Socceroo Thompson to return to A-League
First Published: May 19, 2006
Australian striker Archie Thompson, seen here in October 2004, has said he will be returning from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to play with his hometown A-League club Melbourne Victory next season.
Australian striker Archie Thompson says he will be returning from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to play with his hometown A-League club Melbourne Victory next season.
PSV Eindhoven has decided not to exercise its option to buy the Socceroos striker after he spent the past six months on loan in the Netherlands.
Thompson, here for Australia's friendly against European champions Greece on Thursday before going to next month's Germany World Cup finals, met with Victory officials Friday after hearing from PSV and will now see out the remaining three years of his A-League contract.
Thompson, 27, played in the Victory's inaugural A-League season, before moving to Socceroo coach Guus Hiddink's club PSV in January on loan with an option to buy. He made just two appearances for the Dutch club.
"Getting the opportunity to play under the current national coach at PSV and prepare for the World Cup was an unbelievable opportunity," Thompson said Friday.
"(But) my family is settled here in Melbourne and the set-up of the club and the support of the fans is brilliant."
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