- Mat Ryan had just signed for Spanish side Levante
Socceroos captain Mat Ryan has revealed why he made the agonising decision to miss the birth of his first child.
Ryan – who is on track to play in his fourth successive World Cup later this year – joined Spanish side Levante last August after they were promoted to the La Liga competition where domestically they line up against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
His partner Chloe was due in October, but their baby boy Preston James Ryan had other plans.
When Chloe informed the veteran goalkeeper that her waters had broken on September 20, the 33-year-old knew he wouldn’t make it back to Australia in time.
‘It was early in the season…I had just arrived (at Levante) and I didn’t want to give the coach any extra ammunition to then change goalkeeper or give the other ‘keeper an opportunity to play,’ Ryan told News Corp.
‘If he did well, maybe they would take me out of the team after that…(so) in the end we (Ryan and Chloe) decided to just keep to the original plan.’
Socceroos captain Mat Ryan has revealed why he made the agonising decision to miss the birth of his first child (pictured, with partner Chloe and the couple’s baby boy Preston)
When Chloe’s water broke, Mat Ryan knew he wouldn’t make it back to Australia in time to see his baby boy enter the world
Ryan, 33, is tipped to be the Socceroos’ No.1 choice between the sticks at the World Cup later this year
Preston – the couple’s first child – was born on September 21.
Ryan admitted it was ‘tough’ not to be present, and it isn’t a scenario the new parents want to endure again.
In an insight to life as a professional footballer, Ryan then patiently waited for a break in his playing schedule.
He then flew to Perth to meet his son and be reunited with Chloe before returning to Spain 30 hours later.
Fast forward six months later and the gloveman is loving life as a dad – and his performances with Levante have been electric.
Chloe and Preston have since joined the shot-stopper in Valencia, and Ryan is looking forward to the Socceroos’ upcoming matches against Cameroon and Curacao in Sydney and Melbourne.
It will also be baby Preston’s first trip back to Australia, where he will meet extended family and friends.
Ryan is tipped to be the Socceroos no.1 choice between the sticks for the World Cup – with Joe Gauci and Paul Izzo predicted to be the two other goalkeepers in Tony Popovic’s squad.
Australia take on the yet-to-be-determined UEFA Playoff C winner in Vancouver in their World Cup opener on June 14 before lining up against the United States (June 20, Seattle) and Paraguay (June 26, Santa Clara).
