Ryan López

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Viera.
Ryan López
Personal information
Full name Ryan Xavier López Viera[1]
Date of birth (1998-04-12) 12 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Humacao, Puerto Rico
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Bayamón
Number 12
Youth career
2003–2005 Artesanos de Las Piedras
2005–2010 Tornados de Humacao
2010–2014 EFFE
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Tigres de la Interamericana (2+)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Academia Quintana
2015 Criollos de Caguas (1+)
2016–2017 Bayamón (6+)
2017–2018 Alalpardo 9 (2)
2019 Guaynabo Gol (2+)
2019–2020 Bayamón 4+ (0+)
2021 Cleveland SC 4 (1)
2022– Bayamón 10 (1)
International career‡
2013 Puerto Rico U15 5 (2)
2016 Puerto Rico U20 2 (0)
2019 Puerto Rico U23 1 (0)
2019– Puerto Rico 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 July 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2019

Ryan Xavier López Viera (born 12 April 1998) is a Puerto Rican footballer who plays as a midfielder for Puerto Rican club Bayamón and the Puerto Rico national team.

Early life

López was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, the son of Edwin López and Sandra Viera. He graduated from the Escuela Leoncio Meléndez y Florencia García in Las Piedras. López began playing football at the age of five with the club Artesanos de Las Piedras, then joined Tornados de Humacao when he was seven years old. After five years with Tornados, López moved to the Escuela de Formación de Futbolistas Española (EFFE) in Puerto Rico.[2]

While at EFFE, López was part of two trips to Spain. While on those trips, he trained with the youth academies of Levante, Málaga, and Sevilla.[3]

Club career

2014–2017: Early years in Puerto Rico

In 2014, at the age of 16, López made his senior debut with Academia Quintana.[4] He helped Quintana to finish as runners-up in the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL). At the end of the PRSL season, López went to Spain and went on a three-month trial with Guadalajara. His former coach at EFFE, Alberto Ruiz, was working as the youth director for the Segunda División B club.[5]

After returning from his trial in Spain, López joined Criollos de Caguas.[6] He scored a goal during Copa de la Excelencia II play against Leal Arecibo in May 2015.[7]

López attended the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus during the 2016 season.[2] He split the campaign between Tigres de la Interamericana, playing in the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico, and Bayamón, in the PRSL.[8] López wore the captain's armband for the Bayamón B team and scored four goals during the Clausura as Bayamón finished on top of the short season table.[9]

In January 2017, López returned to Spain for a trial with Segunda División B club SS Reyes. His former coach Ruiz, speaking to FBNET, said that "Ryan will play in La Liga."[10] After his trial ended on 12 April, López returned to Bayamón for a second season in the PRSL.[11] He scored a goal against Mayagüez in May as part of a 10–0 victory.[12]

2017–2019: Move to Spain and return to the island

After helping Bayamón to the final of the Copa de la Excelencia III, López again returned to San Sebastián in August 2017. He played for Sanse in preseason, but the transfer was held up because of issues with his international transfer certificate (ITC). Due in part to Hurricanes Irma and Maria closing the offices of the Puerto Rican Football Federation, the ITC for López did not arrive for five months.[13] He was finally made eligible in December and picked up with Alalpardo in the Segunda de Aficionados, the eighth tier of Spanish football.[14] López scored two goals in nine appearances with Alalpardo.[15]

Upon his return to Puerto Rico, López joined Guaynabo Gol for the remainder of the 2018–19 Liga Puerto Rico season. He scored two goals against Don Bosco in the first leg of the playoff quarterfinals.[16]

López returned to Bayamón in 2019 for a second stint at the club, although now in the Liga Puerto Rico.[17] Bayamón were leading the league when the 2019–20 season was prematurely canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.[18] López next popped up in Mexico, where he was briefly part of Toros Bravos de Jalisco in the nascent MXUSSL, a league affiliated to the Sector Amateur del Fútbol Mexicano [es]. However, the league had not yet played a game before López's departure.[1]

2019–present: Cleveland and third stint at Bayamón

In May 2021, López joined National Premier Soccer League club Cleveland SC for the 2021 season.[19] He scored his lone goal while in Ohio on 4 June, tallying the first of a 6–0 victory against Pittsburgh Hotspurs.[20] López played four times as Cleveland won the Rust Belt Conference in the regular season and the Midwest Region in the playoffs.[21]

A third stint at Bayamón awaited López as he returned to Puerto Rico in 2022. He played 10 times in the league and scored a goal against his former club, Academia Quintana, in June.[22] López starred during his continental debut, tallying three goals from four games as Bayamón finished as champions of the 2022 Caribbean Club Shield. He scored in both Group A games, with two goals in the opener against Junior Stars of Saint Martin and another two nights later against South East FC of Dominica.[23] López started and played 102 minutes of the final as Bayamón defeated Inter Moengotapoe of Suriname in extra time.[24]

International career

López made his international debut for Puerto Rico at the under-15 level.[25] He played in five matches at the 2013 CONCACAF Under-15 Championship, scoring two goals in a 6–0 victory against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Group D play.[26] In November 2013, he scored for the under-17 national team in a game against a club team from the United States. However, López never played an official match at the U17 level.[27]

López was called up for the first time at the under-23 level for 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship qualification. However, he did not play in either game as Puerto Rico finished on the bottom of Group 4.[28]

For the under-20 national team, López was in the squad for 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying.[29] He came off the bench against Cuba and started in the Group 1 finale against Antigua and Barbuda as Puerto Rico finished in third place in the group and were eliminated.[30][31] Later that year, López was named to a preliminary squad as the senior team prepared for the third round of 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification, but he was not selected to the final roster.[32]

In March 2019, López made it onto the bench for the senior team, but remained as an unused substitute during a defeat against Grenada in 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying.[33] Later that year, he represented the under-23s in 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship qualification. López played in the opening game of Group D play against Antigua and Barbuda.[34]

Senior career, 2019–present

When he debuted in the Puerto Rico national team in autumn 2019, López was cited by El Vocero as being part of a "generational change" to the national team.[35] After being named to the bench for a friendly against Honduras that September, he earned his first senior cap on 15 October against Anguilla.[36] López played the entirety of a 3–2 victory as part of 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C play.[37] He appeared twice more in Group C, a start against Guatemala and a substitute appearance in the return against Anguilla.[38][39] However, López fell out of that youth movement and was not called up again under Elgy Morales.[40]

Career statistics

Club

As of 3 July 2022[22][41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Academia Quintana 2014 Puerto Rico Soccer League — — —
Criollos de Caguas 2015 Puerto Rico Soccer League 1+ — — 1+
Bayamón 2016[42] Puerto Rico Soccer League 5+ 1+ — — 6+
2017[42] 1 — — 0 0 1
Total 6+ 1+ 0 0 0 0 7+
Alalpardo 2017–18[15] Segunda de Aficionados 9 2 — — — 9 2
Guaynabo Gol 2018–19 Liga Puerto Rico 2+ — — 2+
Bayamón 2019–20 Liga Puerto Rico 4+ 0+ — — — 4+ 0+
Cleveland SC 2021 NPSL 4 1 — — 0 0 4 1
Bayamón 2022 Liga Puerto Rico 10 1 — 4[b] 3 — 14 4
2022–23 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 10 1 0 0 4 3 0 0 14 4
Career total 27+ 13+ 1+ 4 3 31+ 17+
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the Copa Luis Villarejo
  2. ^ Appearances in the Caribbean Club Shield

International

As of 19 November 2019[1][39]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Puerto Rico 2019 3 0
Total 3 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ryan López". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Resolución 2 Serie 2017 2018 Reconocimiento A Ryan Javier López Viera" [Resolution 2 Series 2017–2018 Recognizing Ryan Javier López Viera]. Legislatura Municipal de Humacao, Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 11 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  3. ^ Jusino, Edwin (8 April 2014). "EFFE U17 regresa a España" [EFFE U17 returns to Spain]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. ^ Jusino, Edwin (18 August 2014). "Quintana se prepara para la Liga Profesional" [Quintana prepares for the Liga Profesional]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  5. ^ Hernández, José Rafael (15 January 2015). "Futbolista de Humacao a prueba con el CD Guadalajara SAD" [Humacao footballer on trial with CD Guadalajara SAD]. Presencia (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ^ Jusino, Edwin (30 April 2015). "Ryan López a estrenarse con el Criollos FC" [Ryan López to make his debut with Criollos FC]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  7. ^ Flecha Velázquez, Keven David (26 May 2015). "Goleada sin piedad de Criollos" [A rout without mercy from Criollos]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  8. ^ Vázquez Muñiz, Héctor (29 November 2016). "Unos Tigres hambrientos" [Some hungry Tigres]. ¡Que Palo! (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  9. ^ Jusino, Edwin (16 May 2016). "Bayamón FC se consolida en la tercera posición de la Puerto Rico Soccer League" [Bayamón FC consolidates in third place in the Puerto Rico Soccer League]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  10. ^ Jusino, Edwin (12 January 2017). "A tratar su suerte en España López y Carrillo" [López and Carrillo to try their luck in Spain]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  11. ^ Jusino, Edwin (4 April 2017). "Bayamón FC listo para dar comienzo a la Copa de la Excelencia III" [Bayamón FC ready to start the Copa de la Excelencia III]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Dominantes los Equipos Superiores del Bayamón FC" [The senior teams of Bayamón FC are dominant]. Ciudad de Bayamón, Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 23 May 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  13. ^ Jusino, Edwin (10 October 2017). "Con problemas tras huracanes jugador boricua en España" [A Puerto Rican player in Spain has problems with hurricanes]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  14. ^ Jusino, Edwin (12 December 2017). "Ryan López cosechando triunfos personales en el San Sebastián" [Ryan López reaching personal triumphs in San Sebastián]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Lopez Viera, Ryan Xavier | Real Federación de Fútbol de Madrid". Royal Madrid Football Federation (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Derrota Guaynabo Gol a Don Bosco en inicio de los playoffs de la Liga Puerto Rico" [Guaynabo Gol defeats Don Bosco at the beginning of the Liga Puerto Rico playoffs] (Press release) (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Football Federation. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  17. ^ "A Buen Ritmo la Pretemporada del Bayamón Fútbol Club" [At a good rhythm the Bayamón Fútbol Club preseason]. Ciudad de Bayamón, Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 18 September 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  18. ^ "La Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol cancela la temporada de la Liga Puerto Rico por la pandemia" [The Puerto Rican Football Federation cancels the Liga Puerto Rico season due to the pandemic]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). GFR Media. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  19. ^ @InsideCaribFoot (9 May 2021). "Puerto Rican Intern'l midfield @ryanxlv8 (23) joins @SoccerCLE , club that play NPSL (4th division), in USA. He was playing for Bayamón FC, in Puerto Rico. Previously he also played for San Sebastian Reyes (Spain) and Guayanabo Gol (Puerto Rico)" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Cleveland SC vs. Pittsburgh Hotspurs | Highlights (YouTube video). Cleveland SC. 7 June 2021. Event occurs at 0:12. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  21. ^ "2021 Cleveland SC season". National Premier Soccer League. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Ryan López – Liga Puerto Rico profile". Liga Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  23. ^ "Bayamon FC, Junior Stars play to thrilling draw to open CCCS". CONCACAF. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  24. ^ "El Bayamón FC se coronó campeón del 2022 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield" [Bayamón FC crowned champion of the 2022 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield]. Primera Hora (in Spanish). 25 April 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  25. ^ "Viaja la selección masculina Sub15 a Islas Caimán en busca del título de Concacaf" [The U15 men's team travels to the Cayman Islands in search of the CONCACAF title] (Press release) (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Football Federation. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  26. ^ "U-15 Day Five: Group D Recaps – Group D Recaps – Haiti gets first win, Puerto Rico narrows gap at top". CONCACAF. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  27. ^ Jusino, Edwin (30 November 2013). "Golea la Selección Sub17 al FC Barcelona LWS" [The U17 national team thrashes FC Barcelona LWS]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Selección de fútbol inicia su ruta hacia las Olimpiadas" [The national football team starts its route to the Olympics]. Primera Hora (in Spanish). 24 June 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Abre nuestra sele la eliminatoria sub 20 del Caribe en San Martín" [Our national team opens the Caribbean under-20 qualifying in Sint Maarten] (Press release) (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Football Federation. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Insuficiente esfuerzo de Puerto Rico ante Cuba en San Martín" [Insufficient effort for Puerto Rico against Cuba in Sint Maarten] (Press release) (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Football Federation. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Cierra Puerto Rico con empate 1–1 contra Antigua y Barbuda en Sub 20 del Caribe en San Martín" [Puerto Rico closes with a 1–1 draw against Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean under-20 in Sint Maarten]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). 19 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  32. ^ Jusino, Edwin (14 September 2016). "Lista la pre-convocatoria de Puerto Rico de cara a la tercera ronda de la Copa del Caribe" [Puerto Rico's preliminary squad is ready for the third round of the Caribbean Cup]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Elegidos los 24 futbolistas de la Selección Masculina" [The 24 footballers of the men's national team were selected]. El Vocero (in Spanish). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Selección Sub23 de fútbol lista para representar a Puerto Rico en República Dominicana" [The under-23 national football team ready to represent Puerto Rico in the Dominican Republic]. WIPR-TV (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  35. ^ Muñiz Pérez, Yamaira (28 August 2019). "Se rejuvenece el Huracán Azul" [The Huracán Azul is rejuvenated]. El Vocero (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  36. ^ "¡Juventud y experiencia! La convocatoria de Puerto Rico para enfrentar a Honduras" [Youth and experience! The Puerto Rico squad to face Honduras]. Diario Diez [es] (in Spanish). Grupo OPSA [es]. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Puerto Rico derrota a Anguila en la Liga C de las Naciones de la Concacaf" [Puerto Rico defeats Anguilla in League C of the CONCACAF Nations League]. Diario de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 16 October 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  38. ^ Stats Perform (17 November 2019). "Confirmadas las alineaciones del Guatemala vs Puerto Rico" [Confirmed lineups for Guatemala vs Puerto Rico]. OneFootball (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  39. ^ a b Ryan López at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  40. ^ Jusino, Edwin (21 June 2020). "¿Para cuando los cambios que necesitamos en las Selecciones?" [When will the changes that we need in the national teams happen?]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  41. ^ "Ryan López". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  42. ^ a b "Estadísticas Históricas PRSL" [Historical PRSL statistics]. Fútbol Boricua (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2022.