Ryan Thomas (footballer)
{{Short description|New Zealand footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ryan Thomas
| image = Ryan Jared Thomas.jpg
| caption = Thomas playing for New Zealand at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|12|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Te Puke, New Zealand
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Mount Maunganui Junior FC
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Tauranga City AFC
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs3 = Melville United
| youthyears4 =
| youthclubs4 = Waikato FC
| years1 = 2011
| clubs1 = Melville United
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2011–2013
| clubs2 = Waikato FC
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2013
| clubs3 = Western Suburbs
| caps3 = 11
| goals3 = 7
| years4 = 2013–2018
| clubs4 = PEC Zwolle
| caps4 = 123
| goals4 = 8
| years5 = 2018–2022
| clubs5 = PSV
| caps5 = 33
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2022–
| clubs6 = PEC Zwolle
| caps6 = 32
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U20
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2019
| nationalteam2 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps2 = 19
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| club-update = 17 February 2025
| ntupdate = 2 December 2019
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|OFC U-20 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2011 New Zealand|}}
}}
Ryan Jared Thomas (born 20 December 1994) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle and the New Zealand national team.
Thomas played for various clubs across the Waikato region of New Zealand, before signing professional terms with Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle in 2013. Since then, Thomas has spent his footballing career in the Netherlands, signing for reigning champions PSV Eindhoven in 2018.
Club career
=New Zealand=
Thomas was born in Te Puke, New Zealand,{{cite web|url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/64181-te-puke-player-all-whites.html|title=SunLive - Te Puke player in All Whites - The Bay's News First|website=www.sunlive.co.nz|access-date=5 December 2018}} attended Tauranga Boys' College and played his youth football at Mount Maunganui Tauranga City AFC and Waikato club Melville United in the NRFL Premier. He made his debut off the bench on 30 July 2011, alongside fellow current professional Jesse Edge, and scored in the 3–1 win against Forrest Hill Milford.{{cite news |last1=Goile |first1=Aaron |title=Teenager stars for Melville in Northern League |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/5368767/Teenager-stars-for-Melville-in-Northern-League |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=Waikato Times |date=1 August 2011}}
Thomas was announced as part of the squad for New Zealand Football Championship side Waikato FC at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, joining other future New Zealand international Tyler Boyd.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Ian |title=Waikato FC hope for deliverance |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/5831393/Waikato-FC-hope-for-deliverance |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=Waikato Times |date=22 October 2011}}
Thomas was later convinced by his previous Waikato FC manager, Declan Edge, to leave his current side to join the Olé Football Academy in Wellington, along with several other Waikato players.{{cite news |last1=Worthington |first1=Sam |title=Kiwi teen Thomas signs with top Dutch club |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9131017/Kiwi-teen-Thomas-signs-with-top-Dutch-club |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=6 September 2013}} During this time, Thomas played for the Olé Academy-affiliated club Western Suburbs. Noting Thomas' exceptional talent, Edge organised a trial for the 18-year-old at Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle.
=PEC Zwolle=
Following a successful trial period in the Netherlands, Thomas signed for PEC Zwolle in September 2013, and made his debut for the club on 30 October 2013 against amateur side Wilhelmina '08 in the third round of the KNVB Cup, scoring the first goal in a 4–0 win.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/report?gameId=381834|title=PEC Zwolle vs. Wilhelmina '08 - Football Match Report - October 30, 2013 - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=5 December 2018}} He quickly became a key winger for the club; his successful debut season culminated in winning the KNVB Cup, with Thomas scoring two goals in the final in a 5–1 win over AFC Ajax.{{cite web|url=http://www.football-oranje.com/pec-zwolle-win-knvb-cup-after-hammering-ajax/ |title=PEC Zwolle win KNVB Cup after hammering Ajax |date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Football Oranje |access-date=11 April 2016}}
Thomas continued to impress for PEC Zwolle in the following seasons following his transition to a holding midfielder, with his rise being compared to that of Dutch legend Arjen Robben by former manager Ron Jans.{{cite web|url=https://olefootballacademy.co.nz/ryan-thomas-compared-to-arjen-robben/|title=Ryan Thomas compared to Arjen Robben|date=24 January 2016|website=Olé Football Academy|access-date=5 December 2018}} In a 2017 interview, Jans stated that "it would not surprise me if he ended up at Real Madrid".{{cite web|url=https://voetbalflitsen.nl/nieuws/td2bsw/in-studiovoetbal-wordt-ryan-thomas-van-peczwolle-een-grote-toekomst-voorspeld-ron-jans-denkt-zelfs-aan-real-madrid|title=Wat zegt Ron Jans hier nou?! "Zou me niks verbazen als Ryan Thomas naar Real Madrid gaat"|date=20 November 2017|website=Voetbalflitsen.nl - het leukste en opvallendste voetbalnieuws!|access-date=5 December 2018}}{{cite news |title=All White Ryan Thomas tipped to attract interest from Europe's biggest clubs |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11946552 |publisher=The New Zealand Herald |date=22 November 2017}}
=PSV=
On 10 August 2018, Thomas joined reigning Eredivisie champions PSV for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.{{cite web |title=Ryan Thomas signs from PEC Zwolle |url=https://www.psv.nl/english-psv/news/article/ryan-thomas-signs-from-pec-zwolle.htm |website=PSV |date=10 August 2018 |access-date=10 August 2018}} The move was described by former New Zealand and Eredivisie footballer Ivan Vicelich as one of the biggest deals ever by a New Zealander.{{cite news |last1=Rollo |first1=Phillip |title=Ryan Thomas completes landmark transfer to PSV Eindhoven |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/106280934/Ryan-Thomas-completes-landmark-transfer-to-PSV-Eindhoven |publisher=Waikato Times |date=15 August 2018}} Just days after signing, however, Thomas sustained a knee injury in training; originally thought to be only a minor sprain, it was later discovered to be a serious anterior cruciate ligament tear, meaning Thomas spent the rest of the season sidelined.{{cite web |title=Ryan Thomas sustains severe knee injury |url=https://www.psv.nl/english-psv/news/article/ryan-thomas-sustains-severe-knee-injury.htm |website=PSV |date=23 August 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018}}{{cite news |title=Cruel injury blow for All White Ryan Thomas days after joining PSV Eindhoven |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/106495365/injury-setback-for-ryan-thomas-delays-psv-eindhoven-debut |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=23 August 2018}} As part of his rehabilitation, Thomas spent time working with Olympic swimming champion Pieter van den Hoogenband.{{Cite web|url=https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/857391/-pechvogel-thomas-kan-na-de-winterstop-gaan-denken-aan-debuut-voor-psv-.html|title='PSV-debuut weer een stapje dichterbij voor Thomas door voorspoedige revalidatie'}}
On 6 October 2019, after 14 months out injured, Thomas finally made his debut for PSV as an 85th minute substitute for Érick Gutiérrez in a 4−1 win over VVV Venlo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/115563240/all-whites-midfielder-ryan-thomas-makes-debut-for-psv-eindhoven-after-year-out-with-knee-injury|title = All Whites star Ryan Thomas makes PSV debut after year out with knee injury|date = 5 September 2019}}
After four injury-riddled seasons, during which he had four surgeries on his knee in total, Thomas was released by PSV in June 2022.{{cite news | url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/07/football-injury-plagued-all-whites-star-ryan-thomas-has-rare-surgery-in-bid-to-revive-career.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720115049/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/07/football-injury-plagued-all-whites-star-ryan-thomas-has-rare-surgery-in-bid-to-revive-career.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 July 2022 | title=Football: Injury-plagued All Whites star Ryan Thomas has 'rare surgery' in bid to revive career | newspaper=Newshub }}
=Return to PEC Zwolle=
On 26 October 2022, Dutch side PEC Zwolle now playing in the Eerste Divisie announced that they had re-signed Thomas.{{Cite web|url=https://peczwolle.nl/nieuws/ryan-thomas-keert-terug-in-zwolle|title=Ryan Thomas keert terug in Zwolle injury|access-date=26 October 2022|date=26 October 2022|publisher=PEC Zwoller|language=nl}}
In August 2024, it was announced that PEC Zwolle had extended Thomas’s contract until mid-2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/08/03/all-whites-midfielder-ryan-thomas-signs-new-deal-after-return-from-injury/|title=All Whites Midfielder Ryan Thomas signs new deal after return from injury|access-date=3 September 2024|date=3 August 2024|publisher=Friends of Football NZ|language=en}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 23 August 2024}}{{Soccerway|ryan-thomas/215382}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup{{efn|Includes KNVB Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Waikato
|rowspan="2"|ASB Premiership |13 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|Appearance(s) in 2011–12 NZF Cup}} | 2 | 16 | 5 | |||
| 2012–13
|5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!18 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 2 | 21 | 6 | |||
| rowspan="6"|PEC Zwolle
|rowspan="5"|Eredivisie |19 | 1 | 5 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 4 | |||
| 2014–15
|30 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2{{efn|name=UEL|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in Johan Cruyff Shield}} | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 2015–16
|12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 2 | |||
| 2016–17
|31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18
|31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!123 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 141 | 12 | |
| rowspan="4"|PSV
|rowspan="3"|Eredivisie |11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21
|16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22
|6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!33 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 48 | 4 | ||
| rowspan="4"|PEC Zwolle
|18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24
|rowspan=2|Eredivisie |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!201 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 238 | 22 |
{{notelist}}
International career
Thomas made his international debut for New Zealand when he played in a 2–4 friendly loss to Japan in March 2014.{{cite web |title=Japan vs New Zealand |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/03/05/world/friendlies/japan/new-zealand/1608810/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=5 December 2018}} He scored his first international goals on 28 March 2017, netting a brace in a 2–0 win over Fiji.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11827257|title=Football: All Whites progress in World Cup qualifying|website=New Zealand Herald |last=Burgess|first=Michael|date=28 March 2017|access-date=28 March 2017}}
=International goals=
:Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.{{NFT|54718|accessdate=}}
| class="wikitable"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | rowspan=2 | 28 March 2017 | rowspan=2 | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand | rowspan=2 | {{fb|FIJ}} | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan = 2 align=center | 2–0 | rowspan=3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | align=center | 2–0 | |||||
| 3. | 1 September 2017 | North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | {{fb|SOL}} | align=center | 4–1 | align=center | 6–1 |
Honours
=Club=
=International=
=Individual=
- Oceania Footballer of the Year, 2015
- IFFHS OFC Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/934 |title=IFFHS MAN TEAM - OFC - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020 |work=IFFHS |date=31 January 2021 }}
- IFFHS Oceania Men's Team of All Time: 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1150 |title=IFFHS ALL TIME OCEANIA MEN'S DREAM TEAM |publisher=IFFHS |date=14 June 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|ryan-thomas/215382}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|ryan-thomas_3}}
- {{FIFA player|336641|Ryan Thomas}}
{{New Zealand squad 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Ryan}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sportspeople from the Bay of Plenty Region
Category:New Zealand men's association footballers
Category:PSV Eindhoven players
Category:New Zealand men's under-20 international footballers
Category:New Zealand men's international footballers
Category:2017 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:New Zealand expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands