Tommy Thompson: Age Doesn't Matter

For most people, Tommy Thompson is just another name they have never heard. Playing in only seven major league soccer games to this point, Tommy is just breaking into the scene. Tommy has played just over 400 minutes, and although he has not scored yet, he has a long bright future ahead of him.
 
Although Tommy wears number 22 for the San Jose Earthquakes, he is only nineteen years old. Being so young, Tommy has taken a different path than many other professional soccer players. When asked about the path he took to get to the professional level, Tommy told me, “I graduated high school a year early to play soccer at Indiana University with my brother Tanner Thompson. I ended up leaving Indiana to sign for San Jose in January so by the time I was a professional; all of my best friends were still in high school.”

Even though Tommy signed with the Earthquakes in January of this year, he did not play for many months because of a knee injury he picked up at Indiana. Tommy missed five months rehabilitating from knee surgery, but he says he “has made a full recovery,” and has made so much of an impact on the field, that he has become a regular starter in the last few games.

Being so young, you would think that the age difference between Tommy, his teammates and competitors would be a big challenge for him, but when he steps on the field he does not even think about age. “It's not about the age. It's all about what you can do with the ball,” was Tommy’s reaction to the age difference.

Tommy started playing soccer at a very young age, and he said that of all the sports he played, “he picked soccer because he loved it.” Clearly Tommy’s love for soccer led him in the right direction, because he is now on track to be very successful in the sport.

Growing up, Tommy looked up to Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane, both of whom represent their respective countries, and they both happen to play in the same league as Tommy does. While Tommy has not yet played against them, one day he will and it will be a very surreal moment for him to be able to play against his role models.

He said, “Being a professional (soccer player) was a goal of mine for a very long time. I practiced hard for many years in hopes that it would eventually pay off. That day just happened to come when I was 18 years old.” Not only was Tommy signed when he was eighteen, but he also made history for the San Jose Earthquakes. Tommy was the first homegrown player ever signed to the Earthquakes. In Major League Soccer, there is a rule stating that the homegrown player system allows teams to sign local players from their own development academies. Signing these players does not break any contract rules, and often homegrown players make much more money than other players. For Tommy, “It's an honor being the first homegrown for the San Jose Earthquakes.”  He looks forward to maximizing his potential as a player and being a good example both on and off the pitch.

Not only does Tommy play for the San Jose Earthquakes, but he is also in the US National soccer team system. He recently played two games with the U20 US National Team, and hopes to someday play in a World Cup with the full national team and he hopes to score a goal in the World Cup.

Since Tommy was signed at such a young age, he has not yet completed college, but he “plans on finishing school and getting his college degree. Right now, however, he is focused on soccer and does not have an exact date for when he will go back to school.” He wants to possibly go to a UC someday and get his degree.

“It’s a dream come true,” for Tommy to be playing professional soccer with and against some of the biggest names in the game, such as Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey, Thierry Henry, Chris Wondolowski, and Michael Bradley. If Tommy can manage to stay motivated and focus on his long term goals, all of the hard work he has put in will pay off, and who knows, maybe someday his name will be as big as a name such as Landon Donovan. Anything is possible if you work hard, and Tommy’s future looks extremely promising.