Wimbledon announced that they had agreed a fee with Stoke City for the transfer of Sweeney.[14][15]

Stoke City

On 5 August 2016, Sweeney completed his move to Stoke City for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £250,000.[16]

Bristol Rovers loan

On 20 January 2017 Sweeney joined Bristol Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.[17] He impressed on his debut for the club, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory over local rivals Swindon Town during which he had a header cleared off the line.[18] He played 16 times for the Gas helping he club finish in 10th position.[19]

Sweeney rejoined The Pirates on loan for the 2017–18 season.[20] He scored his first goal for the Gas in a 3–1 win against Blackpool.[21] Sweeney made 27 appearances in 2017–18 scoring four goals as Rovers finished in 13th position.[22]

Mansfield Town

Sweeney joined Mansfield Town on loan for the 2018–19 season.[23] After a successful six-month loan, Sweeney signed for the Stags on a permanent basis in January 2019.[24]

Dundee

In June 2021, Sweeney signed with Scottish Premiership side Dundee on a two-year deal.[25] He would make his debut from the bench in a 2–2 league draw against St Mirren.[26] Sweeney scored his first goal for Dundee in a league game away to St Johnstone in October 2021.[27] Although the club would be relegated that season, Sweeney impressed enough to be awarded Dundee's Players' Player of the Year and the Andrew De Vries Player of the Year awards.[28][29]

After taking over the role of captain from the retired Charlie Adam the following season, Sweeney would have a very strong season and would lead Dundee to the Scottish Championship title and an immediate return back to the top flight.[30] Sweeney would be named to PFA Scotland's Scottish Championship Team of the Year at the end of the season, as well as being named in the SPFL's Championship Team of the Season.[31][32] On 5 June 2023, Dundee announced that Sweeney would leave the club.[33]

Burton Albion

On 14 July 2023, Sweeney returned to England when he joined League One club Burton Albion on a two-year deal.[34]

International career

On 18 May 2015 Sweeney was called up to the Ireland U-18s squad for the first time.[35]

Republic of Ireland U21s

On 15 March 2017, Sweeney was called up to the Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team for the first time for the Under 21 European Championship qualifier match against Kosovo.[36] He played the whole game as Ireland ran out as 1–0 winners thanks to a 2nd half goal from Olamide Shodipo.[37]

Career statistics
As of match played 24 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AFC Wimbledon 2014–15[38] League Two 3000000030
2015–16[39] League Two 100000000100
Total 130000000130
Stoke City 2016–17[19] Premier League 0000000000
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2016–17[19] League One 160000000160
2017–18[22] League One 233002021274
Total 393002021434
Mansfield Town 2018–19[40] League Two 381202040461
2019–20[41] League Two 331201031391
2020–21[42] League Two 36 3 2 0 1 0 3 1 42 5
Total 107560401021277
Dundee 2021–22[43] Scottish Premiership 35 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 38 3
2022–23[44] Scottish Championship 32 5 2 0 6 0 4[lower-alpha 1] 0 44 5
Total 67 8 5 0 6 0 4 0 82 8
Burton Albion 2023–24 League One 10 0 0 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 12 0
Career total 2361611013017227719
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Club

AFC Wimbledon

Dundee

Individual

Dundee

References
  1. "Ryan Sweeney". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. "Ryan Sweeney". Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. "Richard Challoner boys bag football trophy". Surrey Comet. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  4. "Challoner's goals just keep flying in". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  5. A rise through the ranks
  6. Chris Slavin (2 December 2014). "A rise through the ranks". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. "Duo awarded pro deals". BBC Sport. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  8. "Dag & Red 4–0 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  9. "Wimbledon 0–0 Oxford Utd". AFC Wimbledon. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  10. "AFC Wimbledon 4–1 Luton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  11. "AFC Wimbledon 4–1 Luton". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  12. "Morecambe 2–1 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  13. "Ryan Sweeney signs new AFC Wimbledon contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  14. "Update on Ryan Sweeney". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  15. "Sweeney Agreement Reached". Stoke City. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  16. "Ryan Sweeney: Stoke City sign AFC Wimbledon defender". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  17. "RYAN IN ON LOAN". Bristol Rovers. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  18. "Bristol Rovers 1–0 Swindon Town-BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  19. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  20. "Ryan Sweeney & Dominic Telford: Stoke City pair join League One Bristol Rovers loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  21. "Bristol Rovers 3–1 Blackpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  22. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  23. "Ryan Sweeney: Mansfield Town sign Stoke City defender on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  24. "Stags sign Sweeney on permanent deal". Mansfield Town. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  25. "Ryan joins". dundeefc.co.uk. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  26. Duncan, Thomas (31 July 2021). "Dundee 2–2 St Mirren: 10-man hosts come from behind twice to earn draw". BBC. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  27. "Kane's St Johnstone double downs Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  28. "Ryan picks up De Vries Trophy". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  29. Cran, George. "Dundee star Ryan Sweeney wins Player of the Year double as Max Anderson and Charlie Adam scoop club awards". The Courier. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  30. "Dundee back in Premiership after eight-goal epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  31. Cran, George. "Dundee trio join Arbroath star in the PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year". The Courier. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  32. "cinch Championship Team of the Season 22/23 | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  33. "Ryan Sweeney departs the club". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  34. "BREWERS SIGN RYAN SWEENEY". www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  35. "Ardley thrilled as AFC Wimbledon youngster earns Republic of Ireland call". Get West London. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  36. "How Bristol Rovers could tackle defender crisis as international call-ups take their toll". Bristol Post. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  37. "REPORT: Ireland U21s beat Kosovo in UEFA campaign opener". FA Ireland. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  38. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  39. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  40. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  41. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  42. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  43. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  44. "Games played by Ryan Sweeney in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  45. Pilnick, Brent (30 May 2016). "AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  46. "@DundeeFC on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
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