Ryan McGowan

 ( 1989 Births ) 

After just the one first team appearance he was sent out on loan to Ayr United in October 2009. His debut for Ayr came on 14 October, when he scored one of the goals in a 2–2 draw at home to Dundee. In January 2010, the loan was extended until the end of the season. In total, he made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal for Ayr.

On his return under new manager Jim Jefferies he played as a substitute against Hamilton on 21 August 2010, and against Celtic in September. On 15 February 2011, he joined First Division team Partick Thistle on a three-month loan deal and made his debut the same night. In all he made eight appearances before returning to Hearts at the start of April. After returning from his loan at Partick, McGowan made six more appearances for Hearts that season, with his first start for Hearts coming on 7 May 2011 against Rangers

On 23 July 2011, he started the 2011–12 season with a Sky Sports 'Man of the Match' performance against Rangers at Ibrox. He began to establish himself as a member of the first team and played in the Europa League qualifiers against Paksi SE and in the second leg against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, where Hearts drew 0–0 (losing 5–0 on aggregate). McGowan scored his first goal for Hearts in an Edinburgh derby on 2 January. Later in the same game he Ivan Sproule in the stomach, which the referee viewed and took no action, however the SFA compliance officer opened an investigation. The compliance officer offered a two match ban. Hearts denied it was violent conduct but accepted the ban offered. The 2011–12 SPL season was a good one for McGowan, scoring 3 goals – including one in the 2012 Scottish Cup Final victory against Hibs – and winning the Hearts Young Player of the Year award.

Ahead of the last day of summer transfer window, Rangers made a bid for Hearts duo McGowan and David Templeton worth combined £1.3m valuation for the duo but the move rejected. Templeton went on to join Rangers but McGowan stayed, explaining that he needs to keep his international career status alive. On 2 January 2013, it was announced that Hearts had accepted a bid of around £400,000 from Chinese side Shandong Luneng Taishan. In all, McGowan made 73 appearances for the club.

In January 2019 he was linked with a departure from the club, and a return to Scottish football with Dundee. Later that month he moved on loan to Dundee.

In May 2019, following Bradford City's relegation to League Two, it was announced that he would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2019, one of 11 players to be released.

On 3 July 2021, Sydney FC announced that McGowan was leaving the club, having agreed to terms with an overseas club.

McGowan started in the first match for the Young Socceroos in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and received a yellow and a straight red against the Czech Republic for a studs up challenge which resulted in a penalty.

He received his first call-up to the Australia senior squad in August 2012, when he was selected for the friendly match against Scotland, making his debut as a late substitute replacing Sasa Ognenovski. McGowan was booed by some sections of the home support due to his Hearts connections, with the game being played at Easter Road.

He was named in Australia's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad and provided the assist to Tim Cahill's goal in Australia's 3–2 loss to the Netherlands.