Rostyn Griffiths
Rostyn John Griffiths (born 10 March 1988) is an Australian professional footballer currently playing for Melbourne City FC. Griffiths is a former captain of another A-League club, Perth Glory.[2] In August 2017 it was announced that Griffiths had signed a lucrative deal as a defensive midfielder for Uzbekistan giants Pakhtakor Tashkent in the Uzbek League.[3]
 Griffiths with Melbourne City in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rostyn John Griffiths[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 March 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Stoke-on-Trent, England | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Melbourne City | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ECU Joondalup | |||
| 2003–2006 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2009 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Gretna (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Accrington Stanley (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2009 | Adelaide United | 2 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | North Queensland Fury | 23 | (3) |
| 2010–2012 | Central Coast Mariners | 48 | (4) |
| 2012–2014 | Guangzhou R&F | 34 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | Perth Glory | 35 | (5) |
| 2015–2016 | Roda JC | 18 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | Perth Glory | 24 | (3) |
| 2017–2018 | Pakhtakor Tashkent | 16 | (0) |
| 2018– | Melbourne City | 44 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005 | Australia U-17 | 2 | (2) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 August 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 April 2016 | |||
One of the most expensive signings in A-League history, the big defending-midfielder has always been a standout player in the A-League. Griffiths is renowned for his ability to break up the opposition's gameplay and being the central figure to his team's build-up play.
Griffiths starred for Central Coast Mariners from 2010 until he moved to Chinese club Guangzhou R&F in 2012. That departure attracted a $1.3 million transfer fee which remains an A-League record.[4]
Club career
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Griffiths started his youth career with Australian club ECU Joondalup before moving to England to play for Blackburn Rovers where he never made a senior appearance but during the time he spent at Blackburn he joined Gretna on loan in January 2008.[5] where he made his debut for the side against Heart of Midlothian in February.[6]
Accrington Stanley
He signed a one-year deal with Blackburn in January 2008 and was sent on loan to Accrington Stanley for the remainder of his contract.[7]
Adelaide United
On 3 February 2009 he was signed as an injury replacement player by A-League club Adelaide United. With the initial agreement only covering a four-week stint, there is an option to extend that to a two-year contract.[8] However, it is a permanent deal, and not a loan.
North Queensland Fury
On 2 July 2009, it was announced that Griffiths would join A-League club North Queensland Fury for their inaugural season. On 8 August 2009 he started in Fury's first A-league match and scored the Fury's first ever goal in a competitive match against Sydney FC.
Guangzhou R&F
On 29 February 2012 it was announced that he had signed for Chinese Super League club Guangzhou for a fee that was undisclosed at the time, but later revealed to be $1.3 million, a record sum for an Australian transfer.[9][10]
Perth Glory (2014–2015)
On 23 January 2014 it was announced that Griffiths returned to the A-League, signing with Perth Glory.[11]
On 4 December 2014, Griffiths scored his first goal of the 2014–15 season against Sydney FC in the 84th minute before Andy Keogh scored in the 86th minute to earn a late 2–1 comeback.[12]
Roda JC
On 26 July 2015, Perth Glory released Griffiths to allow him to sign a two-year deal with newly promoted Eredivise club Roda JC.[13] Following struggles for game-time, Griffiths left Roda JC after one season on 19 April 2016.[14]
Perth Glory (2016–2017)
On 24 July 2016, Griffiths returned once more to the A-League, signing a two-year deal with Perth Glory after trialling with them on their Philippines Tour.[15] On 2 October 2016, he was announced as captain of the club.[16]
Pakhtakor Tashkent
On 1 August 2017, Perth Glory announced that Griffiths would be leaving the club with immediate effect to join Uzbek League side Pakhtakor Tashkent.[17] Griffiths left Pakhtakor in May 2018, citing family reasons.[18]
Melbourne City
On 19 July 2018, Griffiths signed a two-year deal with Melbourne City, joining the club well before the start of the 2018/19 season.[19]
International career
Griffiths has played for Australia's National under 17 team, and scored a brace on his debut against Tonga.[20] While he was still playing for Blackburn, he was courted by Wales' national teams, due to a Welsh link on his Grandfather's side but, at that point, had not yet decided on his international allegiance.[21]
Personal life
His younger brother, Brent Griffiths is also a professional footballer who last played for Penang in the Malaysia Super League. The brothers were together, during their stints in the youth set up of English Premier League side, Blackburn Rovers.
Career statistics
- As of match played 30 August 2020
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2007–08 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gretna (loan) | 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2008–09 | Football League Two | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Adelaide United | 2008–09 | A-League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| North Queensland Fury | 2009–10 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2010–11 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2011–12 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||
| Mariners Total | 48 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 4 | ||
| Guangzhou R&F | 2012 | Chinese Super League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| 2013 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Guangzhou R&F Total | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| Perth Glory | 2013–14 | A-League | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| 2014–15 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| Perth Total | 33 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 | ||
| Roda JC | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| Perth Glory | 2016–17 | A-League | 24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| Pakhtakor Tashkent | 2017 | Uzbek League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Pakhtakor total | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne City | 2018–19 | A-League | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| 2019–20 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||
| Melbourne City total | 44 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 267 | 21 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 282 | 21 | ||
Honours
References
- "Rostyn Griffiths". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- http://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/glory-name-griffiths-skipper-438601
- http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/money-the-reason-behind-rostyn-griffiths-exit-at-perth-glory/news-story/882bea7d0025e6ca2bd85bdd46481ee9
- http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2014/01/23/4563758/rostyn-griffiths-returns-to-the-a-league-with-perth-glory
- "Gretna add two loan youngsters". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- "Hearts 2–0 Gretna". BBC Sport. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- Rostyn Griffiths – Blackburn Rovers Official Site Profile Archived 12 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Adelaide signs Blackburn midfielder Archived 14 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/233122,rostyn-griffiths-off-to-china---official.aspx
- http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/262594,13m-rostyn-griffiths-not-even-a-signed-shirt.aspx
- "ROSTYN GRIFFITHS RETURNS TO WA". Football Federation Australia. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
- "Perth Glory beats Sydney FC 2-1 with two late strikes to top A-League ladder". ABC Net. 4 December 2014.
- "Griffiths joins Dutch club Roda JC". Football Federation Australia. 26 July 2015.
- Somerford, Ben (19 April 2016). "Roda Roo Rostyn flies the coop". FourFourTwo.
- "Rostyn returns to Perth Glory on two-year deal". FourFourTwo. 24 July 2016.
- "Glory name Griffiths skipper". FourFourTwo. 2 October 2016.
- "Griffiths exits Glory for Uzbekistan". FourFourTwo. 1 August 2017.
- Somerford, Ben (30 May 2018). "Rostyn Griffiths exits Uzbek giants". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- "Rostyn Griffiths signs with Melbourne City". Melbourne City FC. 19 July 2018.
- http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oc-u17-05.html
- "Aussie Rostyn For Wales?". Australian Four Four Two. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
External links
- Rostyn Griffiths at Soccerway