Derek Riordan

Derek Riordan

Riordan training with York City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Derek George Riordan[1]
Date of birth (1983-01-16) 16 January 1983[1]
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 York City
Number 12
Youth career
1999–2001 Hibernian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2001–2006 Hibernian 123 (54)
2003 → Cowdenbeath (loan) 2 (3)
2006–2008 Celtic 24 (5)
2008–2011 Hibernian 102 (36)
2011 Shaanxi Chanba 9 (1)
2012 St Johnstone 4 (0)
2012 Bristol Rovers 11 (0)
2014 Alloa Athletic 2 (0)
2014 Brechin City (trial) 1 (0)
2015 East Fife 11 (4)
2016– York City 4 (0)
National team‡
2004–2005 Scotland U21[3] 4 (0)
2005–2009 Scotland 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:32, 16 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:32, 16 April 2016 (UTC)

Derek George Riordan (born 16 January 1983) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for League Two club York City. He has been capped three times by the Scotland national football team.

Riordan started his career with Hibernian in 2001 and had a brief spell on loan with Cowdenbeath in 2003. He became one of the top young players in the Scottish Premier League, winning the young player of the year awards in 2005. Riordan signed for Celtic in 2006, but failed to hold down a regular first-team place and returned to Hibernian in 2008.[4] He totalled 104 goals in 260 games across all competitions in his two spells at Easter Road.

Riordan left Hibs as a free agent in 2011 and signed for Chinese Super League club Shaanxi Chanba, but their two-year contract was mutually terminated after just four months. He then signed for St Johnstone on a short term contract in March 2012. Riordan then signed for Bristol Rovers, but he was released after a three-month deal. He has since had short spells with Alloa Athletic, Brechin City and East Fife.

Club career

Hibernian

Born in Edinburgh, Riordan signed for Hibernian on 14 May 1999 and made his first-team debut in 2001 in an Edinburgh derby.[1][5] In January 2003, Riordan went on loan to Cowdenbeath, along with team mate Paul Hilland.[6] Riordan scored four goals in three games for Cowdenbeath, including a hat-trick in a 7–5 win away to Brechin City.[6][7] Cowdenbeath wanted to extend the loan to the end of the 2002–03 season, but he returned to Hibernian at the end of January.[6][8]

Riordan was given an extended opportunity in the Hibs first team towards the end of the 2002–03 season, as Hibs had finished in the bottom half of the Scottish Premier League. He became a first team regular the following season.[5] Riordan was the club's top goalscorer for each of the next three seasons, with 18, 23 and 20 goals respectively. This earned him recognition in the form of the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year[9] and Scottish Football Writers' Young Player of the Year[10] awards in 2005, and selections for the full Scotland international squad later that year.[9]

At the end of the 2004–05 season, Riordan rejected an offer of an extension to his contract, and Hibs made him available for transfer.[11] A £500,000 fee was agreed with Cardiff City in August 2005, but Riordan rejected the move.[12] During the January 2006 transfer window, Rangers made a £400,000 bid for Riordan that was rejected by Hibs.[13] Bids from Lokomotiv Moscow and Kaiserslautern were accepted by Hibs, but Riordan rejected these moves because he did not want to move overseas.[13]

Riordan caused controversy in 2005 when he appeared in a video that showed him singing that Hearts player Rudi Skacel was a "fuckin' refugee", to the tune of The Beatles's "Yellow Submarine". Riordan later apologised for his actions.[14]

Celtic

Riordan signed for Celtic in a £170,000 deal in June 2006.[15] The fee was reduced from the previous offers because Riordan's contract with Hibs was due to expire in October 2006, and Riordan had already made a pre-contract agreement to sign for Celtic on a free transfer in January 2007.[13] Riordan made his full debut for Celtic in a Scottish League Cup tie against St Mirren, as Gordon Strachan fielded a side containing many players who were not first team regulars. He had difficulty obtaining a regular place in the Celtic side; he made only 24 league appearances in two seasons with the club.[16]

Riordan publicly aired his disappointment at not being given more opportunities in the Celtic first team in April 2008,[17] and he subsequently trained with the reserve team.[15] Burnley made a £400,000 offer for Riordan in January 2008, but this was rejected by Celtic.[15] Five other clubs, including his former club Hibernian, made loan offers for Riordan, but Celtic rejected these and informed Riordan that he would have to leave on a "permanent" deal.[18] Hibernian made another loan offer to Celtic for Riordan in August 2008, but this was also rejected by Celtic.[15]

Return to Hibernian

Riordan returned to Hibernian on the final day of the 2008 summer transfer window for an "undisclosed" fee believed to be around £400,000.[4] Hibs initially gave Riordan the unusual squad number 01, as number 10 had already been allocated to Colin Nish.[4] Riordan was given the number 10 shirt for the 2009–10 season; he was able to do this as Nish had taken number 9 after Steven Fletcher left the club to join Burnley in the summer of 2009. Riordan made his second debut for Hibernian on 13 September 2008, when he came on as a 61st-minute substitute for Joe Keenan against Dundee United. In his second appearance, he scored the only goal of the game against Hamilton Academical.[19] Riordan ended the 2008–09 season as Hibs' top goalscorer with 12 goals.

A good run of form at the start of the following season led to a recall to the Scotland squad and a player of the month award from the SPL.[20] Riordan scored his 100th goal in senior football later that season; he brought up the milestone with a trademark free kick against Kilmarnock that gave Hibs a 1–0 win.[21] Riordan had been omitted from Craig Levein's first Scotland squad, but Hibs manager John Hughes commented that Riordan had "worked very hard" in trying to win an international recall.[22] His consistent goalscoring in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons came about despite often playing in a wide midfield role.[5]

Hughes again praised Riordan during the 2010 pre-season.[23] Soon afterwards, Riordan declared that he wanted to agree a new contract with the club.[5] He was however also linked with a £500k move to Azerbaijan Premier League side Gabala, who at the time where managed by Tony Adams.[24] After the sale of Anthony Stokes to Celtic, Hughes started using Riordan as a central striker.[25] Despite scoring three goals in the early part of the season, Riordan was omitted from the Scotland squad in October 2010.[25]

After Hughes was replaced by Colin Calderwood as Hibs manager in October 2010, the new manager gave Riordan the team captaincy.[26] In his second game as captain, the first Edinburgh derby of the season, Riordan was sent off for a reckless lunge on Rudi Skácel in the dying minutes of a 2–0 loss.[26] Riordan bounced back by scoring both goals in a 2–1 win against Motherwell the following weekend.[27] He registered his 100th goal for Hibs in all competitions during a 2–1 defeat at Kilmarnock in December.[28] Riordan was the first player to achieve this milestone since Arthur Duncan thirty years ago.[29] A goal against Hamilton in March 2011 meant that Riordan became the third highest goalscorer in the Scottish Premier League era, behind only the prolific Old Firm goalscorers Kris Boyd and Henrik Larsson.[30]

In April 2011, the Daily Express reported that Riordan would leave Hibernian when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season.[31] The newspaper claimed that Riordan had turned down an offer of a new deal on reduced terms.[31]

Shaanxi Chanba

Riordan signed a two-year contract with Chinese Super League club Shaanxi Chanba in July 2011.[32] On 10 July 2011, Riodran made his debut for Shaanxi Chanba as a substitute coming on for Fabio Firmani in the 76th minute as they lost 1–0 to Liaoning Whowin, and made his start in a 1–1 draw against Shenzhen Ruby on 14 July. His first goal came when he scored against Chengdu Blades in a 3–1 win on 21 August.[33] He became a favourite player of the fans, but the team performed poorly in the 2011 season.[34] The team manager, Gao Hongbo, criticised Riordan after a defeat by Dalian Shide.[34] Riordan decided to leave the club and his contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2011.[35]

St Johnstone

Sky Sports reported that clubs in Italy and Turkey were interested in signing Riordan in January.[36] Riordan trained with Kilmarnock and Blackpool in January,[37][38] and St Johnstone in March.[39] On 30 March, Riordan signed for St Johnstone until the end of the 2011–12 season.[40][41] On 21 April 2012, Riordan made his first start in a 2–0 defeat against Dundee United and played 90 minutes in a 5–1 loss against Motherwell on 28 April 2012. The Courier newspaper reported on 15 May that his contract with St Johnstone would not be extended.[42]

Riordan agreed in July 2012 to go on trial with an unnamed club in the Spanish Premier Division.[43] Later in July, Riordan trained with Football League One club Milton Keynes Dons.[44] In August, Ross County made contact with his agent.[45]

Bristol Rovers

On 27 September 2012, Riordan signed for League Two club Bristol Rovers on a three-month deal.[46] He made his debut on 29 September, in a 2–1 victory against local rivals Exeter City. He made his home debut on 3 October in a 1–0 defeat to Cheltenham Town. Riordan was released at the end of his contract, having made 12 appearances without scoring a goal.[47]

Alloa Athletic and Brechin City

Riordan trained with Scottish Championship club Alloa Athletic in November 2013. On 14 February 2014, Alloa signed Riordan on a deal until the end of the season.[48] He made only two substitute appearances in a spell that was affected by an ankle injury.[49] Riordan was released by Alloa at the end of the 2013–14 season.[49]

Riordan played as a trialist for Brechin City in October 2014.[50] He was involved in three matches for Brechin, the maximum permitted for a trialist, after which Riordan turned down a contract offer.[51]

East Fife

He then played as a trialist for East Fife in February 2015, scoring the winning goal in a match against Annan.[52] East Fife manager Gary Naysmith then offered Riordan a contract to the end of the season,[52] which was signed in early March.[53] Riordan left East Fife at the end of the 2014–15 season. He trained with Hibernian in September 2015, with manager Alan Stubbs commenting that Riordan had been provided with their facilities due to his previous service for the club.[54]

York City

On 29 January 2016, Riordan signed for League Two club York City on a contract until the end of the 2015–16 season.[55]

Career statistics

Riordan training with York City in 2016

Club

As of match played 16 April 2016.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hibernian 2001–02[56] Scottish Premier League 6020100090
2002–03[57] Scottish Premier League 103—10—113
2003–04[58] Scottish Premier League 34151053—4018
2004–05[59] Scottish Premier League 37204132004423
2005–06[60] Scottish Premier League 361631221[lower-alpha 1]14220
Total 123541021271114664
Cowdenbeath (loan) 2002–03[57] Scottish Second Division 2311——34
Celtic 2006–07[61] Scottish Premier League 164332000217
2007–08[62] Scottish Premier League 8110101[lower-alpha 2]0111
2008–09[63] Scottish Premier League 00———00
Total 245433010328
Hibernian 2008–09[63] Scottish Premier League 321210——3312
2009–10[64] Scottish Premier League 37134321—4317
2010–11[65] Scottish Premier League 331120102[lower-alpha 3]03811
Total 1023673312011440
Shaanxi Chanba 2011[33] Chinese Super League 91———91
St Johnstone 2011–12[66] Scottish Premier League 40———40
Bristol Rovers 2012–13[67] League Two 11010——120
Alloa Athletic 2013–14[68] Scottish Championship 20———20
Brechin City (trial) 2014–15[33] Scottish League One 1000——10
East Fife 2014–15[33] Scottish League Two 114——2[lower-alpha 4]0134
York City 2015–16[69] League Two 40———40
Career total 29310323918861340121
  1. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Cup
  2. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  3. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ Appearances in Scottish League One play-offs

International

As of match played 14 November 2009.[70]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland 200510
200920
Total30

Honours

Celtic

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2005.06. Cre8 Publishing. 2005. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-95485-561-1.
  2. ↑ "Derek Riordan". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Derek Riordan". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hibernian return delights Riordan". BBC Sport. 2 September 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Derek Riordan looking to extend stay with Hibernian". BBC Sport. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "Morris heads for Stirling". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2016. Cowdenbeath hope to extend the loan deals for Hibernian pair Derek Riordan and Paul Hilland until the end of the season following their starring roles in Saturday's 7-5 win at Brechin.
  7. ↑ "Cowdenbeath edge 12-goal thriller". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "McLean set for St Mirren". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 January 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 Haggerty, Anthony (18 February 2009). "Hibs ace Derek Riordan eyes Scotland return". Daily Record (Glasgow). Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Hartson wins writers' top prize". BBC Sport. 2 May 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Mowbray in Riordan contract plea". BBC Sport. 4 July 2005.
  12. ↑ "Riordan turns down Cardiff move". BBC Sport. 30 August 2005.
  13. 1 2 3 "Celtic sign Hibs striker Riordan". BBC Sport. 13 May 2006.
  14. ↑ "Hibs ace Riordan apologies for refugee jibe at Jambo rival Skacel". Daily Record (Glasgow). 25 November 2005.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Hibs fail in loan bid for Riordan". Scotland on Sunday (Edinburgh). 9 August 2008.
  16. ↑ Derek Riordan career statistics at Soccerbase
  17. ↑ Gordon, Moira (5 April 2008). "Derek Riordan opens his heart on his Celtic hell". Scotland on Sunday (Edinburgh).
  18. ↑ "Hibs' Riordan approach rejected". BBC Sport. 27 January 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  19. ↑ "Hamilton Accies 0–1 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 20 September 2008.
  20. 1 2 "Hughes and Riordan scoop awards". BBC Sport. 1 October 2009.
  21. ↑ Hardie, David (8 March 2010). "Hibs 1–0 Kilmarnock: Deek's ton worth the wait". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  22. ↑ "Hughes expects Riordan Scotland call". STV Sport. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  23. ↑ "Derek Riordan in top form ahead of Hibs Euro adventure, says John Hughes". Daily Record (Glasgow). 27 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  24. ↑ Greig Thomas (31 May 2010). "Hibs striker Derek Riordan in frame for £500K switch to Tony Adams' Gabala". Daily Record (Glasgow). Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  25. 1 2 McLauchlin, Brian (30 September 2010). "John Hughes offers Derek Riordan Scotland hope". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  26. 1 2 "Riordan makes Hibs apology". Sky Sports. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  27. ↑ Moffat, Colin (13 November 2010). "Hibernian 2–1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  28. ↑ Hardie, David (21 December 2010). "Deek makes it 100 goals for Hibs". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  29. ↑ "Riordan: My Career Milestone". Hibernian F.C. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  30. ↑ Fisher, Stewart (3 March 2011). "Striking comparison". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  31. 1 2 Burns, Scott (29 April 2011). "Derek Riordan Leaving Hibernian". Daily Express (London). Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  32. ↑ McLaughlin, Chris (7 July 2011). "Former Hibs forward Derek Riordan joins Shaanxi Chanba". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "D. Riordan". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  34. 1 2 Martin, Robert (19 October 2011). "Deeking duck". The Scottish Sun (Glasgow). Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  35. ↑ "Riordan leaves Chinese club". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 18 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  36. ↑ O'Rourke, Pete (8 December 2011). "Duo eye Riordan move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  37. ↑ John Barnes, Liam McLeod and Jane Lewis (10 January 2012). "Kilmarnock face competition for Derek Riordan's signature". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  38. ↑ "Blackpool trial for former Celtic star". Blackpool Gazette. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  39. ↑ "Free agent Riordan on trial with St Johnstone". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  40. ↑ "St Johnstone agree short-term Derek Riordan deal". BBC Sport. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  41. ↑ "Saints seal Riordan deal". Sky Sports. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  42. ↑ Nicolson, Eric (15 May 2012). "Steve Lomas looking forward to rebuilding job at St Johnstone". The Courier (Dundee). Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  43. ↑ "Derek Riordan wins chance to impress in Spain's La Liga". STV Sport. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  44. ↑ "Derek Riordan training with Dons as Robbo continues to look at forward options". Milton Keynes Citizen. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  45. ↑ "Ross County target deal for Derek Riordan". BBC Sport. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  46. ↑ "Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee completes double striker swoop". Bristol Post. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  47. ↑ "Derek Riordan and Tom Eaves to leave Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  48. ↑ "Derek Riordan signs". Alloa Athletic F.C. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  49. 1 2 "Riordan leaves Alloa". Scottish Professional Football League. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  50. ↑ "Ex-Hibee Riordan must prove himself to Brechin". Edinburgh Evening News.
  51. ↑ "Riordan ends Brechin stint". Scottish Professional Football League.
  52. 1 2 Johnstone, Darren (3 March 2015). "Derek Riordan offered contract at East Fife". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  53. ↑ "Striker Derek Riordan joins League Two side East Fife". BBC Sport. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  54. ↑ "Hibernian: Penny will drop with Islam Feruz, hopes Alan Stubbs". BBC Sport. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  55. ↑ "Derek Riordan signs for York City". The Press (York). 29 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  57. 1 2 "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  63. 1 2 "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
    "Hibernian 3–0 Brechin". BBC Sport. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Derek Riordan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  70. ↑ "Riordan, Derek". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 February 2016.

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