Fatherhood Lifts Australia’s Mat Ryan After Tough Travel

Post by : Monika

Mat Ryan, Australia’s veteran goalkeeper, is back with renewed spirit. After becoming a father and signing with a new club, he returns to international duty for the Socceroos (Australia’s national soccer team). He says fatherhood has inspired him and brought a fresh boost to his game.

Ryan was recently named by the world players’ union FIFPRO as the most well-traveled footballer in the 2024/25 season. He flew more than 169,000 kilometres, spending almost 220 hours inside planes.
This kind of travel burden is common for Australian players based in Europe, Ryan acknowledges — long flights and jet lag are part of their life.

Ryan said that heavy travel can affect performance, especially for younger or less experienced players. For many Australians playing overseas, journeys back home or to matches are long, tiring, and demanding.

Career & Recent Moves

Ryan has earned 100 caps (appearances) for Australia. For a period after leaving French club Lens, he was between clubs. He was briefly dropped from the national squad for some friendlies because of that transition.

Now, he has joined Levante in Spain’s LaLiga, where he is expected to be the starting goalkeeper. The move brings him back into top European competition and closer to the spotlight needed for national team calls.

Following his signing, Ryan received a recall to the Socceroos for upcoming friendly matches against Canada and the United States. These matches are important as Australia prepares for the 2026 World Cup.

Personal Life & Motivation

Shortly before leaving for national team duty, Ryan and his partner Chloe Gelmi welcomed their first child, Preston. The birth came just days before Ryan boarded a plane to join the squad.

Ryan joked that if fatherhood improves his performances, he may talk with his partner about having more children. Fellow footballer James Holland had told him many players see a performance boost after becoming fathers.

This new chapter in his life may offer personal stability and motivation — both qualities that can help an athlete during long seasons and difficult matches.

Travel Strain & Its Effects

The sheer scale of Ryan’s travel in one season is staggering. Over 169,000 km flown and nearly 220 hours in planes mean he spent a lot of time in transit.

Footballers, especially Australians playing in Europe or abroad, often face such travel demands. Recovery, sleep, training routines, and circadian rhythms (the body’s internal clock) all are challenged when flights are long and frequent.

Ryan noted that the toll is higher for younger or less seasoned players, who might not yet have routines or habits to deal with fatigue and jet lag. For them, maintaining top performance after travel is harder.

Ryan also expressed a wish to see changes in international match planning. He believes that authorities should reduce burdensome travel where possible, especially on players from distant countries like Australia.

What’s Next for Ryan & Australia

Ryan is expected to start for Australia in the friendlies. He may guard the goal in the match against Canada in Montreal and then again in the U.S. in Denver.

These matches will test his form and sharpness after recent club transition and travel. They also help solidify Australia's preparations heading into the World Cup cycle.

Ryan’s return brings experience, leadership, and a renewed spirit to the national team. His story — of balancing tough travel, a new child, and the demands of club and country — shows how professional athletes juggle many pressures beyond just games.

As Ryan himself said: travel, performance, fatherhood — they all mix together, and if the balance is right, the result can be something new: a revived player willing to push further for both club and country.

Mat Ryan Australia goalkeeper