Zac Joseph Thompson (born 5 January 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a defender or a midfielder. Early life Born in Higher End, Greater Manchester, Thompson attended Byrchall High School in Ashton-in-Makerfield, where he completed his GCSEs. Career Everton Academy Thompson started his career at Premier League side Everton in the youth teams, joining aged 12 in 2005. He signed as a scholar after leaving school in the summer of 2009 but left eighteen months later after failing to earn a professional contract with the Toffees. He was offered the opportunity to join newly promoted Championship outfit Leeds United on trial by their manager Simon Grayson in late 2010. Leeds United After a successful trial, Thompson signed for Leeds on his first professional contract in January 2011, initially for six months. He played 19 games for Leeds for the reserves and youth team both before and after his trial period in 2010–11 and was rewarded with a 12-month extension to his current deal in April. The departure of key senior midfielders Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson on free transfers to Bristol City and Norwich City respectively during the summer of 2011 would allow Thompson to stake a claim for a first team spot for United's second full season back in the second tier of English football. In the 2011–12 pre-season, he broke through to Leeds first team, playing in several games for Leeds first team during the 2011–12 pre-season friendlies. He was named as an unused substitute against Bradford City on 9 August 2011 and made his debut four days later after coming on as a substitute for Robert Snodgrass in Leeds' 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough. Thompson made his full debut for Leeds on 23 August when he started against Doncaster Rovers in a 2–1 League Cup victory. After becoming a regular in Leeds' matchday squads, at the start of September, Thompson suffered an ankle injury which ruled him out for six-weeks. After a promising start to the new season, Thompson was rewarded with a two-year deal midway through October. Thompson returned to the first team in the new year, making his first league start for Leeds against Burnley in a 2–1 victory on 2 January, playing in central midfield before being moved to right back after an injury to Patrick Kisnorbo. He retained his place in the starting line for the remaining four games of January, including