Biography
Who is Bryan Ruiz?
Early life and career beginnings
Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Bryan Jafet Ruiz Gonzalez began his professional path in his home country. He made his debut for Alajuelense on November 30, 2003, against Perez Zeledon in the top domestic division. During his time there, he established himself as a capable goalscorer and playmaker, earning the nickname La comadreja for his agile movement on the field.
While playing for Alajuelense, he contributed to the team winning the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup and the 2005 UNCAF Interclub Cup. His early success in Costa Rica provided the foundation for his eventual move to European football leagues.
European club career
In 2006, Bryan moved to Belgium to sign with Gent. He became the team captain and their leading scorer during his tenure. Following this, he joined the Dutch club FC Twente in 2009. His time in the Eredivisie was marked by significant success, including 24 league goals in the 2009-10 season, helping the club secure its first-ever Eredivisie championship title.
In 2011, he transferred to Fulham in the English Premier League. He made his debut against Blackburn Rovers and later scored against Everton. After a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, he moved to Portugal to play for Sporting CP starting in 2015. His time there included winning the Taca da Liga in the 2017-18 season. He later had a stint at Santos FC in Brazil before returning to his original club, Alajuelense, in 2020. He officially retired from professional football in December 2022 following a friendly match against Twente.
International achievements and national team
Bryan Ruiz made his international debut for Costa Rica on June 19, 2005, against China. He represented the Ticos in several CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, including those in 2005, 2011, and 2015. His international goal-scoring record includes well-known contributions during the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns.
His performance during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was particularly significant. He captained the team to a victory over Uruguay and scored the winning goal against Italy, helping Costa Rica advance to the round of 16. In the knockout stage, he scored against Greece and participated in the penalty shootout that sent the team to the quarter-finals. He continued to play for the national team until his final tournament, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Personal life and family
Bryan has a brother named Yendrick Ruiz, who is also a professional football player. The two brothers were teammates at Alajuelense for a brief period before Bryan moved to play in Europe. They eventually played together for the Costa Rican national team in a friendly against the Dominican Republic on August 14, 2013.
Beyond his active playing career, he contributed to local sports journalism. He worked as a columnist for the Costa Rican newspaper Al Dia from 2011 until the publication ceased operations in 2014. Since retiring from professional play, he has transitioned into coaching roles, including serving as an interim manager for the Costa Rican national team.
Birthday and age
Bryan Ruiz was born on August 18, 1985, which makes Bryan 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Bryan shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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