Thomas James Wright (21 October 1944 – 20 January 2026) was an English footballer who played as a right-back. A one-club man, he played for Everton, with whom he won the Football League and the FA Cup, and represented England, including at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

Club career Wright was born in Norris Green, Liverpool on 21 October 1944. He joined Everton as an apprentice, and made his first team debut in 1964. He was part of the winning team in the 1966 FA Cup final, in the unsuccessful team in the 1968 FA Cup final and played all 42 league games in the 1969–70 season when Everton won the Football League Championship by nine points. He also won the 1970 FA Charity Shield. He made 374 appearances in total and scored four goals.Everton player statistics

He has often been described as the best right-back to play for Everton. George Best once described Wright as his most difficult opponent.

International career Wright made twelve appearances for England including the classic match against Brazil in the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.Official FA statistics Wright made his debut for England in the game in which England beat the Soviet Union in the third place match in the 1968 European Football Championship in Italy, the only player to make his England debut in a European Championship finals match.

Retirement and death Wright retired in 1974 due to injury. His contributions to Everton were noted in the years following his retirement. He was named as an inaugural member of Gwladys Street's Hall of Fame in 1996, and as an "Everton Giant" in 2016.

Wright died on 20 January 2026, at the age of 81.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Sourced from Everton The Official Complete Record by Steve JohnsonClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeFA Charity ShieldTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsEverton1964–65First Division220300030002801965–66First Division360600040004601966–67First Division420600040105301967–68First Division380602000004601968–69First Division411504000005011969–70First Division421104000004711970–71First Division402600060105321971–72First Division170100000001801972–73First Division30020100000330Career total3084360110170203744

Honours Everton FA Cup: 1965–66; runner-up: 1967–68

References

Sources Everton – School of Science by James Corbett Pan Books 2003

External links