Matthew Ridenton

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Matthew Ridenton

| fullname = Matthew George Robert Ridenton

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|11|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Lions FC

| clubnumber = 6

| youthclubs1 = Auckland City

| youthyears1 = 2010–2013

| clubs1 = Auckland City

| years1 = 2013

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| clubs2 = Wellington Phoenix

| years2 = 2013–2018

| caps2 = 73

| goals2 = 4

| clubs3 = Wellington Phoenix Reserves

| years3 = 2014–2017

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 4

| clubs4 = Newcastle Jets

| years4 = 2018–2020

| caps4 = 30

| goals4 = 1

| clubs5 = Brisbane Roar

| years5 = 2020

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 1

| clubs6 = Wellington Phoenix

| years6 = 2020–2021

| caps6 = 8

| goals6 = 0

| clubs7 = Lions FC

| years7 = 2021–

| caps7 = 41

| goals7 = 8

| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U-17

| nationalyears1 = 2013

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalteam2 = New Zealand U-20

| nationalyears2 = 2015

| nationalcaps2 = 9

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalteam3 = New Zealand

| nationalyears3 = 2014–

| nationalcaps3 = 5

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update = 31 March 2024

| nationalteam-update = 8 June 2018

}}

Matthew George Robert Ridenton (born 11 March 1996) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lions FC.

Club career

Ridenton played youth football for Three Kings United, Onehunga Sports and Saint Kentigern College, and made his career debut the age of 18 for ISPS Handa Premiership club Auckland City.

Ridenton signed a professional contract at Hyundai A-League side Wellington Phoenix in 2013. After four seasons of sporadic appearances, he broke out in the 2017–18 A-League season, making 26 appearances as the Phoenix finished ninth.

On 9 May 2018, it was announced that Ridenton would move to 2017–18 A-League runners-up Newcastle Jets on a two-year contract, reuniting with former Wellington Phoenix manager Ernie Merrick.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/103775921/matthew-ridenton-leaving-phoenix-to-link-up-with-ernie-merrick-at-newcastle-jets|title=Matthew Ridenton leaving Phoenix to link up with Ernie Merrick at Newcastle Jets|newspaper=Stuff.co.nz|date=9 May 2018}}

In January 2020, Ridenton joined EFL Championship club Reading for a week-long trial.{{cite web |title=Reading FC take New Zealand midfielder on trial |url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/reading-transfer-news-trial-ridenton-17556618 |website=getreading.co.uk/ |publisher=Get Reading |accessdate=13 January 2020 |date=13 January 2020}}

On 6 November 2020 it was announced that Ridenton had returned to the Phoenix, signing a one-year contract with the club.{{cite web |title=Matt Ridenton Returns To The Wellington Phoenix |url=https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/matt-ridenton-returns-wellington-phoenix |website=Wellington Phoenix |accessdate=6 November 2020 |language=en |date=6 November 2020}} Following the end of the 2020–21 season, Ridenton departed the club.{{cite web |title=Wellington Phoenix Confirms Departure of Seven Players |url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/wellington-phoenix-confirms-departure-seven-players |website=A-League |accessdate=27 August 2021 |language=en |date=25 June 2021}}

International career

In May 2014, Ridenton was called into the All Whites squad by interim coach Neil Emblen for a friendly match against South Africa.{{cite web|last=Worthington|first=Sam|title=All Whites understrength for friendly match|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9997007/All-Whites-understrength-for-SA-match|publisher=Fairfax NZ news|accessdate=3 May 2014}}