Ryan-Zico Black

Ryan-Zico Black
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-08-04) 4 August 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Guernsey
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Team information
Current team
 Guernsey
Youth career
Vale Recreation
Southampton
Bournemouth
1998–2000 Morecambe
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Morecambe 94 (14)
2003 Northwich Victoria 6 (0)
2004 Glenavon 8 (2)
2004–2005 Lancaster City
2005–2006 Kettering Town
2006 Lancaster City
2007 Barrow
2007–2008 Lancaster City 24 (4)
2008–2009 Bamber Bridge 7 (0)
2009 Sunshine George Cross
2009 Morwell Pegasus
2009 Bamber Bridge
2009–2010 AFC Fylde
2010 Rossendale United
2010 San Fulgencio
2011 Vale Recreation
2011– Guernsey
2013 →Vale Recreation (guest)
International career‡
2000 Northern Ireland U18 1 (0)
2002 Northern Ireland U21 2 (0)
2005– Guernsey 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 October 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 July 2012

Ryan-Zico Black (born 4 August 1981) is a Guernsey footballer who plays as a midfielder for Guernsey in the Isthmian League.[1][2]

He is named after Zico, a Brazilian footballer admired by Black's father.[3] Brazilian broadcaster Globo interviewed Black and presented him with a video message from his famous namesake as well as a signed shirt. In 2012 Black was invited to participate in Zico's annual charity match in Brazil, but had to pull out through injury.[4] However, in 2013 Ryan-Zico was again invited and this time played in midfield and then defence in a match in front of 70,000 fans at Brazil's famous Maracanã Stadium. Although his team lost 7–3, Black scored a goal and afterwards said of the experience "it has to be the highlight of my career".[5]

He released an autobiography in 2008.[6]

  1. ^ "Ryan-Zico Black". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Ryan-Zico Black". nifootball.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  3. ^ Bates, Steve (31 December 2000). "Football: One Braziliant day". The Sunday People. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  4. ^ Tongue, Steve (2 December 2012). "No-go blow for Zico". The Independent. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  5. ^ Harlow, Phil (2 January 2014). "Ryan-Zico Black: The Guernsey midfielder who lit up the maracana". BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Big interview: Ryan-Zico Black". Lancashire Evening Post. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2013.