Kevin Thomson
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin Thomson | ||
| Date of birth | October 14, 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Rangers | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Coventry City | ||
| 2000–2003 | Hibernian | ||
| Senior career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Apps (Gls)2 | |
| 2003–2007 | Hibernian | 80 (2) | |
| 2007– | Rangers | 46 (2) | |
| National team3 | |||
| 2007 | Scotland B | 2 (0) | |
| 2008 | Scotland | 1 (0) | |
| 1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 May, 2009. 2 Appearances (Goals). |
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Kevin Thomson (born October 14, 1984) is a professional Scottish association footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and also the Scotland national football team.
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[edit] Early life
Thomson grew up in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders. His first club was Peebles Thistle, who play in the Eastern Region Youth League. He then moved on to play for Edinburgh side Hutchison Vale before being signed by Coventry City on a four year contract.[1] However, Thomson suffered badly from homesickness and returned to Scotland with Hibernian.[1]
[edit] Club career
[edit] Hibernian
Whilst with Hibs he was part of a very promising group of young players who came through their youth team during the early 2000s. Players included current Rangers teammate Steven Whittaker, also Derek Riordan, Scott Brown and Garry O'Connor. Thomson established himself as a regular in the Hibs first team during the 2003–04 season and played in that season's Scottish League Cup final defeat by Livingston, but he suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury during a game against Partick Thistle near the end of that season. The injury meant that he was out of football for almost a year, and he consequently made only four league appearances in the 2004–05 season.
In the 2005–06 season Thomson made an impressive comeback from his injury, establishing himself as one of Hibernian's most important players. He signed a long term contract (until 2010) in March 2006. Thomson was then appointed as club captain by Tony Mowbray after the previous captain Gary Caldwell left the club to join Celtic. Despite signing a long term contract with Hibs, it was still speculated that Thomson would soon leave Hibs. On 31 August 2006, Premiership club Bolton Wanderers made an offer that was rejected by Hibernian.[2]
Speculation about Thomson's future increased after he (and Scott Brown) appointed Willie McKay as his agent. McKay demanded that Hibs offer Brown and Thomson wages commensurate with the transfer fees Hibs were demanding for the players.[3] Hibs would have needed to significantly break their pay scale in order to offer such wages.[4] Hibs refused to meet with McKay to discuss improved contracts, which resulted in Brown submitting a written transfer request.[5]
On 20 December 2006, Charlton Athletic made a joint offer for Brown and Thomson, which was rejected by Hibernian.[6] This sparked a further round of speculation, as Brown and Thomson demanded to know why they had not been informed of the offer before it was rejected. Thomson was stripped of the captaincy on 2 January 2007 and was replaced by Rob Jones.[7] Thomson was told by manager John Collins to concentrate on his game because he believed that Thomson's performance levels had dropped since the transfer speculation began.
[edit] Rangers
Thomson signed for Walter Smith's Rangers for a fee of £2 million on 30 January 2007.[8][9] Less than two months earlier, Smith had been critical of Thomson's behaviour, calling on him to show more "responsibility", [10] although this was a month before he was re-appointed as Rangers manager. Thomson made his Rangers debut on 11 February in a 3–1 victory over Kilmarnock, although he was substituted at half-time after suffering a hamstring injury.[11]
Thomson has established himself as a regular in the Rangers first team, and has built up a reputation as a combative midfielder. He scored his first goal for Rangers in a victory over Celtic in an Old Firm match on 29 March 2008[12] and he played in an important part in their run to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.
He scored his second goal of the 2008–09 season when he scored an equalising goal in injury time against Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium, on 4 November 2008.[13] In the following SPL match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, a 4–0 victory for Rangers was overshadowed by Thomson suffering a serious knee injury. This injury has ruled him out for the rest of the 2008–09 season.[14] Thomson had surgery to save his career on 31 December 2008.[15] The surgery was a success and Thomson hopes to be fit for next season.[15] The Sunday Mail newspaper reported in April 2009 that Thomson will be appointed as Rangers' captain when he returns from injury.[16]
[edit] International career
Thomson made his debut appearance for Scotland in a goalless draw against Northern Ireland on 20 August 2008.[17]
[edit] Career statistics
- As of 25 May 2009.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hibernian | 2003–04 | 23[18] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| 2004–05 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| Total | 80 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 98 | 2 | |
| Rangers | 2006–07 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| 2008–09 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[19] | 1 | 14 | 2 | |
| Total | 46 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 70 | 3 | |
| Career total | 126 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 168 | 5 | |
[edit] Honours
Scottish Cup: 1
[edit] References
- ^ a b Thomson enjoys the comforts of home with Hibs, Edinburgh Evening News, 7 November 2003.
- ^ "Celtic win race for Hibs' Brown". BBC Sport website. 15 May 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6653201.stm.
- ^ "Hibs pair demand talks on future" BBC Sport website (1 December 2006])
- ^ "Hibs pair were misled, says agent" [[BBC Sport website (3 December 2006)
- ^ "Hibs pair demand talks on future". BBC Sport website. 1 December 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6195434.stm.
- ^ "Charlton fail to land Hibs stars". BBC Sport website. 20 December 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6196309.stm.
- ^ "Thomson stunned to lose armband". BBC Sport website. 4 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6230429.stm.
- ^ "Offer for Kevin Thomson" Hibernian official website (30 January 2007)
- ^ "Rangers pay Hibs £2m for Thomson" BBC Sport website (30 January 2007)
- ^ Smith backs "Hibs in contract row" BBC Sport website (3 December 2006)
- ^ "Kilmarnock 1–3 Rangers". BBC Sport website. 11 February 2007. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6344721.stm.
- ^ "Rangers 1–0 Celtic" BBC Sport website (29 March 2008)
- ^ "Rangers 3–3 Dundeed United". BBC Sport. 4 November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7706594.stm.
- ^ "Injured Thomson's season is over". BBC Sports Website. 9 November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7719419.stm.
- ^ a b "Thomson targets return" Sky Sports website (2 January 2009)
- ^ "Thomson To Take Over As Captain". Sunday Mail Website. 5 April 2009. http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/2009/04/05/walter-smith-prepared-to-give-shamed-keeper-allan-mcgregor-ibrox-lifeline-78057-21254880/.
- ^ Scotland 0–0 Northern Ireland, BBC Sport, 20 August 2008.
- ^ Includes match against Rangers on 30 Nov 2003 which was not recorded for Kevin Thomson due to a soccerbase error
- ^ Total includes both matches versus FBK Kaunas. Thomson started both legs per the BBC match reports (1st leg)(2nd leg), but it is not recorded by soccerbase (1st leg); (2nd leg).
[edit] External links
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