Wayne Thomas

Football player infobox
playername = Wayne Thomas


fullname = Wayne Junior Robert Thomas
height = height|ft=6|in=2
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|5|17
cityofbirth = Gloucester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Southampton
clubnumber = 3
position = Defender
years = 1995-2000
2000-2005
2005-2007
2007-
clubs = Torquay United
Stoke City
Burnley
Southampton
caps(goals) = 102 (5)
189 (7)
050 (1)
030 (0)
youthyears =
youthclubs =
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 17:37, 05 April 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Wayne Junior Robert Thomas (born May 17, 1979) is an English professional footballer born in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. He can line up both in the centre of defence and at right-back and is currently playing for Southampton F.C.

Wayne Thomas first began his career playing for Torquay United. He would go on to make over one hundred league appearances for 'The Gulls', and one season managed to be an 'ever-present', starting all forty-four league games. His performances soon brought attention from larger clubs, with Stoke City, then in the Second Division, winning the race for his signature in the summer of 2000, paying a transfer fee of £200,000.

He proved to be an astute signing by Gudjon Thordarson and in the 2001-02 season helped Stoke achieve promotion through the play-offs with a 2-0 win at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff against Brentford. Despite the promotion, Thordarson was sacked and replaced by Steve Cotterill. Cotterill was manager for just six months before he resigned amidst much controversy to become assistant manager at Sunderland.

After a short spell under the caretaker manager Dave Kevan, Tony Pulis would become the new manager of 'The Potters'. Thomas' career would flourish under Pulis and so, with his contract running out in the summer of 2005, several Championship clubs were looking to sign the powerful defender on a Bosman transfer. The race was eventually won by Steve Cotterill, now managing Burnley after Cotterill flew out to Thomas' holiday home in Florida to persuade him.

His first season as a Burnley player was an unsuccessful one, as he was hit with two serious injuries; first tearing his knee ligaments and then, after a surprisingly quick recovery, breaking his second metatarsal bone. This second injury ended his season. Thomas was made club captain when the 2006-07 season kicked off.

Thomas had a difficult start to the 2006-07 season, being deemed at least partially at fault for some goals conceded and being sent off twice before the end of September, however Cotterill showed faith in Thomas by retaining him as captain on his return from suspension. Although his form improved, he was replaced as captain in February 2007 by recent signing Steven Caldwell.

In July 2007, The News Of The World reported that Coventry City manager Iain Dowie was to make an improved bid for the defender after having an initial £200,000 offer turned down by Burnley. Then in August 2007, Thomas signed for Southampton in a £1.2 million deal. cite web | title=Saints sign Thomas from Clarets| work=BBC article | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/6949226.stm] He made his debut in Southampton's 2-1 away defeat to Norwich City.

Notes

External links

* [http://saintsfc.co.uk/team/?page_id=6587&player_id=121 Wayne Thomas player profile] at saintsfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=9365|name=Wayne Thomas