Ryan Coulter: 'It's a breath of fresh air coming here doing well and experiencing professional football as it should be - being looked after and playing in a professional environment'

Following some difficult times in the League of Ireland, Ryan Coulter is currently enjoying life in America second time around as Wisconsin USL side Forward Madison FC's player/coach.

Ryan's first Stateside stint came at the tender age of 20 - initially on a University of San Diego football scholarship in mid-2009 and then to East Tennessee State University, where he graduated in 2014; “It was while with Dundalk's A Championship team that Declan McIntyre, the underage goalkeeping coach, mentioned it to me.

“I looked into it further and you're only one injury away from never playing again, so it was a great option to continue playing full-time, while also getting an education.

“It seemed the best of both worlds because if I wasn't going to be a good enough goalkeeper, I wouldn't be picked, but coming back from the States, I would be a better goalkeeper, but also have a degree.

“You're not going to retire wealthy from the League of Ireland, so leaving the league for four years was a no-brainer. Once my eyes were open to the possibility, it was definitely something that I wanted to pursue.”

Upon arrival home, Coulter joined Athlone Town for a solitary season, then moving to Sligo Rovers, under manager Owen Heary, in 2015.

“I went there with the best of intentions and didn't turn into a bad goalkeeper overnight, but a lack of confidence can kill you,” he told extratime.ie.

“On joining a new club, I was disappointed with the treatment I got there. People put their opinion online about what you're like, but they don't know what you're like as a pro or indoors.

“There's not one Sligo player that I played with can say that I'm a bad pro or a bad egg. It's the opposite, as I go above and beyond what the majority do.

“Naively, I looked at that stuff online, which had a huge negative impact on me. I tried to quit football and fell out of love with the game that I adored as a child.

“It was a huge eye opener, but one now put into perspective. If social media wasn't around back then, it would have been slightly different, but people still would have formed  opinions of me.”

Somewhat lost, Ryan, son of musician, songwriter and record producer Phil Coulter, returned to Athlone in 2016, before subsequent spells at Longford Town, Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers – predominantly as goalkeeping back-up.

“You have to know your role as a goalkeeper, whether that means starting or on the bench.

“If you're number one, it's crucial to have the attitude of a number one, but at the same time if you're a number two, you have to have a good mentality and support the number one.

“Paul Skinner is one of the best people that I ever came across in the game. One thing this game isn't short of is *ssh*l*s and I've been lucky to share a couple of dressing rooms with Paul. Our relationship was fantastic, whether I've been playing or a substitute.

“The model we had is what you want in a goalkeeping group. There's been times I've been frustrated, but you've got to be ready for any opportunity.”

Having never really settled at a domestic club, Coulter made a long-awaited reappearance Stateside, as assistant coach at University of Central Florida in 2018, until moving to Forward Madison the next year.

“It was no secret that I wanted to get back to the States from 2015 onwards, but there was difficulties with visas and being a foreign player, particularly as a goalkeeper.

“It's tough to find a team and I'd tried a couple of times, but when I left at the end of 2018, I wanted to go straight into the deep end and not just test the water.

“While waiting for my green card, I coached for seven months. Myself and my wife talked about how long I would give this until moving into full-time coaching.

“We got married in January 2019 and three weeks later I got the offer to sign for Madison. It's been the highlight of my career, but it was tough leaving Ireland, knowing that I'd never play in the League of Ireland again.

“However, that was more being a League of Ireland fan and things not going the way I would have liked as a player.

“It's a breath of fresh air, coming here, doing well and experiencing professional football as it should be - being looked after and playing in a professional environment.

“That's what I've always dreamed of, instead of dealing with all that negative b*llsh*t that I had in the League of Ireland for so long.”

In addition to playing and going for his UEFA Goalkeeping A Licence, Ryan hopes to settle down across the Atlantic; “At Forward Madison, I'm part of a staff with a head coach (Daryl Shore), who's coached in the MLS for 12 years.

“It's an exciting new franchise, who get 5,000 fans every week and I've enjoyed playing all over America. I've  satisfied my wants and cravings to play, as well as growing as a professional coach.

“Do I see myself signed by an MLS club to play? No, I'm not disillusioned, but I can continue playing at USL level, which is of a high standard.

“Back home, with financing and lack of support, clubs struggle to do things properly, even though some clubs do.

“I see my future here as coaching in the MLS. I'm highly driven, with goals and ambitions, once I complete the Goalkeeping A Licence.

“I'll be one of the most highly qualified coaches in the country at 30 years of age and that'll put me in a good spot. I'll continue working hard and see what happens.”