Alan Thompson (footballer, born 1973)

Alan Thompson (born 22 December 1973) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 550 appearances for six different clubs and was capped by England against Sweden in 2004.

Alan Thompson
Personal information
Full name Alan Thompson[1]
Date of birth (1973-12-22) 22 December 1973[1]
Place of birth Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1991 Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1993 Newcastle United 16 (0)
1993–1998 Bolton Wanderers 157 (34)
1998–2000 Aston Villa 46 (4)
2000–2007 Celtic 158 (37)
2007 → Leeds United (loan) 11 (2)
2007–2008 Leeds United 13 (3)
2008 → Hartlepool United (loan) 7 (1)
Total 408 (81)
National team
2004 England 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Newcastle United

Thompson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear.[1] He began his career at his hometown club Newcastle United, progressing through their youth system before signing a professional contract on 11 March 1991.[1]

Bolton Wanderers

He moved to Bolton Wanderers in 1993. He scored for Bolton with a spectacular shot from just inside the opponent's box at Wembley in the 1995 League Cup Final in a 2–1 defeat to Liverpool. Thompson was integral to the Bolton Wanderers team that gained promotion from the third tier, winning the 1994–95 play-offs and to the Premier League in 1996–97 (Champions).

He also scored the first ever competitive goal at the Reebok Stadium in a match against Tottenham Hotspur.[2] Two years earlier, he had been the scorer of their first ever Premier League goal on the opening day of the 1995–96 season in a 3–2 defeat to Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.[3]

Aston Villa

Thompson moved to Aston Villa in 1998 for a £4.5 million fee.

Celtic

Thompson moved to Celtic in 2000 for £2.75 million during manager Martin O'Neill's first season at the club. He was an integral part of the Celtic team that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final where Celtic lost 3–2 in extra time to Porto.

Thompson scored the only goal in the 2005 Scottish Cup Final for Celtic against Dundee United to give the outgoing O'Neill his seventh trophy whilst in charge of the club.[4] He also scored the winning goal against Rangers in two separate Old Firm derby matches and seven against Rangers in all. He had mixed fortunes in Old Firm matches, however, being sent off three times, all at Ibrox Stadium. Thompson scored a spectacular goal in the dying minutes as Celtic beat Rangers in the first Old Firm match of 2004–05, in turn securing Celtic's seventh consecutive win over their Glasgow rivals.[5] Thompson scored several important goals in European competition for Celtic as well; including the opening goal in Celtic's 2–0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in March 2003[6] during Celtic's run to the UEFA Cup Final, and he scored against Barcelona at Parkhead in a 1–0 win a year later[7] to help Celtic reach the quarter-finals of the same tournament.[8]

Under Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, Thompson fell out of favour and found first team opportunities very limited, often not even securing a place on the substitutes' bench.

Leeds United

On 12 January 2007, Thompson secured a loan move to Championship club Leeds United until the end of 2006–07 in a bid to play first-team football.[9]

On 20 January 2007, Thompson made his debut for Leeds against West Bromwich Albion and scored in a 3–2 defeat. In his next appearance, he scored a trademark free kick; the winning goal against Hull City in a 2–1 victory. Thompson left Leeds at the end of the 2006–07 season after his loan period and Celtic contract ended. His agent commented "He was very happy at Leeds, and there's a chance he could go back there.".[10]

Thompson signed a one-year contract with Leeds on 9 August 2007. He was made club captain for 2007–08, their first in League One[11] He scored from a free kick against Southend United in the first home league match of the season.

Thompson was made acting assistant manager after the departure of Gus Poyet,[12] but returned to his playing role upon the arrival of Dave Bassett. In January 2008, he joined another League One club, Hartlepool United, on a one-month loan deal,[13] scoring once against Luton Town.[14] He spent a spell out of the team injured, before returning to feature in the squad for Leeds' play-off campaign, although he did not play. He retired at the end of the season, at the age of 34.

Thompson ended his playing career on 28 May 2008 after 17 years as a professional. He said: "I've had a good career but I've decided to call it a day. I'll take a bit of time out but I'd like to stay in the match. The high point was playing for England against Sweden in 2004 but I've got plenty of good memories."[15]

International career

Thompson was capped by England at youth, under-21 and B levels,[1] before earning one cap for the senior team, when he was picked by Sven-Göran Eriksson for a friendly against Sweden in 2004. As a result, he became the first Celtic player to have won an England international cap whilst playing his club football for the Glasgow club.[16]

Coaching career

On 16 July 2008, Thompson was appointed new academy coach at Newcastle United. It was his former boss Kevin Keegan that handed him the role of looking after the club's young talents.[17] He was the club's reserve-team coach for the 2009–10 season. On 4 June 2010, Thompson left Newcastle by mutual consent[18] and on 17 June 2010 he was announced as the new first-team coach at Celtic, working under his former teammate Neil Lennon.[19] Thompson was dismissed from his role at Celtic on 3 June 2012.[20]

He was appointed development squad coach at Championship club Birmingham City in June 2014, but when manager Lee Clark and assistant Steve Watson were dismissed in October, Thompson left the club by mutual consent a few days later.[21]

After a spell as first-team coach with Clark during his time at Blackpool, the pair re-united again in February 2017 with Thompson becoming Clark's assistant at Bury.[22] On 30 October 2017, Thompson was dismissed as assistant manager at Bury.[23]

Personal life

Thompson's cousin David Longstaff is a former British international ice hockey player, whose sons Sean and Matty are footballers developed at Newcastle United.[24]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newcastle United 1991–92[25] Second Division 140100000150
1992–93[26] First Division 2000003[lower-alpha 1]050
Total 160100030200
Bolton Wanderers 1993–94[27] First Division 27631405[lower-alpha 1]1398
1994–95[28] First Division 37710823[lower-alpha 2]0499
1995–96[29] Premier League 2611051—322
1996–97[30] First Division 34112141—4013
1997–98[31] Premier League 3391041—3810
Total 15734822558119842
Aston Villa 1998–99[32] Premier League 25200103[lower-alpha 3]0292
1999–2000[33] Premier League 2121051—273
2000–01[34] Premier League 00——2[lower-alpha 4]020
Total 464106150585
Celtic 2000–01[34] Scottish Premier League 3036031—394
2001–02[35] Scottish Premier League 25642106[lower-alpha 5]1369
2002–03[36] Scottish Premier League 298103112[lower-alpha 3]34512
2003–04[37] Scottish Premier League 2611401013[lower-alpha 6]24413
2004–05[38] Scottish Premier League 32752205[lower-alpha 7]14410
2005–06[39] Scottish Premier League 16200102[lower-alpha 7]1193
2006–07[40] Scottish Premier League 0000000000
Total 1583720411238822751
Leeds United (loan) 2006–07[40] Championship 112———112
Leeds United 2007–08[41] League One 13300001[lower-alpha 8]0143
Total 245000010255
Hartlepool United (loan) 2007–08[41] League One 71———71
Career total 40881306428559535104
  1. Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  2. Appearances in First Division play-offs
  3. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup
  5. Five appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Cup
  6. Eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Cup
  7. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. Appearances in Football League Trophy

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England[42] 200410
Total10

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

Celtic

Individual

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References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 411. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. Shaw, Phil (23 September 1997). "Armstrong erases painful memories". The Independent. London. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  4. "Celtic 1–0 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  5. "Celtic 1–0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 29 August 2004.
  6. "Celtic brush aside Liverpool". BBC Sport. 20 March 2003.
  7. "Celtic 1–0 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 11 March 2004.
  8. "Celtic stun Barcelona". BBC Sport. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. "Thompson completes move to Leeds". BBC Sport. 12 January 2007.
  10. "Thompson open to Leeds stay". Sky Sports. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  11. "Let's get busy". Leeds United A.F.C. 6 August 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  12. "Spurs pick Poyet to assist Ramos". BBC Sport. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  13. "Pools agree Thompson loan switch". BBC Sport. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  14. "Hartlepool 4–0 Luton". BBC Sport. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  15. "Thompson finishes playing career". BBC Sport. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  16. Nash, Matthew (5 October 2013). "Who are Glasgow Celtic's England internationals?". HITC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  17. "Alan Thompson delighted at academy role". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. 29 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 August 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  18. "NUFC statement". Newcastle United F.C. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  19. "Alan Thompson confirmed as first-team coach" Archived 20 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Celtic F.C. 17 June 2010
  20. Wilson, Mark (3 June 2012). "Thompson gets lawyers involved after Celtic axe assistant over the phone". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  21. Tattum, Colin (23 October 2014). "Alan Thompson leaves Blues". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  22. "Bury: Alan Thompson named assistant manager". BBC Sport. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  23. "Lee Clark: Bury sack manager after eight months in charge". BBC Sport. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  24. "Newcastle's Sean Longstaff: the new Carrick with added ice in his veins". The Guardian. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  25. "Season details: 1991–92: Appearances". Toon1892. Kenneth H. Scott. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  26. "Season details: 1992–93: Appearances". Toon1892. Kenneth H. Scott. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  27. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1994). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 76–77, 616–624, 631–634, 655–665. ISBN 978-0-7472-7857-3.
  28. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1995). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 64–65, 552–553, 583–589, 614. ISBN 978-0-7472-7823-8.
  29. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1996). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 64–65, 576–582, 602–605. ISBN 978-0-7472-7781-1.
  30. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  31. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  32. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  33. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  34. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  35. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  36. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  37. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  38. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  39. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  40. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  41. "Games played by Alan Thompson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  42. "Thompson, Alan". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  43. Moore, Glenn (29 May 1995). "Bolton fight back to claim glittering prize". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  44. Moore, Glenn (2 April 1995). "Liverpool prevail in cup final to savour". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  45. "Celtic lift cup to complete Treble". BBC Sport. 26 May 2001. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  46. "Larsson caps Celtic triumph". BBC Sport. 22 May 2004. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  47. "Dunfermline 0–3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 19 March 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  48. "Rangers win Old Firm final". BBC Sport. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  49. "Rangers retain CIS Cup". BBC Sport. 16 March 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  50. "Porto end Celtic's Uefa dream". BBC Sport. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  51. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1997). The 1997–98 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 317. ISBN 978-1-85291-581-0.
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