Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson (born October 23, 1978 in New Zealand) is an Australian football (soccer) player, currently playing for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands' Eredivisie league on a six-month loan from the Melbourne Victory in the Australian A-League.
Professional career
Thompson began his career in Bathurst, playing there in the 1995-1996 season. He then moved to play for Morwell Falcons FC between 1996 and 1999, after the collapse of Morwell Falcons FC, Thompson played a season for Carlton FC from 1999 to 2000. From this he spent 2001 with Marconi Stallions, he made a big break in 2001 in signing with Belgium's Lierse SK. He returned to his home country to play for the Melbourne Victory in 2005, scoring the team's first ever regular season goal.
After superb performances with Melbourne Victory, Thompson was the only A-League based player in the Australian squad's qualification matches against Uruguay for a berth in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
With the Australian 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 is coached by Guus Hiddink, also the Australian national team's head coach, and playing for the team would provide Thompson with the match fitness and exposure commentators believe crucial to his chances of being selected in the World Cup team. After negotiations between the Victory and PSV became stalled over the financial terms of the deal, Thompson was officially placed on six-month loan to PSV Eindhoven on January 13, 2006. He played his final Melbourne Victory game against Queensland Roar FC, scoring the only goal as the team's acting captain. [1]
| Season | Club | Games | Goals | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998/00 | Morwell Falcons FC | 45 | 17 | Australia |
| 2000/01 | Carlton FC | 8 | 6 | Australia |
| 2000/01 | Marconi Stallions | 13 | 6 | Australia |
| 2001/05 | Lierse SK | 90 | 27 | Belgium |
| 2005/06 | Melbourne Victory | 14 | 8 | Australia |
| 2005/06 | PSV Eindhoven | 0 | 0 | Netherlands |
| Total | 170 | 63 |
Goal scoring world record
Thompson set the world record for goals scored in an international match with 13 on April 11, 2001, as Australia played American Samoa in Coffs Harbour in a qualifier for the 2002 World Cup. Australia won 31-0 (the score was originally reported as 32-0 as the scorekeepers lost count). Thompson, who was not even close to being Australia's first choice striker, scored 13 of the 31. David Zdrilic added eight himself.
The 13 goals broke the record of 10 shared by Denmark's Sophus "Krølben" Nielsen in a 17-1 win against France at the 1908 Olympics and Germany's Gottfried Fuchs in a 16-0 win against Russia in the 1912 Olympics. Thompson's record game accounts for much of his international career statistics. As of 2005, he has only scored four other goals for his country.
References
- ^ Associated Press, Australia (13 Jan 2005). "Thompson transfer completed: Victory".
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