Michael Thomas (soccer)

Michael Thomas (born March 8, 1988 in Olathe, Kansas) is an American soccer player who most recently played with the Oklahoma City Energy of the USL.

Michael Thomas
Thomas warming up at Livestrong Sporting Park
Personal information
Full name Michael Thomas
Date of birth (1988-03-08) March 8, 1988
Place of birth Olathe, Kansas, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2006–2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Kansas City Brass 13 (2)
2010 Halmstads BK 5 (0)
2010–2011 Ljungskile SK 42 (8)
2012–2013 Sporting Kansas City 7 (0)
2013 Toronto FC 1 (0)
2014–2016 Oklahoma City Energy 82 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 3, 2016

Career

College and Amateur

Thomas attended University of Notre Dame where he played in midfield for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Thomas was selected to play with Region II (Midwest) 88 ODP Regional Team in events at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California as well as international events in Italy and Spain. Listed on CollegeSoccerNews.com 100 Freshmen To Keep An Eye On In 2006.

During his college years Thomas also played for Kansas City Brass in the USL Premier Development League.[1]

Professional

Thomas was drafted in the second round (19th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by San Jose Earthquakes.[2] Shortly after the draft Thomas left the United States to go on trial with Halmstads BK in Allsvenskan[3] and following the club's failure to loan wished players from its partner club RCD Espanyol, Thomas was offered a short term contract, 4 month with an option for the rest of the year,[4] which he signed on February 21, 2010,[5] however due to uncertainties what rules applied, Swedish or American, and Thomas' previous club affiliation, it took some time and the help of both the American and Swedish FA before Thomas was completely signed by Halmstads BK on March 20.[6] On July 3 Halmstads BK reported that they would not use the clause to extend Thomas' contract until the end of the season and that Joakim Wrele from the youth squad would take his place.[7]

Shortly after his departure from Halmstads BK, he went on trial with Superettan club Ljungskile SK and following a successful trial the club decided to sign him for the rest of the 2010 season. Thomas was a starter for the club appearing in 47 league matches and scoring 8 goals.

On January 18, 2012, Thomas signed a contract with Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City making his return to his native Kansas.[8] The previous day Sporting Kansas City had acquired Thomas' MLS rights from San Jose in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.[9]

Thomas was traded to Toronto FC on July 2, 2013 in exchange for a second-round 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick.[10] He was not retained following the 2013 season[11]

Michael Thomas became the first player to sign with Oklahoma City Energy FC ahead of its 2014 inaugural season.[12]

References
  1. "Kansas City Brass Premier Development League". uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  2. 2010 MLS SuperDraft Archived January 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "THOMAS HOPING FOR HAMLSTADS OFFER". yanks-abroad.com. February 15, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  4. "Thomas fick korttidsavtal" (in Swedish). hallandsposten.se. February 21, 2010. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  5. "Lämnar vintern för värme" (in Swedish). hbk.se. February 22, 2010. Archived from the original on August 13, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  6. "Thomas helt klar för HBK" (in Swedish). hallandsposten.se. March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  7. "Wrele får A-kontrakt" (in Swedish). hbk.se. June 3, 2010. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  8. Josh Whisenhunt (January 18, 2012). "Sporting KC signs midfielder Michael Thomas | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  9. Kurt Austin (January 17, 2012). "SKC acquires right of first refusal for MF Michael Thomas | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  10. "Toronto Trades for Michael Thomas". July 2, 2013.
  11. "Major League Soccer issues player list and selection order ahead of annual Waiver Draft". November 25, 2013.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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