It’s time to catch up with Homegrown star Tommy Thompson. Most recently back from Spain with the US Men’s National Team U-20 squad, Thompson talks his travels, finding his role on the team and the upcoming U-20 CONCACAF tournament. We also pick his brain about the 2015 season, his rookie duties and – of course – his renowned break dancing skills.
SJEarthquakes.com:This year, you’ve seen a lot of national team action most recently traveling to Spain for the Marbella Cup, how does it feel to represent your country?
Tommy Thompson: It feels great, it’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing ever since I was six years old. You grow up watching the Men’s National Team playing and you dream to be at the World Cup or the Olympics, so it’s an honor. Even though it is at the U-20 level it doesn’t change how much of an honor it is to put on that jersey and represent that country.
SJEQ: Do you feel like you’ve found your niche on the squad? How are you starting to gel with your teammates?
TT: Yeah, that’s what has been so nice because I haven’t been called up for six years or so until I got called up in June. When I walked into that locker room there were a lot of new faces so I think this ten day trip in Spain has helped me get to know some of the guys and find my role for the team. I’m grateful for this past trip because when I got called up in July it was only for a couple of days.
SJEQ:If you do get called up for the CONCACAF tournament, do you think that will be the biggest stage you’ve played for in your career thus far?
TT: I don’t want to look too far ahead, but the final roster will be released in December. If I do make that final cut, it will be a big stage. I don’t know if I would say it’s the biggest stage because in MLS itself, you play in front of 40,000 fans. I think the MLS has really prepared me for that level and I think it is really comparable to that stage and I’m ready for it.
SJEQ: What was your favorite non-soccer related part of your stay in Spain?
TT: We were at a resort that was isolated from the town. I loved when we finally got a chance to travel 25 minutes into Puerto Banus and go out to dinner with the team, have the freedom to walk around the beach area for two hours. It was really cool to see something I haven’t seen before.
SJEQ:You come from a huge soccer family with your dad playing professionally and both your brothers in collegiate programs, are there any family rivalries?
TT: [Laughs] That’s an understatement just to call it a family rivalry. When I was playing as well it was a little bit worse because it was me and Tanner teaming up on Ty at Stanford because Tanner and I both went to Indiana. Any time we are at a family gathering - whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas - [laughs] any time we are at a dinner table really, the topic will come up. Is the Pac12 better than the Big10, is Indiana better than Stanford? [laughs] It’s intense but it’s definitely a good laugh.
SJEQ:Who is your soccer role model?
TT: I really looked up to Ronaldinho, watching him play in that 2002 World Cup and watching the Joga Bonita videos with Nike. I always wanted to mimic those skills and those tricks that he was able to implement into the games and make defenders look silly at times, I admired that. I want to try to be like him in my career.
SJEQ: You definitely have tricks up your sleeve, how did you learn how to juggle like that?
TT: Just like anything else, it takes a lot of practice. Having those Joga Bonito videos and being able to watch those Brazilians like Rondaldinho and Ronaldo. I would just watch those videos for hours and remember what I see. I would go in my backyard or a park and just juggle for hours. It was basically my video games because I never played video games. It wasn’t that I was going out to play soccer - it was something I did for fun. It wasn’t because my dad told me or anything like that, I just loved it. It made it fun to put in the effort to learn those complicated tricks.
SJEQ:You’re quite the dancer, having YouTube videos to prove it - is that the same way you learned how to dance?
TT: [Laughs] Yeah I mean that’s the other reason I have behind the dancing too. When I got tired of juggling, I still had so much time on my hands that I would turn on some music and dance in your garage. There was a big dance fad in middle school and a couple of my friends got into it. I love to dance and I love to juggle. Those are two of the things I would always do. [Laughs] Now, I guess people say I can dance.
SJEQ: Who would you rather be a back-up dance for – Justin Timberlake or Usher?
TT: I have to go with Usher.
SJEQ:Let’s talk about the Quakes. Describe what it feels like to represent your hometown club, being the Quakes first-ever Homegrown player.
TT: It’s an honor to be able to have that title of San Jose’s first-ever Homegrown. It's something that will always be mine.
SJEQ:Was it a hard transition from college to being a professional athlete?
TT: Yeah I mean jumping levels from high school to college, college to pros there’s always things you need to learn. Especially coming off an injury that made my situation a little tougher than I was hoping. I made the transition and put my head down and worked. I’m going to continue to do that to become the best that I can be.
SJEQ:What does your offseason look like? What type of training do you do to keep up with the U-20s and Quakes, especially with the CONCACAF U-20 Championship coming up in January?
TT: My offseason consists of a lot of shooting. I watch Wondo at practice - how he can put a ball in the back of the net from anywhere. I want to be like him, he’s motivated me to do a lot of shooting. Apart from that, it’s also a lot of running and a lot of skill work. It’s not always easy but I’m excited.
SJEQ: What’s the funniest rookie task you had to do for the team this season?
TT: When we went to Arizona for preseason, they made me sing a song, standing on a table at a restaurant - [Laughs] the whole team and all the coaches watched.
SJEQ:You’ve got a year under your belt on the Quakes, what advice would you give a new rookie on the team?
TT: To keep working, keep your head down and if things don’t go your way right away - it doesn’t mean that success won’t come. I experienced some difficulties with that injury, and it took me six months to get my first minute and another two months to get my start. Things might not come quickly, but it’s worth it to put in the work. It’ll come eventually.
SJEQ:What makes you most excited about the 2015 season with the Quakes at our new home?
TT: I’m super excited for 2015, I can’t wait to play in that new stadium in front of hometown fans. I can’t wait to be back with the players and the new signings. I’m excited about the new coach Dominic Kinnear... I’m really excited about everything. The locker room, the field, the stadium, the coach, the players - I can’t wait for January to come.
