Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams is an Australian professional footballer who plays for Portsmouth FC as a Midfielder. In 2019, Ryan won his first senior cap for Australia national team against South Korea!

How did you get into football?

Just because my brothers were into it really. My whole family supported Arsenal, and everyone loved football, but I was more into athletics as a kid and not so much football. I always played but loved athletics more until I was about 12/13 then gave that up and started to love football.

How are you have you been coping during the lockdowns?

Not too bad, very hard to keep my nearly 2-year-old son entertained throughout the day but him my fiancé and myself are healthy so that’s the main thing!

What has been your greatest sporting achievement?

Without doubt, playing for Australia. Every kid will tell you that it’s the highest honour and for me it’s no different.

What are your other interests outside of football?

Right now, I am learning Spanish, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do but with me having nearly completed my UEFA B license coaching badge, it’s actually going to help me after football and getting into coaching especially with how diverse the nationalities are in football clubs these days.

What motivates you to train and compete at the elite level in sport?

Mainly my family. Just wanting them to be proud of me pushes me the most. It’s also a lot to do with my competitiveness, to push myself against others and seeing how far I can get.

Do you have an athlete role model who inspired you?

Thierry Henry. I supported arsenal as a kid and I still do unfortunately but he made me fall in love with football.

Who is the better footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

Messi

What advice do you have young players looking to get into professional football?

Be the hardest worker in every aspect and be as resilient as possible.

How has Beet It Sport helped your performance?

Literally feel like I can run more, and I get my second wind a lot quicker than when I don’t use Beet It sport. It has become part of my preparation leading into games. I love it.