Archie Thompson

Club

As of 8 October 2018

International

Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Thompson goal.

Early career

Archie Thompson began his career as a teenager with Bathurst '75 FC, breaking into the senior squad in 1995. At the close of the 1995 season, he secured a move to the National Soccer League, signing with the Gippsland Falcons midway through the 1996–97 season. His exceptional pace and skill on the ball were instantly recognisable in a mediocre team, and it wasn't long before he was snapped up by Carlton, becoming a key goalscorer in an attack-minded squad. The demise of Carlton saw a return to Sydney, where he spent the remainder of the 2000–01 season with Marconi, before ultimately signing with Belgium's Lierse SK. A fan favourite, Thompson scored 9 goals in his first season with the Belgian First Division club before injury curtailed his progress. In his fourth season in Belgium, he was the club's leading scorer, with 14 goals in 29 league appearances.

Melbourne Victory

Due to his strong form, he was lured back home to play for Melbourne Victory in 2005 (the inaugural A-League season), scoring the team's first ever regular season goal. With the A-League season finishing in March and a four-month gap between then and Australia's first World Cup group match, Thompson was approached in late 2005 join Dutch team PSV Eindhoven on a temporary loan. PSV was then coached by Guus Hiddink, who was also the Australian national team's head coach, and playing for the team would provide Thompson with the match fitness and exposure to help his chances of…

Thompson made his first international appearance for Australia on 28 February 2001 in a friendly match against Colombia. He then was included by coach Frank Farina in the squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification matches played in April 2001. On 9 April 2001, he came on as a substitute and scored his first international goal in Australia's first match against Tonga, which Australia easily won 22–0, breaking the world record for the largest win in an international match. Two days later, in the match against American Samoa, Thompson was named as starter with regular attackers either rested or omitted from the squad. Australia went on to break their own record by winning 31–0, with Thompson scoring 13 goals, breaking the world record for most goals scored in an international match. American Samoa, who had player eligibility issues, fielded a team with youth players and was not a match to Australia, even though Australia themselves were missing several star players. A month later, Thompson was named in Australia's squad for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. He made two substitute appearances in the tournament as Australia went on to achieve third place at the competition. In total, Thompson made seven international appearances in 2001, scoring an impressive 16 goals. However, after 2001, he was not called up by Farina for more than three years before earning a recall in 2004. On 12 October 2004, he was recalled to the team and made a substitute appearance in the 2004 OFC…

Thompson was born in Ōtorohanga New Zealand of Scottish descent аnd Papua New Guinean mother. He has three brothers and two sisters. He has two children, Isabella and Axel, and bears one tattoo on each of his inner forearms of his children's names. Archie was the official ambassador for FIFA 08 in Australia and New Zealand. Thompson is a fan of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. In October 2010, his book What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger was released by Melbourne University Publishing. Thompson is currently a pundit for Paramount and Network 10's coverage of the A-League and a panellist on A-League review show A-Leagues Download.