'Stuff of dreams': Ex-Portsmouth man's stunning second international debut after controversially switching countries
The former Fulham and Rotherham winger made 91 appearances for the Blues over two spells
A former Pompey player has savoured a ‘dream’ second international debut after controversially switching countries.
Ryan Williams represented Australia at under-20 and under-23 level, before making his senior debut in a friendly against South Korea in June 2019.
The 32-year-old qualifies through his mother, who was born in Mumbai, and has been playing for Indian Super League side Bengaluru since July 2023.
After red tape prevented Williams making his India bow against Bangladesh in November, he was finally given his opportunity in Tuesday night’s Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong.
‘I have been having a dream about this one for a long time’
And the winger, who made 91 appearances over two Pompey spells, memorably marked his long-awaited India entrance with a goal after four minutes in a 2-1 success.
‘You couldn’t write it. Debut in Kerala, the home of football, scoring in five minutes and winning. That’s the main thing for us. To score means nothing if you don’t win.
‘When it went in it just went blurry, I think. To be honest with you I slipped over and just ran away.
‘I didn’t know what to do as you do, because having in my mind scored that goal so many times and for it then to happen was special and emotions take over.’
Held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Williams made an instant impact when he finished a right-wing cross from Manvir Singh to open the scoring against Hong Kong.
The eventual 2-1 triumph presented India with their first victory in Group C of the qualifiers for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. However, Singapore have taken the group’s only qualifying spot.
Pompey debut in August 2011
Williams began his Football League career with Pompey’s Academy following a successful trial and made his debut in August 2011 at Middlesbrough.
However, with the Blues rocked by ongoing financial problems, the teenager was sold off on transfer deadline day in the January 2012 window to Fulham after six substitute outings.
The winger returned under Kenny Jackett in June 2019 on a free transfer following his departure from Rotherham and went on to total 91 games and eight goals at Fratton Park.
Williams was hugely disappointed to be released by Pompey head coach Danny Cowley in June 2021 and a subsequent move to Oxford United saw him become disillusioned with the game.
Just 12 months into a two-year Kassam Stadium contract, he returned to former club Perth Glory for an undisclosed fee, before moving to Bengaluru in July 2023.
‘The happiest me and the family have been in a long time’
Williams said: ‘I was going to play in Korea, there was a team interested, but I pulled out. Then this came along and I thought: “Why not?”.
‘I knew players in Australia who had absolutely loved playing in India and I was keen to try something new again. My mum was actually born in Mumbai and was an Indian citizen for 14 years, while both my maternal grandparents were also born in the country.
‘The standard of the game in India took some getting used to, to be honest. The level of the foreign players in their game is good and the level of good Indian players is good. However, the main difference is that the ability of the average Indian player is a lot less than usual.
‘I’ve found Bengaluru so peaceful, the people are friendly, and it’s probably the happiest me and the family have been in a long time. It’s a great place.’