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name: John Thorrington
position: M height: 5-8 weight:150 Birthdate: October 17, 1979 Hometown: Palos Verdes, CA last club: Grimsby Town (England) |
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| Regular Season Stats | full bio l year-by-year stats l video highlights |
| year | club | gp | gs | min | g | a | sht | sog | fc | fs | c | ej |
| 2009 | Chicago | 19 | 19 | 1,574 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 28 | 34 | 6 | 2 |
| Career | 54 | 44 | 3,865 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 17 | 78 | 77 | 15 | 2 | |
| Most Recent Video Highlights |
| date | clubs | video description |
| 08/21/08 | Fire @ Galaxy |
 Thorrington's game-winner
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| 08/21/08 | Fire @ Galaxy |
Thorrington postgame interview
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| 07/12/08 | Toronto FC @ Fire |
Thorrington nets game-winner
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Prior to returning to America with the Fire, midfielder John Thorrington spent his entire professional career in Europe, beginning as the youngest American to ever sign with a team in the English Premiership after joining famed club Manchester United in 1997. Thorrington served as a reservist for both United and German powerhouse Bayern Leverkusen for four years before gaining first-team experience with Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town of the English Second and Third Divisions. After plying his trade for eight years in European soccer circles, Thorrington returned stateside in the winter of 2005 to join the ranks of Major League Soccer with the Chicago Fire.
Thorrington expected to make an immediate impact in the Fire's midfield during his first season with the "Men in Red," but injuries throughout the 2005 and 2006 seasons limited his time on the field. The 28-year old spent the early part of 2007 rehabbing an injury before rejoining the Fire in mid-September. Despite only appearing in two games, for a total of 31 minutes, Thorrington left his mark on the season with arguably the most memorable goal of the season. After coming off the bench in the 61st minute of the Oct. 21 regular season finale, Thorrington tallied a 93+ minute stoppage-time goal to lift the Fire 1-0 over the Los Angeles Galaxy. With the win, the Fire moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, qualifying for postseason play. Thorrington was also productive for the 2007 Fire Reserves, tallying four goals and an assist in four games played. With injuries behind him, Thorrington will help bolster the Fire attack in 2008.
MLS Experience
2007: Came off the bench in 61st minute on Oct. 21 vs. LA, tallying a 93+ minute, stoppage-time game-winner Dressed but did not play on 9-15-07 vs. NY Signed on 9-14-07 Rejoined the Fire after being waived on 3-5-07 MLS Cup Playoffs: Came off the bench for five minutes in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against DC @ TOYOTA PARK Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Did not play MLS Reserve Division: Scored in three consecutive Fire Reserves games (9-16, 9-23, 9-30) Played in four games total, tallying four goals and an assist in 350 min. of action.
2006: Made 2006 debut with Fire on 4-08 @ LA, playing 1 min. off the bench in a 1-1 draw Came into the 6-3 match against RSL for 10 min. in the 3-1 loss Suffered a right hamstring strain on 9-10 @ CLB Reserves Suffered a right broken leg/knee sprain in training on 6-08, sidelining him for 10 weeks MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not play in either leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. NE Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Did not play in the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship run MLS Reserve Division: Played in two games for the Fire Reserves, starting one, for 96 min. played.
2005: Started in half of his eight appearances for the Fire, scoring one goal across 368 minutes of action Made his MLS debut on 5-14 vs. MET, started and playing 60 min. in Chicago's 3-0 defeat Missed two months of action in summer due to injury (L hamstring strain) Scored first goal for Fire on 8-13 vs. LA, his 38' tally proving to be the game-winner in a 1-0 victory MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not appear in any of the Fire's three postseason contests Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Started in two of the Fire's four matches in Open Cup play, registering 152 minutes in helping Chicago reach the Semifinal round of the tournament for the sixth time in club history Set up the Fire's lone goal of regulation on 8-24 @ Rochester (USL 2) in a 1-1 Quarterfinal round draw, his foul suffered setting up Samuel Caballero's 34' tally off the subsequent free kick in a match that Chicago eventually advanced out of in a 5-4 victory in penalty kicks MLS Reserve Division: Started in all three of his appearances for the Fire Reserves in their inaugural campaign, logging 231 minutes Saw first official minutes with Chicago on 5-08 @ NE, playing 90 min. for the Fire Reserves in a 1-0 loss.
Other Pro Experience
2004: Joined Grimsby Town of the Nationwide League Division Two on 3-11-04 via transfer and played three matches (two starts) in the final two months of the 2003/2004 season.
2001-2003: Began his first-team career with Huddersfield Town of the English Nationwide League Divisions Two and Three, where he scored eight goals in 75 games over three seasons.
2000: Joined German powerhouse club Bayer Leverkusen, where he played alongside former MLS star Landon Donavan on the team's reserve side.
1997-1999: Became the youngest American to sign with an English Premiership club when he joined prestigious club Manchester United as a 17-year-old in 1997. He spent three years training with and playing for the team's reserve side.
International
Made his lone "cap" for the full U.S. Men's National Team on 6-7-01, coming on for Steve Cherundolo in the 71' of a 0-0 draw vs. Ecuador at Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH Played in four matches for the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team in 2000 Played in three of the U-23's four contests (two starts) in the 2000 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Hershey, PA, helping the squad advance to the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia Scored his first goal for the U-23s in a 3-0 victory over Honduras on 4-21-00 in the opening round of the 2000 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament Was unable to participate in the 2000 Olympics after suffering a hamstring injury leading up to the tournament After gaining his U.S. citizenship in January of 1999, played in nine games for the U.S. U-20 Men's Team Was a member of the U.S. U-20 squad that advanced to the second round of the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria Made his U.S. U-20 international debut in a 1-0 victory over Denmark on 1-24-99 Scored his first international goal in a 1-1 draw with Morocco on 3-10-99.
Personal
Considers his debuts with Huddersfield, the U.S. National Team and the Chicago Fire as his favorite moments professionally Lists parents Peter and Monique as his biggest influences Favorite player to watch was former Manchester United legend Eric Cantona Donates time and service to a handful of community and charitable organizations, including the Joshua Center, Opportunity International and Gospel for Asia Interests outside of soccer include surfing, reading, traveling and cooking Watches The Office and The O.C. and favorite movies include The Usual Suspects, Anchorman and Braveheart.
