After closing the final chapter on his illustrious Melbourne Victory playing career, which has spanned 11 seasons, 260 games and included a remarkable 97 goals, Archie Thompson has indicated he is not quite ready to hang up the boots yet.

The 38-year-old striker hinted earlier in the season, on his return from a three-month injury lay-off due to a serious knee injury, that the break of three months gave him a feel of what it would be like without having football, and that it has actually made him want to kick around a little bit longer. He has indicated since his last home match for Victory that he’d like to play on.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou knows Thompson as a player, having coached him at Victory prior to Postecoglou’s appointment as Socceroos boss. He paid tribute to Thompson’s achievements in the A-League and said if he believes he can play on, then he should be able to do so.

“In terms of Archie, it’s all been said,” Postecoglou remarked. “He’s been an amazing A-League story, one of the key players, if not the key player in the A-League.
“There wouldn’t be a player worth his salt who doesn’t believe he can play on. If he wants to play on, he should …you are a long time retired.”

Almost like Steven Gerard and Liverpool, Thompson is synonymous with Melbourne Victory, and even though it’s difficult to imagine him playing at another club, there presumably wouldn’t be a shortage of offers for someone of his status and goal scoring prowess.

Speculation about his next move has included a move overseas to play in a lucrative Asian League, or even a short-term contract with another A-League club such as Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets and even Wellington Phoenix to link up with a former coach in Ernie Merrick and former teammates Gui Finkler and Kostas Barbarouses.

But increasingly, there’s talk of a third possibility, that of staying in Victoria and playing for an NPL club. At present, NPL 2 W club Whittlesea Ranges has come out publicly and expressed strong interest. The club has a number of connections with Melbourne Victory, which may help sway Thompson in opting to play on in Ranges colours.

“The facts are that, yes, we as a club are interested in Archie and yes, we do have the contacts that are also the major sponsors of Melbourne Victory, in La Ionica and Oliana. They are also sponsors of our club,” Ranges club secretary Sergio Costanzo told SBS.

“I do know my co-director, Sam Cuteri, had a coffee with Archie before he played those final two Asian Champions League games. Sam is from La Ionica and he would talk to Archie on a regular basis, at games and functions.
“We respect Archie’s situation at the moment, in that he’s just finished the Asian Champions League and also I do believe he may have a small offer from either Central Coast Mariners or Newcastle Jets,” he said.

“It all depends on where he wants to go from here, but we’re looking at something after he’s finished playing football as well. We’re looking at a coaching or mentor role and he would probably have something like that through Victory as well.
“We’ve got a close working relationship with Victory. Their youth team is now playing from our home ground at Epping Stadium.
“We’re very serious about this. All of the NPL clubs are trying to bolster their playing ranks at this time of the season and we’re pushing for promotion, so what we do right now is very important,” he concluded.