 Shotton playing forBirmingham City in April 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ryan Colin Shotton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-10-30)30 October 1988 (age 37)[2][3] | ||
| Place of birth | Fenton,Stoke-on-Trent, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[4] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2007 | Stoke City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2015 | Stoke City | 48 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | →Altrincham (loan) | 34 | (5) |
| 2008–2009 | →Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 33 | (5) |
| 2009–2010 | →Barnsley (loan) | 30 | (0) |
| 2013 | →Wigan Athletic (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2014 | →Derby County (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Derby County | 19 | (0) |
| 2016 | →Birmingham City (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2016–2017 | Birmingham City | 44 | (2) |
| 2017–2020 | Middlesbrough | 75 | (1) |
| 2020 | Leek Town | 1 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Melbourne Victory | 8 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Hanley Town | 61 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022–2024 | Hanley Town | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:20, 4 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Ryan Colin Shotton (born 30 October 1988) is an English professionalfootballer and manager who plays as adefender. He was most recently player-manager ofNorthern Premier League Division One West clubHanley Town.
Shotton progressed through theStoke City Academy and signed a professional contract in 2007. He went on loan toAltrincham,Tranmere Rovers andBarnsley respectively to gain first team experience. He broke into the Stoke squad towards the end of the2010–11 season. He played in theUEFA Europa League in2011–12 scoring againstMaccabi Tel Aviv. In September 2013 Shotton joinedWigan Athletic on loan. He then joinedDerby County on loan in August 2014 before completing a permanent move in January 2015. In 2016, he spent time on loan atBirmingham City, and signed for them permanently in June of that year, before moving on to Middlesbrough in August 2017 where he spent three seasons. He played briefly forLeek Town before joiningA-League clubMelbourne Victory in 2020.
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Born inFenton, Staffordshire,[5] Shotton joined his local league side,Stoke City, where he progressed through the youth ranks and was handed a professional contract in 2007.[4] He then moved on loan toAltrincham of theConference National,[6] where he spent most of the 2007–08 season. He began at centre back before slotting into the right-back position,[citation needed] and he also played some matches as aforward, scoring five goals.[7] Shotton won the Supporters' Player of the Year award for his performances on loan at Altrincham.[8] He made his debut for Stoke on 26 August 2008 in a 3–2 victory overCheltenham Town in theLeague Cup, coming on as asubstitute in the 90th minute.[9]
He then joinedLeague One clubTranmere Rovers on a one-month loan on 29 August 2008,[10] and made his debut four days later, at home toAccrington Stanley in a 1–0 win in theFootball League Trophy.[11] He scored his first goal for Tranmere away atHuddersfield Town, heading in the winner to clinch a 2–1 victory.[12] His loan at Rovers was extended until the end of the 2008–09 season.[13][14][15] On 23 September 2009 Shotton and teammateCarl Dickinson joinedChampionship sideBarnsley on loan for three months.[16] Both spent the entire season with the club, and Shotton made 30 appearances.[17]
Shotton signed a two-year contract extension in September 2010 keeping him at theBritannia Stadium until 2013.[18] He made his first appearance on the Stoke bench for a league game againstWigan Athletic in December 2010. He made his home debut for Stoke in anFA Cup match againstCardiff City on 8 January 2011 and played the full 90 minutes.[19] He described it as one of the proudest moments of his life.[20]
"It was absolutely unbelievable really when the gaffer told me I was in the team, and it was such a proud moment for me. The gaffer pulled me aside on Tuesday and told me to prepare myself because I was in his mind for the game. Then on the morning of the game, he named his team and I was in there and it was such a surreal moment when I heard him tell me the news. I would be lying if I said there weren't any nerves because there were, so just to get out there and put in a decent performance was fantastic for me"
— Shotton on making his home debut for Stoke.[21]
He made hisPremier League debut for Stoke in a 0–0 draw withBlackpool atBloomfield Road on 30 April 2011.[22] Shotton appeared to have scored his first goal for Stoke in a 1–0 win overHajduk Split in theUEFA Europa League where he was playing as a makeshiftcentre forward, but the goal was officially recorded as anown goal.[23][24] He did score in the 89th minute of the Premier League match againstWest Bromwich Albion on 28 August to secure a 1–0 win,[25] and scored in the Europa League againstMaccabi Tel Aviv on 20 October.[26] Shotton signed a new four-year contract with Stoke in November 2011.[27] He made his first Premier League start for Stoke on 3 December, in an away win overEverton where he played at right midfield in place ofJermaine Pennant,[28] and said that the first half of the season could not have gone better for him.[29]
He was named Stoke's Young Player of the Season for2011–12,[30] despite an indifferent run of form after Christmas until the end of the season, and he began2012–13 out of the first team frame.[31] But following injuries toMarc Wilson andAndy Wilkinson, Shotton had the opportunity to return to the starting line-up in November 2012.[32] He was warned by managerTony Pulis that he needed to "get his head together" to remain in the side.[31] He played 26 times for Stoke in 2012–13,[33] as the Potters finished in 13th position, and often came in for criticism from supporters.[34]
At the start of the2013–14 season, Shotton failed to make force his way into new managerMark Hughes' plans. A permanent transfer to Wigan Athletic fell through, but he joined the Championship club on loan until 2 January 2014.[35][36] He made 14 appearances for the Latics, scoring once, in a 2–0 victory againstIpswich Town on 22 September.[37][38]
On 25 August 2014, Shotton joinedDerby County on loan with a view to a permanent deal.[39] He made the move permanent on 1 January 2015, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[40]
Shotton joined fellow Championship clubBirmingham City on 28 January 2016 on loan until the end of the season.[41] He made his debut on 13 February, replacingPaul Caddis at right back for the goalless draw atRotherham United.[42] He played in the next two matches before Caddis was restored to the starting eleven.[43] His next appearance was five weeks later away atReading; he started the match at centre back alongsideMichael Morrison, and scored Birmingham's second goal in their 2–0 win after 27 minutes whenDavid Cotterill's free kick was parried by Reading's goalkeeper.[44] Playing in his preferred position and hoping for a permanent move,[45] Shotton kept his place for the next five matches, and succeeded in impressing managerGary Rowett to the extent that he would consider making an offer for the player if he were available.[46]
Shotton signed a three-year contract with Birmingham City on 30 June 2016. The fee was undisclosed,[47] but was later reported to be around £300,000.[48] He began the season partnering Morrison at the centre of a back four; he felt they worked well together, and the pair established themselves as a strong defensively sound pairing.[49] Rowett commented that Shotton's athleticism enabled the team to defend higher up the pitch and that his concentration and decision-making were improving.[50] The following week, Shotton admitted responsibility for slack marking that allowedSteven Caulker to score an equaliser forQueens Park Rangers,[51] and then produced a fine performance as Birmingham drew 1–1 in the local derby against newly relegatedAston Villa in October – with his dreadlocks dyed blue for the occasion.[48] He scored twice in the first half of the season: the opening goal in a 2–2 draw at home toPreston North End and Birmingham's second goal away toBrentford at the end of November that secured a 2–1 win.[52] After that match, Rowett praised Shotton's progress both in terms of concentration and as Morrison's defensive partner – both had played every minute of the campaign thus far – but reminded him that he needed to remain focused in training as well as on the pitch.[53]
Two weeks later, with the team just outside the play-off positions, Rowett was replaced byGianfranco Zola,[54] who retained Shotton and Morrison as his central defenders of choice in a three-man back line.[55] In early February, Morrison underwent a hernia operation that was to keep him out until the last two matches of the season, and Shotton himself missed three matches with a groin injury.[56][57] On his return, he played alongside a variety of defenders as Birmingham slipped towards relegation. Zola's replacement byHarry Redknapp with three matches left coincided with Morrison's return to the team, and in a final fixture that Shotton later compared to soldiers in the trenches, the pair helped Birmingham keep a clean sheet away toBristol City to protect a 1–0 lead and secure Championship survival.[56][58] He finished the season with 43 league appearances, more than any other Birmingham player.[59]
Shotton said he was happy at Birmingham, and would consider extending his contract.[60] But after the arrival ofMarc Roberts as first choice alongside Morrison, and with the club actively pursuing other central defenders, Redknapp stated that Shotton wanted to leave. He reportedly turned down a move to Bristol City, and bids fromHull City andMiddlesbrough were rejected by the club,[48][61] but on 10 August Redknapp confirmed that a deal had been agreed with Middlesbrough, but that Shotton would not leave until replacements arrived.[62] He was not included in the matchday squad until the fourth match of the season, at home toBolton Wanderers, and when Morrison broke his nose in the first half, it was Shotton who replaced him.[63] Wearing a protective mask, Morrison was fit to start the next match three days later and Shotton, whose wife had recently given birth, was again omitted.[64] Eventually, with the transfer window closing and Birmingham about to signHarlee Dean from Brentford, Shotton was free to complete his move to Middlesbrough.[65]
Shotton signed a three-year contract with newly relegatedChampionship club Middlesbrough on 30 August 2017;[66] the fee was undisclosed, though was widely reported as £3 million. He was offered a contract extension by managerNeil Warnock at the end of theseason[65][67] but ultimately decided to drop down tonon-league football.
On 31 October 2020, Shotton made anFA Trophy appearance forNorthern Premier League First Division South East clubLeek Town. They lost 3–2 toEvesham United.[68] Four days later he played a in a 3–2 League win againstIlkeston.[69]
Shotton signed forMelbourne Victory on 18 December 2020.[70] He played sevenA-League matches in the early part of 2021,[71] but his season was disrupted first by a groin injury and then by a knee injury sustained during his comeback match, and he left the club by mutual consent in May.[72]
In August 2021, Shotton joinedMidland League Premier Division sideHanley Town, managed by former Stoke City teammateCarl Dickinson.[73] Following Dickinson's departure, Shotton was named player-manager.
In October 2024, following a poor start to the season, Shotton announced his departure from the club.[74]
Shotton plays as aright back and due to his 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) frame he can also be used as a makeshiftcentre forward. He also has the ability to perform along throw-in similar to that ofRory Delap.[75]Tony Pulis also played Shotton at right wing on a number of occasions.[76]
His older brother,Liam, is also a footballer who played professionally in Singapore'sS.League and innon-League football in England.[77][78] His cousinSaul Shotton is also a footballer.[79]
Shotton was charged with assault at a nightclub inHanley in June 2012.[80] He was found not guilty in December 2012.[81] As of November 2020, Shotton owned the Black Lion pub inCheddleton.[68]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City | 2007–08[82] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09[83] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10[84] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11[85] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12[71] | Premier League | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10[a] | 1 | — | 38 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13[33] | Premier League | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14[38] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 48 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 1 | — | 70 | 2 | |||
| Altrincham (loan) | 2007–08[86] | Conference Premier | 34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4[b] | 2 | 40 | 7 | ||
| Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 2008–09[83] | League One | 33 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 1 | 39 | 6 | |
| Barnsley (loan) | 2009–10[84] | Championship | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2013–14[38] | Championship | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | |
| Derby County | 2014–15[87] | Championship | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16[43] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 2 | ||||
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2015–16[43] | Championship | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Birmingham City | 2016–17[52] | Championship | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18[88] | Championship | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 53 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 56 | 3 | ||||
| Middlesbrough | 2017–18[88] | Championship | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2[d] | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19[89] | Championship | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20[90] | Championship | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Total | 79 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 84 | 1 | |||
| Middlesbrough U23 | 2017–18[88] | — | — | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Leek Town | 2020–21[68][69] | NPL First Division South East | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1[f] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Melbourne Victory | 2020–21[71] | A-League | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Hanley Town | 2021–22[91] | Midland League Premier Division | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 2[g] | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[92] | Northern Premier League Division One West | 16 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 2[h] | 0 | 22 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24[93] | Northern Premier League Division One West | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2[i] | 0 | 21 | 2 | |||
| 2024–25[94] | Northern Premier League Division One West | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2[i] | 1 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Total | 61 | 3 | 12 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 1 | 81 | 5 | ||||
| Career total | 387 | 21 | 33 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 462 | 27 | ||
Stoke City
Individual
