Martha Thomas’s inspiring journey from ‘nobody’ to international star is a testament to resilience and opportunity. The Scottish striker was recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury when she received a life-changing message. At the time, she was a college senior in the United States, studying exercise science at Charlotte in North Carolina and undergoing rehabilitation.
“I actually got a LinkedIn message,” recalled the 28-year-old. “I had planned to enter the NWSL draft, but my injury changed everything. A guy was recruiting players with European passports who played in the college system for Le Havre in France. Having a European passport made me stand out.”
Le Havre offered her a chance to complete her rehab and play a few months into the season, which she saw as a great opportunity.
Thomas spent her childhood in South Florida, raised by a Scottish mother and an English father, but it was in France that she realized she could pursue a career in football. “I saw the chance to play while being paid, and it just took off from there. I absolutely loved it,” she said. “I thought, ‘I get to do this for a living!'”
Her passion led to a move to West Ham, and she felt a significant jump from Division 2 in France to one of the top leagues in England. However, her thoughts of international football were distant. “I had really low expectations for myself; I just wanted to settle in,” she admitted. “I was a nobody in a way, coming from America, and I just wanted to enjoy myself.”
Her talent caught the attention of Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr. “I had played for the US Under-23 team, but after missing the 2019 World Cup window, I was called into the national camp,” Thomas explained. “It felt like a turning point, and I never looked back.”
Thomas scored twice on her debut in a 3-0 victory against Ukraine in March 2020 and has since netted 21 goals in 42 appearances for Scotland. She has moved from West Ham to Manchester United and then to Tottenham Hotspur, where she earned FA Cup runners-up medals with both clubs.
However, qualifying for a major tournament with Scotland would be the pinnacle of her career. “If we could achieve that, it would mean everything, especially as I approach 30,” she said, emphasizing her hopes for the team.
A successful Nations League campaign would boost those ambitions, although the team, currently led by interim head coach Michael McArdle, faces challenges after losing their opener in Austria. As they prepare to host the Netherlands on Tuesday, Thomas noted, “Staying in League A and finishing in the top positions improves our chances of qualifying. We want to prove ourselves against top teams.”
