The Observer continues to feature some of the leading players ahead of the friendly international between the Reggae Boyz and Costa Rica at the National Stadium on Sunday, September 5. Today we take a look at defender Shavar Thomas.

Born on January 29, 1981, Reggae Boyz defender Shavar Thomas appears to have cemented his place in the current set-up of coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore.

Apart from his playing ability, Thomas has exhibited outstanding leadership abilities that have seen him captain Jamaica at all levels.

A member of Jamaica’s Under-20 team to the FIFA World Cup in Argentina in 2001, the defender plays his club football at Kansas City Wizards in US Major League Soccer.

Thomas played as a youth for Hazard United (now Portmore United) in Jamaica and at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. He then played college soccer at the University of Connecticut where he played two seasons (2001 and 2002), and was named a NSCAA second team All-American in his sophomore year.

After that year, Thomas entered the 2003 MLS Super Draft, where he was selected 10th overall by the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), but he struggled in his first year. Thomas had only 14 starts for Dallas.

In the off season, Thomas was traded to the Wizards, and in his second year, established himself as a solid defender in one of the league’s best defensive teams. He finished the season with 22 starts. Thomas continued as a starter in 2005 and 2006 and in March, 2007, he was traded to the LA Galaxy for a conditional second-round draft pick. In 2009, he was traded to Chivas USA, and a year later to his current club.

After a brilliant performance vs Manchester United in a friendly last month, Thomas has re-affirmed the respect of his teammates and club management after keeping the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov in check throughout the match.

He was a late call-up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup squad in 2009 as a replacement for Ian Goodison who was not able to leave the UK due to visa issues. He was solid in partnering Tyrone Marshall in the disappointing Gold Cup campaign where Jamaica failed to progress from the group stage.