Emma Jennie Thomson (born 21 January 1990) is an English association football manager and former player who is an assistant coach for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Playing career
Born and raised in Nottinghamshire, Thomson began playing football with her brother when she was young. After two seasons with Retford United, she joined Doncaster Rovers Belles. She was recruited to play college soccer for Penn State in the spring of 2008. She played with teammates including Alyssa Naeher and Katie Schoepfer and scored a goal against Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament final as a freshman in 2008. She was named a team captain before her junior season in 2010. She helped the Nittany Lions win four consecutive Big Ten regular-season titles. She was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2010 and 2011. After college, she played for the Boston Breakers of the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite and Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Managerial career
Thomson began coaching as a graduate assistant to the St. John's Red Storm in 2013. After two seasons, she became an assistant coach to Todd Bramble with the George Mason Patriots in 2015. She also coached youth soccer for FC Virginia in the Development Academy.
Thomson moved to coach for the North Carolina Courage Academy in the summer of 2020. She began working as an assistant coach for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2021, then assumed the role full time under head coach Sean Nahas in 2022. North Carolina won the NWSL Challenge Cup in both 2022 and 2023.
Personal life
Thomson and her wife have a son.
Honors and awards
Player Penn State Nittany Lions Big Ten Conference: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Big Ten women's soccer tournament: 2008
Individual Second-team All-Big Ten: 2010, 2011 Big Ten all-freshman team: 2008
Manager North Carolina Courage NWSL Challenge Cup: 2022, 2023
References
External links