Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle | Netherlands)

Zwolle (12th) travel to GC Eagles (13th).

https://us.soccerway.com/game/g-a-eagles-hG8POBb8/zwolle-r1L5w2EB/?mid=Of1Fyj3tG 

Thomas an unused sub as Zwolle get thrashed 5-0.
Nurse that body to season's end. This is easily the most football he has played since 2017/2018 season. 8 years ago!

Zwolle 6 pts above the drop zone with 5 matches left.

Zwolle (13th, 33 pts) host Excelsior (16th, 27 pts). Zwolle win this and they are virtually safe from the drop with 4 games left.

Thomas starts
Edit - is 1-1 at 20 mins.

Thomas 62 mins (Zwolle up 2-1) in a 2-2 draw

Nice little return for Thomas to Eindhoven, as Zwolle (13th) travel to runaway Eredivisie winners PSV.

PSV a whopping 19 pts clear of Feyenoord (2nd) with 4 matches left. Damage limitation for Zwolle maybe.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/psv-M9UEHJWi/zwolle-r1L5w2EB/?mid=rccgEeIq

Damage, not so limited. Zwolle lose 6-1.

Was only 2-1 when Thomas subbed off at 70 mins. Hopefully the local fans gave him a nice reception.

https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/2047573358745891261

PEC Zwolle with Ryan Thomas this season:
41 goals conceded in 2076 mins (1.78 per90)

PEC Zwolle without Ryan Thomas this season:
25 goals conceded in 714 mins (3.15 per90) https://t.co/4gP7ozuM4N

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 24, 2026

Contract extension for Thomas. 👏

He gets an extra year on top of his current deal to take him out to the end of the 27/28 season. 

Show of confidence by both parties his body is coping well. Most mins he's played in a club season in 8 years!

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/04/30/all-white-ryan-thomas-agrees-new-deal-with-dutch-club-pec-zwolle/

“I would like to stay at PEC Zwolle, that is no secret,” he said after agreeing his new deal.

“The club has always been good to me and the supporters are amazing.

“As long as I can be of value, I will give everything for this club.

The feeling is good on both sides, and that is, of course, the most important thing for a long-term collaboration. I am very happy that I get to continue playing for the club from my city for the next two years as well.”

PEC Zwolle’s technical director, Gerry Hamstra, says Thomas has been one of the driving forces on and off the pitch.

“Ryan can read a game like no other and knows what is required in every phase of a match,” Hamstra said.

“Ryan is also an important part of the team as an example and an extension for the younger players and the coach.

“Together with him, we first want to finish this season well, after which a wonderful World Cup awaits Ryan, and we would like to continue with him next season.”

Zwolle (13th) host Heracles (18th/last). A Zwolle win would be handy to lessen any relegation fears with 3 matches left.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/heracles-bB3JbZpA/zwolle-r1L5w2EB/?mid=hUXMBNpA 

Generous calling this an assist. And is first one of the season, to add to a solitary goal.

That is the negative of having all of Bell, Stamenic and Thomas on the field. The latter likely pushing the more creative Singh to the bench. So a more conservative selection, with Just and McCowatt alongside Wood.

Zwolle win 1-0, and they look safe now from any relegation fears with only 2 games left. Ryan 73 mins.

https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/2051044363263004825

That's a Ryan Thomas assist, we'll have that #FlyingKiwis https://t.co/KIVaUgm99V

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 3, 2026

Ummm..Nicyhe Cache reports he felt a hammy twinge for Zwolle on the weekend. 
Now that they are safe from the drop, hopefully he's on limited mins now there, pre heading off Stateside.

Zwolle (12th) travel to Sittard (13th). A draw and Zwolle are 100% safe from the drop.

No Thomas as Zwolle lose 3-2
Results elsewhere mean they will be in the Eredivisie next season

Bit of a nothing final Eredivisie game. Zwolle (13th) host Feyenoord (2nd).

No Thomas.

What do the brains trust think?
Resting him as they are already safe?
Injured and not playing?
OPP put in standby for WC?

Rest

I’d be more concerned at Joe Bell missing the last 3 Viking games

That’s not normal. Thomas missing a dead rubber Zwolle match is

It's option A – and Bell is similar

Zwolle lost 0-2 to Feyenoord and finish the Eredivisie season 15th, one place but 5 pts above the relegation spots.

A season in which Thomas had his most football mins in about 10 years.

Straight into it. Zwolle host Ajax

Captain Thomas starts

Off at 85 mins (0-1) in a 0-2 loss

Zwolle down to 10 men in the 57th min (0-0)
Costly 

https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2086934455533629942

https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2086934455533629942

Niche Cache. Sounds like he hasn't ruled out trying to play at a higher level, or at least a bigger club in Holland.
I guess after all those lost injury ravaged years, he's in no hurry to retire if his body stays right.

And he might skip a few AWs windows for awhile. Fair enough. Chance to have a look at OPP, MDD and Bayliss etc

 

This week PEC Zwolle began their Eredivisie campaign by losing 2-0 against Ajax... though admittedly they were going quite well until Sherel Floranus got a straight red card after 57 minutes – Floranus was the club’s other World Cup representative, having been part of the Curaçao squad. Ajax took full control after the send-off and scored twice in the last fifteen minutes via Jorthy Mokio (76’) and Julian Brandt (90+5’) to give them a slightly flattering final result. Thomas captained Zwolle like he always does. He was subbed with five to go as they sought an unlikely equaliser. Lots of defensive actions from him. Not much on the ball given the state of the game.  

Ryan Thomas: “[PEC Zwolle] gave me a ton of space last season. Even when things may not have looked very good physically for me, they let me go [to All Whites camps] anyway. Since I returned to PEC there have been a lot of questions about my fitness but the club has always supported me in that. I'm a football player, you know, so you always want to get better. If something comes along [in the transfer market] then I'll definitely have a look. But I’d do that together with the club. I wouldn't be leaving for free or anything. If something comes, it has to be good for the club as well. If that’s not the case, I will focus entirely on PEC Zwolle. I’d love to stay here another five or six more years if I can.”

Thomas did another interview recently where he admitted that he probably pushed himself too far last season and needs to be more “sensible” this season. Obviously that was because of the World Cup and making sure he was available as much as possible leading up to it... so don’t be shocked if he tones down his All Whites involvements, at least in the short term. He was battling through minor injuries for a couple of months leading up to the World Cup and ordinarily he’d be resting in those scenarios. But he has reiterated his commitment to the national team in the bigger picture.

Ryan Thomas: “Sure. Now that I've achieved this [playing at a World Cup], I really just want more. But first the full focus is on PEC Zwolle. I will stay at the club this season anyway and want to be sensible with my body. Last year I asked too much about my body. First have a good season with PEC, then we'll look further.”

Zwolle travel to Twente

Thomas starts

Off at 78 mins (3-1) in a 3-1 loss.