Jordan Thompson (footballer)

Jordan Andrew Thompson (born 3 January 1997) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Stoke City and the Northern Ireland national team.

Jordan Thompson

Thompson in action for Northern Ireland against the Czech Republic on 14 October 2019
Personal information
Full name	Jordan Andrew Thompson[1]
Date of birth	(1997-01-03) 3 January 1997
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Playing position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Stoke City
Number	34
Youth career
2011–2015	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Rangers	2	(0)
2016	→ Airdrieonians (loan)	7	(1)
2016–2017	→ Raith Rovers (loan)	29	(1)
2018	→ Livingston (loan)	11	(0)
2018–2020	Blackpool	56	(4)
2020–	Stoke City	15	(0)
National team^‡
2013	Northern Ireland U17	3	(1)
2014–2016	Northern Ireland U19	8	(1)
2016–2018	Northern Ireland U21	12	(0)
2018–	Northern Ireland	7	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:48, 22 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 00:29, 20 November 2019 (UTC)

Thompson began his career with Rangers after progressing through the youth teams at Manchester United. He spent time out on loan at Airdrieonians, Raith Rovers and Livingston before he joined EFL League One side Blackpool in June 2018. Thompson spent a year-and-a-half at Bloomfield Road and moved on to Stoke City in January 2020.

Early life

Thompson grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, supporting Rangers.[2]

Club career

Rangers

Thompson started his career at Manchester United, spending four years at the club's academy but was unable to break into the first team and was released in the summer of 2015.[3] He then joined Rangers on trial after a meeting with coach Ian Durrant. After impressing then-manager Mark Warburton, Thompson signed a two-year contract.[4] He made his professional debut for Rangers in a 4–0 win against Alloa Athletic on 7 November 2015.[5] On 23 February 2016, Thompson joined Scottish League One side Airdrieonians on a 28-day emergency loan[6] and this loan was later extended to the end of the 2015–16 season.[7] Thompson played seven times for Airdrieonians, scoring once in 3–1 win at Cowdenbeath.[8]

After making his first appearance for Rangers in the 2016–17 season, against East Stirlingshire in the Scottish League Cup on 22 July,[9] Thompson joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan, on 5 August 2016 until January 2017.[10] On 11 January 2017 he extended his contract with Rangers until 2018 and his loan at Raith Rovers until he end of the season.[11] Thompson played 32 times for Raith in 2016–17 and was unable to help them avoid relegation after they lost the relegation play-off on penalties to Brechin City.[12]

In January 2018, Thompson signed on loan for Scottish Championship side Livingston until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] Thompson made 15 appearances for Livi helping them gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership via the play-offs.[14]

Blackpool

Thompson was released by Rangers in June 2018 and he then signed a two-year contract with EFL League One club Blackpool.[15] Thompson played 45 times for Blackpool in 2018–19 as the team finished in 10th position.[16] Thompson and Blackpool began the 2019–20 season in good form, with Thompson scoring a "wonderful" goal in a 2–1 win against Lincoln City.[17][18] In January 2020 Blackpool manager Simon Grayson revealed that Thompson had attracted the attentions of Championship clubs.[19]

Stoke City

Thompson joined EFL Championship club Stoke City on 17 January 2020 for an undisclosed fee.[20][21] Thompson had previously worked with manager Michael O'Neill at International level with Northern Ireland.[22] Thompson made 15 appearances for Stoke in 2019–20, helping the team avoid relegation and finish in 15th place.[23][24]

International career

Thompson has represented Northern Ireland at various age levels. He made his international debut in May 2018.[25] He started for the first time in a friendly against Luxembourg at Windsor Park on 5 September 2019.[26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 July 2020

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rangers	2015–16[27]	Scottish Championship	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2016–17[28]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
	2017–18[29]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
Airdrieonians (loan)	2015–16[27]	Scottish League One	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
Rangers U20s	2016–17[28]	—	—		—		—		2[lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
Raith Rovers (loan)	2016–17[28]	Scottish Championship	29	1	2	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 2]	0	32	1
Livingston (loan)	2017–18[29]	Scottish Championship	11	0	0	0	0	0	4[lower-alpha 2]	0	15	0
Blackpool	2018–19[30]	EFL League One	38	3	3	0	4	0	0	0	45	3
	2019–20[23]	EFL League One	18	1	2	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	22	1
	Total		56	4	5	0	5	0	1	0	67	4
Stoke City	2019–20[23]	EFL Championship	15	0	0	0	0	0	—		15	0
Career total			120	6	7	0	6	0	8	0	141	6

1. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
2. Appearance in Scottish Championship play-offs
3. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

Source:[31]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Northern Ireland	2018	2	0
	2019	5	0
Total		7	0

Honours

Individual

• SuperCupNI (senior) Player of the Tournament: 2014[32]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Blackpool" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
2. Wright, Angus (15 July 2015). "Jordan Thompson signs with boyhood heroes Rangers". The Scotsman. Edinburgh: Johnston Press.
3. "Rangers kid Jordan Thompson admits Manchester United pal Marcus Rashford is his inspiration". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
4. "Rangers sign former Man Utd youth player". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 July 2015.
5. Crawford, Kenny (7 November 2015). "Rangers 4–0 Alloa". BBC Sport. BBC.
6. "Thompson Moves On Loan". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 23 February 2016.
7. Jack, Christopher (21 March 2016). "Rangers midfielder Jordan Thompson extends Airdrieonians loan deal until the end of the season". Evening Times. Glasgow: Herald & Times Group.
8. "Cowdenbeath 1–3 Airdrieonians". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
9. Young, Chick (22 July 2016). "East Stirlingshire 0–3 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC.
10. "Thompson Joins Raith". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 5 August 2016.
11. "Thompson Pens New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 11 January 2017.
12. "Raith 4–4 Brechin". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
13. "Thompson Joins Livingston". Rangers FC. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
14. "Partick Thistle 0–1 Livingston". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
15. "Jordan Thompson: Blackpool sign Northern Ireland midfielder". BBC Sport. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
16. "Season review: End of Blackpool FC's fans' boycott the undeniable success story of 2018/19 campaign". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
17. "Blackpool 2–1 Lincoln". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
18. "Jordan Thompson nutmeg: How Twitter reacted to Northern Ireland player's moment of magic". Belfast Live. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
19. "Simon Grayson issues update on future of Blackpool's Jordan Thompson amid interest from Stoke City". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
20. "Stoke City make first signing of Michael O'Neill era". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
21. "Jordan Thompson: Stoke City sign Blackpool midfielder for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
22. "Stoke City new boy reveals what he likes most about Michael O'Neill". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
23. "Games played by Jordan Thompson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
24. "Nottingham Forest 1–4 Stoke City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
25. "Panama 0–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
26. Northern Ireland 1–0 Luxembourg - BBC Sport, 5 September 2019
27. "Games played by Jordan Thompson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
28. "Games played by Jordan Thompson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
29. "Games played by Jordan Thompson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
30. "Games played by Jordan Thompson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
31. Jordan Thompson at National-Football-Teams.com
32. "Extended trial spell for former Manchester United kid as Rangers boss Mark Warburton lets youth keeper go on loan". Daily Record. Glasgow: Trinity Mirror. 6 July 2015.

External links

• Jordan Thompson at Soccerbase
• Jordan Thompson – UEFA competition record