In the new issue of FourFourTwo, Melbourne Victory legend Archie Thompson has revealed his heartache at leaving the club he loved.
Thompson finally exited Victory after joining the multiple Premiership and Champions winners as one of their very first signings back in 2005.
Apart from a brief loan spell in Holland with PSV in 2006, he was with the Melbourne side from its start to his finish, notching up 224 games and a staggering 91 goals along the way.
Although now 37, in his penultimate season with Victory, he still matched his best haul of goals, finding the net 10 times in 2014/15, often from the bench.
The final whistle blew on his Victory career last season when he scored just once from 14 games, including two starts.
But in the bumper A-League season preview issue of FourFourTwo, on sale now, Thompson admits he didn't go willingly.
"The day football broke my heart was when I finished up with Melbourne Victory," he tells FourFourTwo. "I still felt like I had something to give – and you always want to finish on your terms.
"And when the opportunity is taken away from you – especially when you pour your heart and soul into something – that was tough to take..."
Thompson has since joined Heidelberg United in the NPL and says the move has rejuvenated the evergreen ex-Socceroo.
"When I joined Heidelberg, it actually felt like when I was a kid again, growing up with my junior club," he says.
"There's a real family feel to it and there's no pressure. You finish training and you have a barbeque, and I haven't had that since I was a kid."
Archie also makes a typical Archie comment about himself that might shock some – but everyone else will find hilarious!
See the full interview in the latest issue of FourFourTwo, packed with previews, profiles, interviews and analysis on every club in our bumper A-League preview special, on sale now.
Related Articles

Fan turned Victory gun Velupillay set for ALM decider
.jpeg&h=172&w=306&c=1&s=1)
Langerak to bolster Victory's ALM title bid in January
