- Birthdate: 31 December 1956
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
- Date of death: 27 June 2023
- Other clubs: Dallas Tornado (loan 1977), Blackpool (1977-81), Dallas Tornado (2-loan 1978), Seattle Sounders (loan 1980), Swansea City (1981-83), Bournemouth (1983-84), Port Vale (loan 1983), Academica Coimbra (1985-86), Northwich Victoria (1986), Caernarfon Town, Fleetwood, Newport County (1988-89), Kramfors, Southport (1989), Southport (2-1992)
- Signed from: Local
- Signed for LFC: 1973 - Professional January 1974
- Liverpool debut: 08.05.1974
- Last appearance: 04.11.1975
- Contract expiry: 28.02.1978
- Win ratio: 50% W:1 D:1 L:0
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 3 / 0
- League games / goals / assists: 1 / 0 / 0
- Total games / goals / assists: 2 / 0 / 0
Player Profile
Max Thompson was a defender who had been an apprentice at Anfield before being offered a professional contract. He was the youngest player ever to play for Liverpool's first team, 17 years old and 129 days when he played in the final League fixture of the season away to Spurs four days after the FA Cup had been won in 1974. Thompson came in for Toshack, otherwise the team was exactly the same as the one which had trounced Newcastle at Wembley. Nobody knew then that this would be the last time Bill Shankly ever picked a team to play a League match. Thompson's record was broken on 9 May 2010, when Jack Robinson, at just 16 years and 250 days, came on as a substitute against Hull in the last Premier League game of the 2009/10 season.
Thompson made a brief appearance as a substitute against Real Sociedad in the 1975/76 UEFA Cup, but that was it for the record-breaker. He left Anfield for a two month's loan to Blackpool in December 1977 after spending the summer on loan at Dallas Tornado in the NASL. After a successful stay at Blackpool Thompson made his move permanent. Thompson played for a variety of teams in many countries such as the USA. Portugal and Sweden. He passed away on 27th June 2023 at the age of 66, with Liverpool releasing a statement on their website saying they were deeply saddened by the news.
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
1 |
90 |
Tottenham |
1 |
2 |
Real Sociedad |
Total |
Started/substitutions |
1 |
Started |
3 |
On the bench |
1 |
Substitute |
0 |
Substituted |
Total |
Venue |
1 |
Away |
1 |
Home |
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
08.05.1974 |
Tottenham |
White Hart Lane |
League |
Scrapbook
Max leaving - 28 February 1978
Reserves are a real champion bunch - 5 May 1976
Twin tornado!
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Dallas Tornado |
1977-1978 |
NASL |
21 |
2 |
21 |
2 |
Blackpool |
1977-1978 |
England Second Division |
12 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
Dallas Tornado |
1978-1979 |
NASL |
22 |
2 |
22 |
2 |
Blackpool |
1978-1979 |
England Third Division |
39 |
1 |
40 |
1 |
Blackpool |
1979-1980 |
England Third Division |
24 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
Seattle Sounders |
1980-1981 |
NASL |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Blackpool |
1980-1981 |
England Third Division |
24 |
5 |
25 |
5 |
Swansea City |
1981-1982 |
England First Division |
23 |
1 |
25 |
1 |
Swansea City |
1982-1983 |
England First Division |
3 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
Bournemouth |
1983-1984 |
England Third Division |
9 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Port Vale |
1983-1984 |
England Third Division |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Academica Coimbra |
1985-1986 |
Portugal |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Northwich Vict. |
1986 |
Alliance Premier League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Caernarfon Town |
1987 |
Northern Premier League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Fleetwood |
1988 |
Northern Premier League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Newport County |
1988-1989 |
Conference |
15 |
1 |
15 |
1 |
Kramfors |
1989 |
Sweden |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Southport |
1989 |
Northern Premier League |
7 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Southport |
1992 |
Northern Premier League |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Total |
206 |
13 |
226 |
13 |