Monday April 21, 2008
It was the most important save in Silverbacks’ history. In front of a raucous, hostile crowd at Portland’s ominous PGE Park. The diving save in the dramatic penalty kick shoot out put the Silverbacks through to the league finals for the first time in club history. McIntosh joined the club at the beginning of the 2007 season after one season with MLS’ D.C. United reserve squad. He won the starting position midway through the season, posting nine clean sheets in 23 appearances for the club. We recently sat down with McIntosh to get a little insight into the Silverbacks’ goalkeeper.

Atlanta Silverback: Full Name
Ryan McIntosh: Ryan Andrew McIntosh

AS: Birthday
RM: March 19, 1983. I just turned 25.

AS: Position
RM: I'm a goalkeeper

AS: Where were you born?
RM: Hollywood, Florida. It's near Fort Lauderdale

AS: Hometown?
RM: Cooper City, Florida

AS: Are you married?
RM: I am not.

AS: Any children?
RM: No children.

AS: Where did you go to college?
RM: University of Central Florida.

AS: In what is your degree?
RM: Business administration focusing on accounting.

AS: How old were you when you first played soccer?
RM: It was under-10, so I was nine.

AS: What was the name of your first team?
RM: I don't remember.

AS: What other sports did you play?
RM: I played a lot of baseball. That was my main sport growing up. Then I got into golf. I was a big junior golfer until I started focusing on soccer.

AS: What position did you play in baseball?
RM: Mainly pitcher and catcher.

AS: What's your most memorable experience?
RM: Probably winning my first conference championship with UCF because of the group of guys I played with, and it was the first conference championship in the history of UCF, so that was pretty cool.

AS: What's your most embarrassing moment?
RM: Will the fans of other teams be reading this?

AS:Yes.
RM: I've had a couple. When I was young and my voice started cracking and I'd call for a ball. That's not good when you're a goalkeeper.

AS: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
RM: Closer to my family, wherever they are.

AS: What person, living or dead, do you most admire?
RM: My mom, for sure. She was always there. She worked hard and raised a family and was always there to take me to practice and games.

AS: Who would you most like to meet?
RM: Warren Buffett. That guy's brilliant

AS: Best player you have ever played with?
RM: Christian Gomez. He's just nasty.

AS: Best player you've ever played against?
RM: Preki. He scored on me when we played Kansas City during their preseason when I was still at UCF.

AS: How did you become a Silverback?
RM: I kept calling coach Smith for a trial. I left D.C., I had a developmental contract and they said I needed playing experience and I wasn't going to get it there. I started calling coach Smith and fortunately he gave me a trial. I did well and got picked up, and it worked out well from there.

AS: What's your most memorable experience as a Silverback?
RM: I've got two: my first game, and stopping the penalty kick that got us into the finals. Just seeing how excited everyone was right after that was a cool experience.

AS: What's the funniest thing you fans have done or said?
RM: I had a hotdog thrown at me in Vancouver. And some beer.

AS: What's the scariest thing you have seen fans do?
RM: Probably the hotdog. You don't know what it is until it hits you. I thought it was a battery at first.

AS: If you could have any other job, what would it be?
RM: I do enjoy coaching. But probably working in the family business, or being a financial advisor. Something like that.

AS: Would you rather read a book or watch television?
RM: I wish I read more books but I would have to say, watch TV.

AS: Who's your favorite author?
RM: I really don't have one.

AS: Favorite actor?
RM: Leonardo DiCaprio for his acting skills. Scarlett Johansson for her hotness.

AS: Favorite fictional character?
RM: I like Joey from Friends

AS: Who is your favorite musician or band?
RM: I'm a huge Dave Matthews fan.

AS: Best concert you have ever seen?
RM: Dave Matthews at West Palm Beach Amphitheater.

AS: Would you rather cook or eat out?
RM: Eat out for sure.

AS: Do you have any pre-match rituals?
RM: I like to eat at the Flying Biscuit in the morning and then I go putt at a golf course and then I eat lunch and go to the stadium.

AS: What do you like to do after games?
RM: I like to go home and eat a good meal and go to sleep. I like to sleep.

AS: Global warming, myth or mayhem?
RM: There's something going on, so I don't think it's a myth.

AS: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would that be?
RM: I'd be taller. Just a couple of inches is all.

AS: When you hear a child say they want to be a professional soccer player when they grow up, what do you tell them?
RM: Focus on school first. Unless you are a prodigy, you have to go to college to get yourself showcased in front of professional coaches.

AS: Best thing about your job?
RM: Get to play soccer.

AS: What's the hardest part of your job?
RM: It's hard on your body, diving around after shots every day.

AS: What do you think you'll do when you are finished playing?
RM: Start looking for a job, I guess.

AS: What's the first thing you will do at the end of the season?
RM: Probably go down to Florida and visit my girlfriend and my family.

AS: Who will win the EPL this year?
RM: Manchester United.

AS: Who will win MLS?
RM: I always root for my old team, D.C. United.

AS: Who will win USL1?
RM: The Atlanta Silverbacks.

AS: Who will win the World Cup first, the U.S. or England?
RM: The team that wears red, white, and blue.... Of course, the Americans.

AS: What are you doing after this interview?
RM: Going home to eat and watching some basketball.