Liam Matthew Ridgewell (born 21 July 1984) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a defender. He was primarily a centre back but could also play at left back. He is currently an assistant coach with the Portland Timbers.
The day after scoring for England Under-19s in a 2–2 draw against Yugoslavia in October 2002, he was loaned to AFC Bournemouth of the Third Division, for whom he made his debut in the Football League in a 2–1 win over Hartlepool United on 13 October and played five games in his month's loan spell.[7][8]
In the following Premier League campaign, Ridgewell recorded five goals in 32 games, including two in a 3–3 draw at Fulham on 28 December 2005.[12] He scored his only goal of the 2006–07 season against his former club West Ham United on 10 September 2006.[13]
Birmingham City
Ridgewell completed a move to Birmingham City for a fee of £2 million on 3 August 2007, becoming the first player to transfer between the bitter rivals since Des Bremner in 1984.[14]
In the absence through injury of regular captainDamien Johnson, Ridgewell was given the captain's armband. He described his appointment as "a real honour".[15] Though concerns were expressed over how some fans might react to a player signing from Aston Villa, Ridgewell's performances won over the doubters.[16] He scored his first goal for the club in their 3–2 win against Wigan Athletic at St Andrew's in October,[17] but then scored an own goal in the Birmingham derby two weeks later, also at St Andrew's.[18]
In April 2009, Ridgewell suffered a broken leg after a challenge by Plymouth Argyle midfielder Jamie Mackie.[19] He made an unexpectedly quick return to the side five months later, playing in the less familiar position of left back.[20] He continued in that role because of the form of preferred centre-backs Roger Johnson and Scott Dann,[21] and played there as Birmingham went on a club-record 12-match unbeaten run in the top division[22] and set a Premier League record by fielding the same starting eleven for nine consecutive games.[23] He scored a 91st-minute equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur on 30 January 2010 which ensured that Birmingham remained unbeaten at home since the previous September.[24]
Ridgewell continued his goalscoring form with a stoppage-time winner against Derby County to send Birmingham through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup,[25] had a goal disallowed in the quarter-final match against Portsmouth when the ball had "clearly crossed the line",[26] and scored an equalising goal against Liverpool in the league.[27]
In June 2010, Ridgewell signed a new contract with Birmingham, to expire in June 2013.[28] He played the full 90 minutes as Birmingham defeated favourites Arsenal 2–1 in the 2011 Football League Cup Final,[29] thus earning qualification for the Europa League. In the absence of several midfielders through injury, Ridgewell played in the play-off round first leg against Portuguese club Nacional, Birmingham's first participation in major European competition for nearly 50 years, in an unfamiliar holding midfield position.[30] As the August 2011 transfer deadline approached, Ridgewell submitted a transfer request which was rejected by the club, and despite late interest from Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, he remained with Birmingham.[31]
West Bromwich Albion
Ridgewell signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on 31 January 2012. The transfer fee was undisclosed.[32] On 12 February, he made his debut in a 5–1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[33] He made his home debut a week later as West Brom beat Sunderland 4–0 at The Hawthorns.[34] He scored his first goal for West Brom on 7 April in a 3–0 home win against Blackburn Rovers.[35]
On 16 May 2014, West Bromwich Albion announced that they would not take up the option of extending Ridgewell's contract and he was released from the club.[36]
On 8 January 2015, Ridgewell signed for Wigan Athletic on a six-week loan deal.[41] He made six appearances for the Latics, who ended the season with relegation from the Championship.
In December 2015, Ridgewell agreed a short-term loan with Championship team Brighton & Hove Albion, to begin when the transfer window opened on 2 January 2016 and end in time for the second half of the Timbers' preseason.[45] He finished his spell with four wins from five league appearances.[46]
On 10 January 2019, Ridgewell and Portland mutually agreed to part ways.[49]
Return to England
On 31 January 2019, Ridgewell joined Hull City for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.[50] He made his debut on 9 February in a 2–0 loss at Derby County, as a 75th-minute substitute for Stephen Kingsley.[51] He was released by Hull City at the end of the 2018–19 season.[52]
On 9 August 2019, Ridgewell signed a one-year deal with EFL League One club Southend United, with the option of a second.[53] He made his debut the next day in the season opener, a 3–1 home loss to Blackpool, starting on the left of a three-man defence and being replaced by Layton Ndukwu after 52 minutes. Manager Kevin Bond said his decision may have been "unfair" to start Ridgewell after he had not played any friendlies in the summer.[54] He left Southend on 31 January 2020, having played no further part.[55] On 22 May 2020, Ridgewell joined amateur side Sutton Rangers in the Sutton and District Sunday League.[56]
Coaching career
Ridgewell took on his first coaching job in December 2020, when he joined National League club Dover Athletic in the role of a first-team coach, assisting the manager Andy Hessenthaler.[57]
Ridgewell joined the Portland Timbers coaching staff for the 2023 season. He holds a UEFA B Coaching License.[58]
Personal life
In October 2016, Ridgewell and Portland Timbers teammate Jake Gleeson were arrested and charged with driving under the influence and refusing breathalyzer tests in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The case against Ridgewell was dropped in January 2017 when a judge ruled that the police had insufficient cause to stop and test him, while Gleeson pleaded no contest to his charges.[59]
Ridgewell co-owns custom swimwear company Thomas Royall with fellow footballers Sam Saunders and John Terry.[60]
Career statistics
As of match played 15 May 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition