John Thorrington thought about calling it quits. But for a while, Thorrington didn't have much of a soccer career to quit from. He spent much of his first three seasons with the Chicago Fire injured, rehabbing from injury, testing his health and getting injured again.
But he held on through the injuries, getting cut by the Fire, trying to hook on with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA, coming back to the Fire, battling for playing time and finally getting another chance to show what he could do when given the chance.
He has shown it enough in the last two weeks to become a regular in coach Denis Hamlett's lineup on a team that is 5-1-1 through the first seven games of the season.
Thorrington scored twice in a game against Colorado April 26, leading the Fire to a 2-1 win. He then scored his third goal in two games in a 3-0 win at New England that cemented the Fire's place as one of the better teams in the league this season.
All of this for a guy who was giving thought to pursuing a business career less than one year ago.
"Injuries, in addition to the physical toll it takes, it all weighed on me mentally," Thorrington said. "There were times when I questioned whether this was the right occupation for me. I know when I am healthy I can help the team, but it was very frustrating and incapacitating the first two years, not being able to contribute the way I would have liked."
Thorrington joined the Fire initially in 2005 after an eight-year run with Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Huddersfield and Grimsby Town. He was an attractive signing for a Fire team looking to make a splash in recruiting talent from the European leagues, and Thorrington was happy to be back in his native country.
But he played only eight games for the Fire in 2005, with only four starts and one goal scored. He managed only two games in 2006 as injuries continued to plague him, and he had only two more games in 2007.
But his name surfaced again late in the 2007 season when he scored a stoppage-time goal in the final game of the regular season to beat the Los Angeles Galaxy, helping the Fire solidify its playoff position.
"That was very satisfying for me, having been out months with injuries and coming back and being able to repay the organization for the faith they had in me," Thorrington said.
Unfortunately, Thorrington was out of contract at the end of 2007, and he talked with both the Galaxy and Chivas USA in hopes of moving back to his native California. Instead, he re-signed with the Fire, then immediately suffered another injury that took him out of the battle for playing time early in the season.
Hamlett was trying to find a way to use all of his best talent at that point, and had moved U.S. national team pool player Chris Rolfe from forward into a wide midfielder position to allow Polish talent Tomasz Frankowski the chance to start alongside Chad Barrett. When Rolfe went down with a foot injury early in the season, Hamlett found Thorrington healthy enough to take that midfield spot, and it was from there that he scored the two goals against Colorado that finally returned him to the Fire spotlight.
"I know Rolfy had been playing that position, but I think it was more he was playing out of position there," Thorrington said. "He is an unbelievable talent and can play both positions, but it is a more natural position for me, and me playing there frees Rolfy to do what he does so well up near the goal. My role is to bring energy and play both ways."
The plan worked brilliantly when Rolfe returned to action against New England and he also scored in his return.
"I think John brings a lot of energy, and he is comfortable in tight spots with the ball," Hamlett said. "He can come out of the midfield and make deep runs. He defends well and when he played in the midfield he got forward. He gets in the attacking part of the field and tries to make plays."
Despite almost a decade in Europe and now four seasons in the States, Thorrington is still only 29 years old. He signed his first professional contract with Manchester United at the age of 17, becoming the youngest U.S. player to sign with an English Premiership team, although he spent all of his time with the reserve squad.
He is finally showing U.S. audiences what prompted Manchester United to sign him in the first place, and it appears only his body can stop him.
"It is so gratifying for me to be healthy," Thorrington said. "I defensively went through some very low times and I did think of stopping. But the support of my family has been a constant throughout and they are with me every game.
"I am just grateful, having been through the hard times, and there is no day when I take this for granted. I don't take being healthy for granted. I don't take this job for granted. I have a very positive attitude as a result of the low times I have been through."
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
