Zac Thompson

At 31 years old, Zac Thompson has this physical status:

Zac Joseph Thompson, born 5 January 1993), is an English footballer who plays as a Defender or a Midfielder.

Early life

Thompson, who was born in High End, Greater Manchester, attended Byrchall High School in Ashton-in-Makerfield, where he completed his GCSEs.

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Career

Thompson played for Everton in the youth teams, starting aged 12 in 2005. After leaving school in the summer of 2009, he signed as a scholar but was released eighteen months later after struggling to secure a professional deal with the Toffees. In late 2010, Leeds United's new manager, Simon Grayson, was given the opportunity to join newly promoted Championship outfit Leeds United on trial.

Thompson signed for Leeds on his first professional role in January 2011, initially for six months, following a fruitful hearing. He played 19 games for Leeds both before and after his trial period in 2010–11, receiving a 12-month contract extension in April. Thompson will place his name on a first team spot in the second tier of English football after the departure of key senior midfielders Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson on free transfers to Bristol City and Norwich City respectively in the summer of 2011.

He made it to Leeds' first team in the 2011–12 pre-season friendlies, playing in numerous games for Leeds' first squad. He was introduced as an unutilizated replacement against Bradford City on September 9, 2011 and made his debut four days later when Leeds' 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough. Thompson made his full debut for Leeds against Doncaster Rovers in a 2–1 League Cup victory over August 23. Thompson suffered an ankle injury that forced him to miss six weeks after being a regular in Leeds' matchday squads at the start of September.

Thompson was given a two-year contract midway through October after a promising start to the new season. Thompson made his first league appearance against Burnley on January 2nd, playing in central midfield until being transferred to right back after suffering an injury to Patrick Kisnorbo. He retained his starting line for the remainder of January's games, including an impressive defensive effort against Arsenal in the FA Cup, as Leeds lost by a narrow 1–0 loss after a late Thierry Henry goal. This game of this season came as a result of Simon Grayson's last game as boss before being sacked on the final day of the month; Leeds lost 4–1 on January transfer deadline day, with Tottenham Hotspur's youngster Adam Smith on loan. In what was a convincing 3–0 win over Bristol City, Thompson lost his place to Smith in the next game and caretaker boss Neil Redfearn's first match in charge. Thompson will be confined for the remainder of the season, while Leeds appointed former Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Warnock to replace Grayson.

Thompson returned to the first-team and made his first appearance under Warnock on April 6, 2012 against Reading, after the expiration of Leeds' slim hopes of making the Play-Offs. In the game, he lasted 13 minutes before being given a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Jobi McAnuff, as a tenacious Leeds team lost 0–2 to two late goals from Adam Le Fondre. In a draw and a loss to Cardiff City and Leicester City, he will cap his first professional senior career with two more starts.

Thompson found himself on the fringes of Warnock's first full season in charge as fellow young prospect Sam Byram leapfrogged him in the pecking order for the correct sided position after being on the team's pre-season. Despite this, he made his first appearance of the 2012–13 season as a substitute in a League Cup match against Oxford United on August 28th as Leeds defeated 3–0 winners. Thompson agreed to a new three-year contract with the club on October 2nd, with manager Neil Warnock predicting a promising future for the player, but not reiterating the need for Thompson to have valuable match experience from a loan spell in the lower leagues.

Thompson and coworker Dominic Poleon joined Bury in a month-long loan contract on October 15, 2012. Both youngsters will be working under newly appointed Bury boss Kevin Blackwell, who had been with Warnock as a player and mentor from 1986 to 2003 and served as the team's head coach from 2004 to 2006. In the home game against Carlisle United, he was given the number 33 jersey and made his Shakers debut. Bury recorded a 1–1 draw after conceding a late equalizer, with He scoring his first professional goal from a Poleon assist in the 36th minute. The boys' energy and dedication spurred instant praise after the game, with Blackwell observing that "the two young lads from Leeds were absolutely out of their feet after that." The warm-up period for them, every time they train, are important, and the whole team is happy.

Thompson was issued a straight red card on 27 minutes after a two-footed lunge on Keanu Marsh-Brown as ten-men Bury went down 2–1. It was the second time the youngster had been given a straight red card in only nine years. He missed the following three games due to suspension, including the FA Cup 1st round victory over Exeter City.

Thompson's loan at Bury was further extended on November 19th until February 3, 2013 and then again until the end of the season later this month. Despite being on the Bury side of League Two, Thompson's consistent performances earned him the Bury Young Player of the Year award at the club's end of season awards.

In Leeds' final game of the 2012-13 season against Watford, Thompson was included in the starting lineup. However, Michael Brown's replacement was forced by an unexpected clause in his loan contract with Bury prior to kickoff. The Yorkshire side won by 2–1 over the game.

Leeds revealed on May 13 that he would be released after predominantly playing in the 2014–15 squad for the 2014–15 season.

Thompson played for Guiseley and Marine before moving to Australia, where he spent time on St. Kilda's National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 team Altona City.

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