Christian Ribeiro

Bristol City

Ribeiro came through the youth system at Bristol City before earning his first professional contract, lasting two and a half years, with the club in December 2006. His first team debut came nearly two years later in a 2–1 win over Peterborough United in the Football League Cup first round on 12 August 2008, but he was replaced after just 34 minutes after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament; the game at Ashton Gate finished 2–1 to City. The injury kept him out until next July. Prior to his injury, he was linked with a move to Premier League side Everton, whose manager David Moyes was to offer £750,000 for his signature. Ribeiro quickly dismissed the approach by stating: "I felt I had a better chance of playing at Bristol City and I was proved right because I got into the first team, it just so happened that was when I got injured." He reflected in 2011 "I can see friends playing in the Premier League and the Championship week-in, week-out, and if only I hadn't had those injuries then I might be doing the same. But you can't go back. I'm very driven and ambitious and if I want to get there I just have to give 100 per cent in everything and show people what I can do". Having made just one appearance during the 2009–10 season due to another injury sustained while international duty, Ribeiro was allowed to join Football League One side Stockport County on a one-month loan deal with a 24-hour recall clause. He made his Football League and Stockport debut…

Ribeiro played at various youth levels for Wales. On 24 September 2005, he scored a 25-yard goal for the under-17 team in their 2–0 qualifying win over Estonia in Rhyl. He took part in the under-19 squad that played in the Milk Cup in 2007. On 12 November 2007 he was called up for the under-21 team for the matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and France. Ribeiro scored once for the under-21 team, opening a 2–1 win over Italy on 4 September 2009, in a European qualifier at the Liberty Stadium. He was first called up to the senior squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Russia later that month, calling his selection by John Toshack a "fantastic reward" that was deserved due to his battles with injury and adding that he would learn by training against other Welsh internationals like Craig Bellamy. Ribeiro made his debut on 23 May 2010 against Croatia at the Gradski vrt stadium, Osijek, replacing Chris Gunter for the last nine minutes of a 2–0 loss. He was the last of five Welshmen to make their debut that day, and was tasked with marking Luka Modrić, but suffered a slipped spinal disc which ruled him out again. On 12 October, he earned his only other cap as Wales fell 4–1 away to Switzerland in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match, replacing Darcy Blake after 55 minutes. He fouled Tranquillo Barnetta for a penalty which Gökhan Inler scored. Despite the brevity of his international career, Ribeiro expressed pride in 2016 that he had played alongside players who took Wales…

Club

As of match played 7 November 2017

International

Ribeiro was born in Neath in South Wales, and at the age of 6 moved to Berkeley, Gloucestershire, and then onto Ruscombe near Stroud in his teenage years. He attended Marling School. His father coached his youth team Wanswell Wanderers. Ribeiro's surname comes from his paternal Portuguese heritage.