THOMPSON MOVES TO HEIDELBERG
15 Aug 2016
Former Melbourne Victory star player Archie Thompson is set to be in action for Heidelberg United on Sunday in his first game since leaving the club.
The former Socceroo agreed to play in the rest of the National Premier League season, after signing a short term deal with the club. The deal is a big boost to the second-placed team regarding their title chase.
Thomson who is 37 years old has not given up on the hope of playing in the Australian League. Aside United, at least one other club was open to signing the player. Heidelberg attracted up to 11,000 fans when they played in the FFA Cup against Melbourne City. The surge in numbers was because they were able to lure former Greece international Kosta Katsouranis, and the club sees the signing of Thompson as another well executed coup.
Heidelberg general manager Helen Tyrikos said: “We’re delighted to have Archie playing with us for the rest of the season. We’ve had clearance from FFV and he will be available to play for us in the finals. He’s slotted in seamlessly and is really enjoying himself at training with his new teammates.”
Thompson is believed would have his debut at Olympic Village against Oakleigh and then feature in the final round before the NPL finals begins - though there was talk of him going to be part of the Australian Olympic Football team (as one of the 3 over-age players) and the Aussie's odds on the Olympics games betting even fell on the back of it!
He holds the record of being the League’s highest goal scorer with 90 goals. In the domestic front, he has 129 goals inclusive of NSL stints with Marconi, Carlton, and Morwell Falcons. Thompson is a three-time A-League champion, scoring 28 goals in 54 games for Melbourne Victory. He’s been at Melbourne Victory since 2006, since moving from PSV Eindhoven under the tutelage of Guus Hiddink. United is hoping to win their fifth title in the top tier league with George Katsakis as coach.