John Thorrington facts for kids
Thorrington playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Gerard Thorrington | ||
| Date of birth | October 17, 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Mission Viejo Pateadores | |||
| 1997–1999 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999–2001 | Bayer Leverkusen | 0 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | Huddersfield Town | 67 | (7) |
| 2004 | Grimsby Town | 3 | (0) |
| 2005–2010 | Chicago Fire | 64 | (9) |
| 2011–2012 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 35 | (0) |
| 2013 | D.C. United | 14 | (0) |
| Total | 179 | (16) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1999 | United States U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2001–2008 | United States | 4 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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John Gerard Thorrington (born October 17, 1979) is a former professional soccer player. He now works as a co-president and general manager for the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.
Even though he grew up in the United States, John was born in South Africa. He started his soccer journey as a young player in England with the famous Premier League team Manchester United. He played as a midfielder. In 1999, he moved to Germany to play for Bayer Leverkusen.
After his time in Europe, he returned to England to play for Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town. Then, he came back home to the United States in 2005. He joined the Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire. Later, he also played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC and D.C. United.
John also played for his country, the United States. He played four times for the main national team between 2001 and 2008. Before that, he also played four times for the United States U20 team.
Contents
Early Life and Soccer Start
John Thorrington was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father was from South Africa, and his mother was Armenian. When John was two years old, his family moved to California in the United States.
He started playing soccer at age four in the American Youth Soccer Organization. A coach named Octavio Zambrano noticed his talent. John was invited to join a special team called Mission Viejo Pateadores. His mother, Monique, would drive him to practice twice a week.
John's father, Peter Thorrington, was a great 400-meter runner from South Africa. He couldn't compete in the Olympics because of a sports ban against South Africa at the time.
Professional Soccer Career
Early Years in Europe
John went to the Chadwick School in California. He was named the best player in his high school division in 1996 and 1997. While playing for the Pateadores, an Englishman named Steve Kelly saw him play. Kelly had connections to Manchester United.
At 17, John got a trial with Manchester United and signed with them in 1997. Later, he moved to Germany to play for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He also had a short trial with Bolton Wanderers in England. However, he didn't play for the main team at Manchester United or Bayer Leverkusen.
Playing for Huddersfield Town
In the summer of 2001, John joined Huddersfield Town for free. The team had just moved down to a lower league in England. The manager, Lou Macari, gave John his first professional game on August 11, 2001. It was a 1-0 win against AFC Bournemouth.
John scored his first goal for Huddersfield on September 2, 2001, in a 2–1 win. He had a good first season, but then he got a hamstring injury. This led to ongoing leg problems. John said that playing his first game for Huddersfield was one of his favorite moments. He also loved his first games for the U.S. National Team and the Chicago Fire. He played 97 games for Huddersfield and scored seven goals over three years.
Time at Grimsby Town
In March 2004, John moved to Grimsby Town. He joined the club for free until the end of the season. He made his first appearance for Grimsby on March 13, 2004. It was a 1–1 tie with Bournemouth.
John only played two more games for Grimsby because of his injuries. The team also moved down to a lower league that season. His contract was not renewed, and he left the club.
Return to the U.S. with Chicago Fire
John came back to the United States and joined the MLS team Chicago Fire in early 2005. But his injury problems continued. In 2006, he hurt his knee during a training session.
In 2007, John scored an important goal for the Chicago Fire. It was a last-minute goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy that helped his team get into the MLS Cup playoffs. After that, he became a key part of Chicago's midfield. In 2008, he scored five goals and had two assists. He often played as a winger, but he also played in defensive and attacking midfield roles.
Playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
In November 2010, Vancouver Whitecaps FC chose John in the MLS Expansion Draft. Early in the 2011 season, he injured his right leg and needed surgery. After playing for Vancouver in 2011, the club signed him again for the 2012 season. However, Vancouver decided not to keep him for the 2013 season.
Final Club: D.C. United
John then joined the MLS Re-Entry Draft in December 2012. D.C. United selected him. He officially signed with D.C. United on January 21, 2013. This was his last professional club.
International Soccer
U.S. Under 20 Team
After becoming a U.S. citizen in January 1999, John played nine games for the U.S. Under-20 men's team. He was part of the team that reached the second round of the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria. John played his first game for the U.S. U-20 team on January 24, 1999, in a 1–0 win over Denmark. He scored his first international goal on October 3, 1999, in a 1–1 tie with Morocco.
U.S. Under 23 Team
John played four matches for the U.S. Under-23 men's national team in 2000. This included three games in the 2000 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He helped the team qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. His first goal for the U-23 team was in a 3–0 win over Honduras on April 21, 2000. Sadly, he couldn't play in the 2000 Olympics because of a hamstring injury.
U.S. National Team
John made his debut for the main U.S. national team on June 7, 2001. He came into the game in the 71st minute during a 0–0 tie against Ecuador.
His second game for the U.S. team came seven years later, on June 22, 2008, against Barbados. His third game, and first start, was against Guatemala. His fourth game was a friendly match against Sweden. He was called to other national team training camps but didn't play in any more official games.
Soccer Executive Role
After he stopped playing soccer, John Thorrington worked for the MLS Players' Union. He also earned a business degree (MBA) from Northwestern University.
On December 8, 2015, he was named the first Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager for LAFC. In this role, he helps manage the team and its players. He led LAFC to become "the best regular-season team in MLS history." They broke the league record for points with 72 and scored 85 goals in a single season. On March 31, 2021, he was also named co-president of LAFC.
Honors
D.C. United
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2013
See also
In Spanish: John Thorrington para niños
