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Billy Thompson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
William “Billy” Thompson (born May 5, 1968 in Cupertino, California
) is a retired U.S. soccer player who coaches youth soccer. He earned one caps with the U.S. national team
and played three seasons in Major League Soccer
with the Columbus Crew
.
, attended UCLA where he played as a forward
on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1990. Thompson earned first team All American
honors as a senior. That year he was the captain of the Bruins team which won the NCAA championship
. Thompson was also the 1990 ISAA Player of the Year
and finished his time at UCLA with 42 goals and 27 assists.
of the Western Soccer Alliance. In 1988, he was named to the WSA All Star team.
Following his last season at UCLA, Thompson was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1991 World University Games
. He then moved to France to play for Pau
, of the French Second
and Third
divisions. He was with the team from 1991 to 1994 before returning to the United States for a short spell with professional beach soccer which led him to compete in the Beach Soccer World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil a year later. In 1995 he spent a single season with the Hawaii Tsunami
of the USISL
. He was the league’s Offensive MVP. That same year he also guest played with Raj Pracha FC
of Thailand.
(MLS) held its first draft
. The Columbus Crew
selected Thompson in the third round (21st overall) ahead of fellow Bruins Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk, and Ante Razov. At the time he was playing indoor soccer with the Tampa Bay Terror
of the National Professional Soccer League. Thompson went on to play four seasons with the Crew. However, at the end of his second season, in which he saw time in only six games (four as a starter), the Crew did not protect Thompson during the expansion draft
. The next season, he came back strong, appearing in twenty-nine games. However, he retired at the end of the 1999 season finishing with 4 goals and 18 assists for his MLS career.
women’s soccer team. The next season he was an assistant to the men’s soccer team. He is also the head coach for the Wellington High School girls' team. In 2000, Thompson joined Worthington United, a local youth soccer club, leading the 1990 boys team to the Ohio State Cup semifinals in 2006 and 2007, and to their first state title in 2008. In 2008 Worthington United merged with the Columbus Crew to become Worthington Crew Juniors, a developmental academy for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Thompson is currently the Director of Coaching for the Worthington Crew Juniors and Crew Juniors Soccer programs. Background includes former coaching for the Olympic Development Program. Currently, Thompson coaches Worthington Crew Juniors, and is devoted to the Developmental Academy Team. He was awarded Ohio South's coach of the year honors in 2005 and holds a NSCAA national coaching diploma.
. His one cap came in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica
on June 14, 1988. While he has only one cap, he played seventeen total games with the national team, but sixteen of those were not full internationals.
Personal
Cupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
) is a retired U.S. soccer player who coaches youth soccer. He earned one caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and played three seasons in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
with the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
College
Thompson, born in Cupertino, CaliforniaCupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
, attended UCLA where he played as a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1990. Thompson earned first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
honors as a senior. That year he was the captain of the Bruins team which won the NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
. Thompson was also the 1990 ISAA Player of the Year
ISAA Player of the Year
The ISAA Player of the Year was an annual U.S. college soccer award presented by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America between 1984 and 1995. In 1984, the ISAA began recognizing outstanding men's NCAA soccer players with an annual Player of the Year award. In 1985 the ISAA expanded...
and finished his time at UCLA with 42 goals and 27 assists.
Early career
While playing with UCLA, Thompson spent the 1988 and 1989 collegiate off season with the Los Angeles HeatLos Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. They joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League...
of the Western Soccer Alliance. In 1988, he was named to the WSA All Star team.
Following his last season at UCLA, Thompson was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1991 World University Games
1991 Summer Universiade
The 1991 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVI Summer Universiade, took place in Sheffield, England. In the host country it was generally referred to as the World Student Games....
. He then moved to France to play for Pau
Pau FC
Pau FC is a French football club based in Pau. The team, founded in 1904 as Bleuets Notre-Dame de Pau, are currently competing in the CFA, the fourth tier of French football. They play at the Stade du Hameau. The team plays in a yellow and blue strip....
, of the French Second
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
and Third
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
divisions. He was with the team from 1991 to 1994 before returning to the United States for a short spell with professional beach soccer which led him to compete in the Beach Soccer World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil a year later. In 1995 he spent a single season with the Hawaii Tsunami
Hawaii Tsunami
The Hawaii Tsunami were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leaguesfrom 1994 to 1997. The club was based in Honolulu, Hawaii.-Year-by-year:...
of the USISL
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
. He was the league’s Offensive MVP. That same year he also guest played with Raj Pracha FC
Raj Pracha FC
Rajpracha Football Club Thailand is a Thai semi-professional football club.In 1975 the club won the first ever Thai FA Cup competition under the name of 'Youth Development Team'....
of Thailand.
MLS
On February 6-7, 1996, Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) held its first draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. The Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
selected Thompson in the third round (21st overall) ahead of fellow Bruins Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk, and Ante Razov. At the time he was playing indoor soccer with the Tampa Bay Terror
Tampa Bay Terror
The Tampa Bay Terror were an indoor soccer team based in Tampa Bay, Florida that competed in the defunct National Professional Soccer League . The team existed for two seasons before folding: 1995-1996 and 1996-1997. The team's home games were held at the Bayfront Center. The two season that the...
of the National Professional Soccer League. Thompson went on to play four seasons with the Crew. However, at the end of his second season, in which he saw time in only six games (four as a starter), the Crew did not protect Thompson during the expansion draft
1997 MLS Expansion Draft
The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
. The next season, he came back strong, appearing in twenty-nine games. However, he retired at the end of the 1999 season finishing with 4 goals and 18 assists for his MLS career.
Coaching
After retiring from professional soccer, Thompson remained in Columbus. In 1999 he served as the assistant coach to the Ohio WesleyanWesleyan Battling Bishops
The Battling Bishops is the name of the sports and other competitive teams at Ohio Wesleyan University. The men's and women's Bishops teams are NCAA Division III teams that compete in the North Coast Athletic Conference...
women’s soccer team. The next season he was an assistant to the men’s soccer team. He is also the head coach for the Wellington High School girls' team. In 2000, Thompson joined Worthington United, a local youth soccer club, leading the 1990 boys team to the Ohio State Cup semifinals in 2006 and 2007, and to their first state title in 2008. In 2008 Worthington United merged with the Columbus Crew to become Worthington Crew Juniors, a developmental academy for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Thompson is currently the Director of Coaching for the Worthington Crew Juniors and Crew Juniors Soccer programs. Background includes former coaching for the Olympic Development Program. Currently, Thompson coaches Worthington Crew Juniors, and is devoted to the Developmental Academy Team. He was awarded Ohio South's coach of the year honors in 2005 and holds a NSCAA national coaching diploma.
National team
Thompson earned one cap with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. His one cap came in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
on June 14, 1988. While he has only one cap, he played seventeen total games with the national team, but sixteen of those were not full internationals.
External links
Personal