Joel Thiessen
Encyclopedia
Joel Theissen is an Australia
n footballer who currently plays for MPS Portland Phoenix in the USL Premier Development League
.
, and played with former NSL
side Newcastle United
, before catching the eye of Sydney FC
head coach Terry Butcher
. Thiessen was placed on a short-term contract the A-League
club in September 2006 to cover for the injured Robbie Middleby
, and played in one senior game for the team before leaving to play for Marconi Stallions
and Sydney Olympic.
. After failing to be cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse he moved on to the University of Rio Grande in the NAIA. He played with the Cape Cod Crusaders
in the USL Premier Development League
during his 2008 collegiate off-season. In March 2009 he signed with the Ottawa Fury
for the 2009 Premier Development League season, and played two seasons with the team, before moving to MPS Portland Phoenix in 2011.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n footballer who currently plays for MPS Portland Phoenix in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Early career in Australia
A left-sided midfielder or defender, Thiessen attended the Australian Institute of SportAustralian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
, and played with former NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
side Newcastle United
Newcastle United Jets
Newcastle United Jets Football Club is a professional football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The club competes in the A-League and plays its home games at Ausgrid Stadium . The Jets have won one A-League championship, defeating arch rivals the 1–0 in the 2007–08 Grand Final...
, before catching the eye of Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
head coach Terry Butcher
Terry Butcher
Terence Ian "Terry" Butcher is an English football manager and former player. He was a highly successful football player and made his name as an uncompromising defender with Ipswich Town and Rangers in the 1980s. He was also a captain of England and won 77 caps in a ten-year international career...
. Thiessen was placed on a short-term contract the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club in September 2006 to cover for the injured Robbie Middleby
Robbie Middleby
Robert Middleby is a former Australian football player who is the CEO for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.-Club career:...
, and played in one senior game for the team before leaving to play for Marconi Stallions
Marconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
and Sydney Olympic.
United States
In March 2008 Thiessen re-located to the United States to attend college at the University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. After failing to be cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse he moved on to the University of Rio Grande in the NAIA. He played with the Cape Cod Crusaders
Cape Cod Crusaders
Cape Cod Crusaders were an American soccer team based in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1994, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
during his 2008 collegiate off-season. In March 2009 he signed with the Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury is a Canadian soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2005, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference....
for the 2009 Premier Development League season, and played two seasons with the team, before moving to MPS Portland Phoenix in 2011.