Former Sligo Rovers and Sunderland midfielder Richie Ryan makes tracks for El Paso Locomotive

Former Sligo Rovers midfielder Richie Ryan has signed for United Soccer League side El Paso Locomotive from FC Cincinnati.

34-year-old Ryan spent the most recent season with the Ohio club, who topped the Eastern Conference by 11 points during the regular season.

The club were then eliminated in the play-offs at the semi-final stage as they lost to New York Red Bulls II and, following their admission to MLS, Ryan chose to move on once again.

Ryan now makes the move to El Paso Locomotive who are managed by former Jacksonville Armada head coach Mark Lowry.

Ryan played with Belvedere before joining Sunderland in 2003, leaving the club in 2005 to join Scunthorpe permanently after a previous loan move at the club.

He then had spells at Boston United and Royal Antwerp before returning to Ireland in the summer of 2008.

He signed for Sligo Rovers and would go on to spend three years with the Bit o’ Red, making 112 appearances and scoring six times.

Ryan then made the move to Scotland and signed for Dundee United, making 33 appearances during his time at the club.

He returned to Ireland and signed for Shamrock Rovers for the second half of the 2013 season, and went on to win the League Cup with the Hoops, as they beat Drogheda United 2-0 in the final.

Ryan then moved to Canada and signed for North American Soccer League (NASL) side Ottawa Fury. After two years, he made the switch to Jacksonville Armada, where he was named captain.

He spent half a year with Jacksonville before making the switch to FC Miami for an NASL record fee of $750,000.

He made 42 appearances for Miami, winning the 2017 Spring Season and making the NASL play-off semi-finals.

“Having known Richie personally for a few years, coupled with his undoubted quality and winning pedigree on the field.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work closely with him again,” Lowry said.

“The high standards he is going to bring to our group both on and off the field will go a long way to helping us achieve the goals that we have set.”

“I want to thank the ownership and upper management at El Paso Locomotive FC for helping me bring in an individual of this caliber.

“Big thanks to Richie and his agent for making the process a smooth one.”