Ryan Williams - the creative brain who has re-energised BFC

Bengaluru FC winger Ryan Williams overcomes injury setback to become a key player, aiming to spark creativity in playoffs.

In September 2024, Bengaluru FC winger Ryan Williams was a frustrated man. After suffering a muscle injury in the ISL season-opener, the Aussie missed six straight games.

From the sidelines he saw BFC notch up five impressive victories and a draw, propelled as the outfit was by the vibrant trio of Alberto Noguera, Edgar Mendez and Jorge Pereyra Diaz. The 31-year-old was left wondering if he would ever be back in starting XI.

Six months since then, Williams is among BFC’s leading lights. He has featured in each of the side’s last 17 ISL games, scored six goals and assisted four. As BFC readies itself for the single-legged playoff against Mumbai City FC here on Saturday, Williams is set to be the creative spark.

“It was disappointing to miss a few games, and in the charts, you always want to be top,” Williams told The Hindu. “But personally, to get 10 goal involvements is good. I am happy.”

Williams, in fact, has played a huge role in BFC’s revival. Last season, the club finished a lowly 10th, didn’t collect a single away win and scored a record-low 20 goals. In 2024-25, despite a prolonged wobble in the middle of the campaign and the absence of Pereyra Diaz for the last two months, it was third after the league stage and found the net 40 times.

“What killed us last year was that we didn’t have a No.9,” Williams opined. “Sunil [Chhetri] is obviously a No. 9 but he is better off coming in from the left to the back post which is where he has scored most of his goals this season. We spoke about putting the ball there and he has been there [to finish].”

In the process, Williams has also helped enthuse the BFC fanbase after the dreary 2023-24. Like his idol Thierry Henry, he loves running at defenders and dribbling past them, all with the hope that he can unleash the Arsenal legend’s signature finish into the far-corner, albeit with his left-foot.