Ryan McGivern (born 8 January 1990) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for NIFL Premiership club Newry City. He can play as a left-back or a central defender, and has represented Northern Ireland in international football.
He began his career with Manchester City and won the FA Youth Cup with the club in 2008. He played on loan at Morecambe, Leicester City, Walsall, Crystal Palace, Bristol City and Hibernian. He spent the 2012–13 season on loan at Hibernian, playing on the losing side in the 2013 final of the Scottish Cup, before he joined the club permanently for a one-season stay in the Scottish Premiership. He joined Port Vale in June 2014, and made 55 appearances for the club across two seasons. He moved on to Shrewsbury Town in June 2016, and had his contract terminated by mutual consent 14 months later. He signed a short-term contract with Northampton Town in November 2017, before moving on to Swindon Town four months later. He returned to Northern Ireland in July 2018 to sign for Linfield. The club won the NIFL Premiership title in both of his first two seasons, though he made only limited appearances. He joined hometown club Newry City in June 2021 and helped them win the NIFL Championship title in the 2021–22 season and the Mid-Ulster Cup in 2023.
He won caps for Northern Ireland at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels before he won his first senior cap in August 2008. He won a total of 24 caps in an eight-year international career. He has also played for the Northern Ireland B team.
Club career
Manchester City
Born in Newry, McGivern is a product of the Manchester City youth teams. He played in the club's 2008 FA Youth Cup final win over Chelsea. He scored in the 2007–08 Premier Academy League play-off semi-final win over Sunderland, before featuring in the side that lost to Aston Villa in the play-offs.
On 25 October 2008, McGivern joined Morecambe on loan; "Shrimps" manager Sammy McIlroy stated that "I have seen Ryan play a few times and been very impressed by what I've seen". Having already won international caps, he made his debut in the Football League on 25 October, featuring in a 2–1 defeat to Port Vale at Vale Park. He scored his first ever senior goal in a 2–0 victory over Aldershot Town at Christie Park on 1 November. In total he played five League Two games and made one appearance in the Football League Trophy. McGivern was promoted to Manchester City's first-team squad for their Premier League game versus Fulham on 12 April 2009 and was an unused substitute.
On 29 August 2009, McGivern joined Championship side Leicester City on loan until January 2010. He made his debut for Nigel Pearson's "Foxes" in a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on 20 October. Despite scoring an own goal in a 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town on 10 January, the following day his loan was extended until the end of the 2009–10 season. He played a total of twelve league games for Leicester but was not selected for the Championship play-off semi-finals, which they lost to Cardiff City.
McGivern was loaned to Chris Hutchings's League One club Walsall on loan for the 2010–11 season, having beaten competition for his services from other clubs. He was a regular in the first team before losing his place after getting sent off for a "reckless two-footed challenge" during a 1–1 draw with Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup on 6 November. He made a total of 16 appearances for the "Saddlers" during his stay at the Bescot Stadium before he was recalled on 20 January 2011. City manager Roberto Mancini handed McGivern his first team debut at the City of Manchester Stadium in a Premier League game against Sunderland on 3 April 2011, using him as a 70th-minute substitute to replace Dedryck Boyata in a game that City won 5–0.
After signing a new deal, keeping him at City until 2013, McGivern made a 28-day loan move to Crystal Palace on 3 August 2011. He provided an assist for Jonathan Parr on his home debut for Dougie Freedman's "Eagles" at Selhurst Park, in a 2–0 victory over Burnley on 13 August. After his loan spell at Palace ended, McGivern moved to Bristol City for the remainder of the 2011–12 season. He made his debut for Derek McInnes's "Robins" on 10 September, in a 1–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Ashton Gate Stadium. He made a total of 32 appearances for Bristol City, helping the club to finish above the Championship relegation zone.