Andrew Thomas (footballer, born 1998)

Last updated

Andrew Thomas
Personal information
Full name Andrew Delmos Thomas
Date of birth (1998-09-01) September 1, 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Moscow, Russia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Seattle Sounders FC
Number 26
Youth career
2008–2017 Watford
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2020 Stanford Cardinal 55 (0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2016–2017 Watford 0 (0)
2016Wealdstone (loan) 1 (0)
2019 San Francisco City 2 (0)
2021– Seattle Sounders FC 2 (0)
2021–2023Tacoma Defiance (loan) 34 (0)
2023New Mexico United (loan) 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 2, 2024

Andrew Delmos Thomas (born September 1, 1998) is a Russian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

Contents

Early life

Thomas was born in Moscow, Russia, to an American father and a Russian mother, but his family moved to London at a young age; as such, he holds citizenship for Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. [1] Thomas attended the Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood. [2]

Alongside football, Thomas was a keen cricketer, who played for the Middlesex County Cricket Club youth team from 10 years old, as well as representing the England cricket team at under-17s level. [2]

Career

Youth

In 2008, Thomas joined the Watford academy aged 9 years old, going on to help their under-18's to the Professional Development League South Championship in 2016, keeping nine consecutive clean sheets. [2] On 21 October 2016, Thomas moved on a short-term emergency loan to Wealdstone, making a single appearance for the National League South club. [3] Thomas opted to leave the club following this season to move to the United States.

College and amateur

In 2017, Thomas moved to the United States to study and play college soccer at Stanford University. He redshirted his freshman season, but went on to make 55 appearances for the Cardinal over three seasons, helping the team become Pac-12 Champions in 2018 and 2020. During his time at Stanford, Thomas also earned accolades including three-time United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region, three-time All-Pac-12 First Team, Pac-12 All-Academic First Team in 2018, United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team in 2019, and the NCAA Elite 90 Award in 2019. [2]

During his 2019 season, Thomas also appeared for USL League Two side San Francisco City, making two appearances for the club. [4]

Professional

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the college soccer season, Thomas wasn't eligible for the 2021 MLS SuperDraft in January 2021. However, on 20 May 2021 it was announced that Thomas, Jacob Montes and Spencer Glass would all be made available to MLS clubs via the waiver process. [5] The following day, Seattle Sounders FC acquired the top spot in the waivers process from Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money, and subsequently selected Thomas. [6]

In June 2021, Thomas joined Seattle's USL Championship affiliate side Tacoma Defiance on loan, starting for the club during a 2–0 win over LA Galaxy II. [7] He had three shutouts in his first seven matches, but was unable to finish the season after the discovery of a fractured vertebra. Thomas played 12 matches with the Defiance during the 2022 season before he underwent surgery to address another back injury. [8] He made his full return on March 26, 2023, and played 15 matches for Tacoma in MLS Next Pro. [8] [9]

Thomas was loaned to New Mexico United of the USL Championship on September 1, 2023, for the remainder of the USL season. [10] He played eight matches for New Mexico United as they qualified for the playoffs. [8] Thomas returned to the Sounders for the 2024 season and made his MLS debut in the first match of the regular season against Los Angeles FC. He made four saves in the 2–1 loss; he had been a replacement for Stefan Frei, who missed the match with an injury. [11] Thomas earned his first MLS shutout on March 2 at home against Austin FC in a scoreless draw. [12]

International

Thomas is eligible to represent England, Russia and the United States at the international level. In 2019, he was twice called up to United States under-23 training camp but never appeared for the team. [13] [14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played March 2, 2024 [15]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wealdstone (loan)2015–16 Football Conference 1010
Seattle Sounders FC 2021 MLS 000000
Tacoma Defiance (loan) 2021 USL Championship 700070
Seattle Sounders FC 2022 MLS00000000
Tacoma Defiance (loan) 2022 MLS Next Pro 12000120
Seattle Sounders FC 2023 MLS00000000
Tacoma Defiance (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro15000150
New Mexico United 2023 USL Championship8000001 [lower-alpha 1] 090
Seattle Sounders FC 2024 MLS200020
Career total450000010460
  1. Includes appearance in USL Championship playoffs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)</span> Former American soccer team

The Seattle Sounders were an American professional soccer team that was founded in 1994 and played in several second-division leagues, beginning with the American Professional Soccer League. They played in the A-League, later renamed the USL First Division, from 1997 to 2008. The team was named for the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (NASL), which folded in 1983. The Sounders folded after the 2008 season as part of a transition to a new Major League Soccer (MLS) team named Seattle Sounders FC that debuted in 2009.

Joshua Ford is a retired American soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach for Tacoma Defiance of the USL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tacoma Defiance</span> American soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma Defiance, formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2, is an American professional soccer team based in Puget Sound region of Tukwila, Washington, U.S. that competes in the MLS Next Pro, the third tier of the United States soccer league system, as the reserve team of Seattle Sounders FC. Formerly, 20 percent of the club was fan-owned through the non-profit Sounders Community Trust.

Joseph Hafferty is an American soccer player who currently plays for USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights.

Paul Rothrock is an American soccer player who plays for the Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.

Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward.

Alec Díaz is a footballer who plays as a forward who currently plays for MLS Next Pro club Colorado Rapids 2. Born in the mainland United States, he plays for the Puerto Rico national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Caldwell</span> American professional soccer player

Jefferson "Jeff" Caldwell is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for USL Championship club Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Joel Rydstrand is a Swedish professional footballer who currently plays for Antequera.

Wallis Lapsley is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for USL League One club Union Omaha.

Abdoulaye "AB" Cissoko is a French professional footballer who currently plays for USL Championship side Memphis 901.

Jorge González Asensi is a Spanish footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Louisville City FC in the USL Championship.

The 2021 Tacoma Defiance season was the seventh season of the Tacoma Defiance, an American soccer team that played in the USL Championship, the second tier of soccer in the country. It was the fourth season since the club was renamed from Seattle Sounders FC 2 and relocated to Tacoma, Washington. Defiance is majority owned by Seattle Sounders FC, a Major League Soccer team, and serves as their reserve and development squad.

The 2021 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's thirty-eighth year of existence, and their thirteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was under the management of Brian Schmetzer in his fifth full MLS season as head coach of the Sounders. Seattle were the reigning Western Conference champions and lost to Columbus Crew SC in the MLS Cup 3–0.

Burke Fahling is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for Tacoma Defiance in MLS Next Pro.

Obed Gomez Vargas is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

Juan Alvarez is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for MLS Next Pro club Tacoma Defiance.

Frederik Gerd Kleemann is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship.

Kendall Burks is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for San Antonio FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achille Robin</span> French footballer (born 1997)

Achille Robin is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender.

References

  1. "Thomas Signs With Seattle". Stanford University Athletics. May 24, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Andrew Thomas - Men's Soccer". Stanford University Athletics.
  3. Barrett, Matt (October 21, 2016). "Stones bring in keeper from Watford". West London Sport. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  4. "San Francisco City FC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  5. "MLS to conduct Waivers for 3 players following conclusion of NCAA season". MLSsoccer.com. May 20, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  6. "Sounders FC selects Stanford goalkeeper Andrew Thomas off waivers following conclusion of NCAA season" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. May 21, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  7. "Serrano brace leads way for Tacoma in 2-0 home win over LA Galaxy II". Tacoma Defiance. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Oshan, Jeremiah (February 28, 2024). "Andrew Thomas will get second start after 'surreal' debut". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  9. Mondello, Joseph (March 28, 2023). "Andrew Thomas marks return from injury with stellar performance in Tacoma Defiance opener". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  10. "Sounders FC Loans Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas to New Mexico United" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  11. Evans, Jayda (February 24, 2024). "Short-handed Sounders fall on road to LAFC in MLS season opener". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  12. Lazo, Jessica (March 6, 2024). "Andrew Thomas turns dreams into reality with first shutout at Lumen Field". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  13. "Andrew Thomas' next pset: Stanford goalie discusses life on and off the field". The Stanford Daily. October 25, 2019.
  14. "Thomas Called Again by U.S. Soccer". Stanford University Athletics.
  15. Andrew Thomas at Soccerway. Retrieved March 10, 2024.