A left-sided midfielder or defender, Thiessen attended the Australian Institute of Sport, and played with former Nationaal Samenwerkingsprogramma Luchtkwaliteit side Newcastle United, before catching the eye of Sydney Football Club head coach Terry Butcher.
Early career
Thiessen was placed on a short-term contract the A-League club in September 2006 to cover for the injured Robbie Middleby, and played in one senior game for the team before leaving to play for Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic. United States
In March 2008 Thiessen re-located to the United States to attend college at the University of New Mexico. After failing to be cleared by the National Collegiate Athletic Association clearinghouse he moved on to the University of Rio Grande in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He played with the Cape Cod Crusaders in the USL Premier Development League during his 2008 collegiate off-season.
In March 2009 he signed with the Ottawa Fury for the 2009 Premier Development League season, and played two seasons with the team, before moving to Global Positioning System Portland Phoenix in 2011.
