Biography
Giant centre back Ryan Tafazolli signed for Hull City in July 2019 to add power to Grant McCann’s new look Tigers defence. During the first half of the season Ryan played mainly in Cup ties, as well as deputising for the first choice centre back pairing Reece Burke and Jordy de Wijs when they were unavailable. A run in the team in January 2020 permitted Tafazolli to show his assured no-nonsense approach to defending, his threat at set pieces and his ability to score goals, including a remarkable long distance effort against Brentford spilled by Bees’ goalkeeper David Raya. When the Tigers’ form collapsed at the end of the COVID-affected 2019/20 season Tafazolli was restored to the first team and was one of the team’s few prominent performers, on and off the field, form which attracted the attention of other clubs as City slid into League One.
Ryan Sirous Tafazolli was born in the South London suburban town of Sutton and came through the Southampton youth team system, captaining the Saints’ under-18s side during the 2008/09 season. In October 2009 he joined Conference National league side Salisbury Town on a one month loan and made 6 appearances. Towards the end of the 2010/11 season Ryan rejoined Salisbury City on a three month loan but managed only 3 appearances. He left Southampton in the 2011 close season having not made a senior appearance for the Saints.
After several trials with Football League clubs Tafazolli joined Isthmian League side Concord Rangers where he spent much of the 2011/12 season. In April 2012 he switched to Southern Premier League side Cambridge City and impressed in 6 appearances. In August 2012 he joined Conference National side Mansfield Town and made his debut against Braintree Town in September 2012. Hamstring injuries limited Ryan to a handful of appearances during the 2012/13 season but his contract was renewed in the 2013 close season as Mansfield were elevated to League Two.
Tafazolli finally became a first team regular for the Stags in January 2014 and for the next two and a half seasons he was a key part of Mansfield’s defence that consolidated its place in League Two. He scored his first goal for Mansfield in a March 2014 win over Newport County and by the time he left Field Mill in the 2016 close season he had scored nine goals in 118 appearances across four seasons.
In June 2016 Tafazolli switched to League One side Peterborough United, signing a three year deal, where he continued to build his reputation as a dominant defensive force and first team regular. It was during his time at London Road that Tafazolli was managed by Grant McCann, the gaffer that later signed him for Hull City. Tafazolli completed his Peterborough United contract in June 2019, by which time he had scored seven goals in 131 appearances for Posh. He joined Hull City that summer.
In September 2020 Tafazolli signed for newly promoted Championship side Wycombe Wanderers, in the 2020/21 season he played a support role as the Chairboys were relegated to League One. Over the next three seasons Ryan was a first team regular and started all three games as Wycombe narrowly missed out on the 2021/22 League One play-offs, beating Milton Keynes Dons over two legs before losing to Sunderland in the Wembley final.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 28 September 1991, Sutton
Hull City First Game: 3 August 2019, Swansea City A (Championship), 27 years, 309 days old
Hull City Final Game: 22 July 2020, Cardiff City A (Championship), 28 years, 298 days old
Clubs
Southampton (2009-2011), Salisbury City (2009, loan), Salisbury City (2011, loan), Concord Rangers (2011-2012), Cambridge City (2012), Mansfield Town (2012-2016), Peterborough United (2016-2019), Hull City (2019-2020), Wycombe Wanderers (2020-current)
Hull City Record
Career: 19 apps, 3 goals
Ryan Tafazolli| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 7 (8) | 2 | 2 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 1 | – | – | – | – |