Haley Thomas named FTL United Captain

It is not often a new signing becomes club captain, but Fort Lauderdale United FC has officially named veteran defender Haley Thomas as the new club captain.

Thomas who made her Fort Lauderdale debut on Saturday against Sporting JAX arrives in South Florida as one of the most established figures in the competition. Having spent the league’s first two seasons with Spokane Zephyr FC, she ranks among the top 11 in league history across several major defensive categories, including ninth in matches played (51), starts (48), and minutes (4,352), alongside 184 clearances and 48 tackles won. In addition to her defensive reliability, Thomas has contributed two goals and three assists across her Super League tenure, highlighted by a Team of the Month selection in March 2025.

Her selection as captain comes as a collective decision from both the locker room and the technical staff.

“It wasn’t just my choice, as the team picked the leadership,” said Fort Lauderdale United FC Head Coach Tyrone Mears. “Haley was picked by the players to be the leader, and I think in terms of the way she’s carried herself through preseason, we all noticed. As a staff, we voted on the captain and we felt like she is the right person to lead us. The important thing is that she asks a lot of questions, not just about her own position, but what she needs to help her teammates. That’s a leader for me.”

Thomas brings an extensive global résumé to the squad, featuring 54 appearances abroad with Icelandic outfit ÍBV and German club MSV Duisburg, along with 76 collegiate starts logging over 7,000 minutes.

“I felt really honored to be named the team’s captain,” Thomas said. “This is a really good group and I feel lucky to have come into a situation like this, being on a new team in a new environment. I couldn’t have asked for more and all of the support is great. Going forward, I hope to help in any way I can with game experience in this league and being there for my teammates as much as I can.”

With Fort Lauderdale United entering its third season of competition, Thomas is set to anchor the backline with both tactical discipline and organizational presence.

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned that games are won with small moments, and I feel like my experience can help us stay locked in,” Thomas added. “In those little moments or details of a game, I can notice and be a voice from the back and help guide my teammates.”