THE number 10 at Melbourne Victory has always belonged to Archie Thompson.

He wore it during his team’s first A-League clash with Sydney on August 28, 2005, and was still donning it proudly in his Victory swansong against Jeonbuk Motors in the Asian Champions League on May 24 this year.

Now, with the club’s all-time leading scorer and games record holder gone, James Troisi has been handed those famous digits in his first season back at Victory since leaving in 2014.

If not a target quite literally on his back, there is a weight of history attached to the famous jersey.

But it adds no more strain to the pressure Troisi insists he is putting on himself after a frustrating time spent in the Asian wilderness.

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Archie Thompson celebrates with the new owner of his jersey, James Troisi. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

After a barnstorming 2013-14 A-League season that catapulted him to World Cup selection in Brazil, Troisi continued his fine form in Belgium with Zulte Waregem during a 2014-15 stint that also encompassed his winning goal in the 2015 Asian Cup final.

But then things went sour during a five-month stay in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad, where he played just 10 games, and an even more tortuous, injury-marred spell in China with Liaoning Whowin where he played just three games in six months.

“The last couple of moves didn’t go as planned for multiple reasons, which has been unfortunate,” Troisi said.

“So for me, coming back is purely about football and getting back on track.

“I’m also looking for stability. I know what I’m getting from the club, they know what they’re getting from me.

“I’ve played in Europe for a long time, played with the national team, been to a World Cup, an Asian Cup, the Olympics. The club will expect a lot from me, but I expect a lot from myself.

James Troisi fires a shot away against Bentleigh Greens in their FFA Cup tie. Source: Getty Images

“I came back last time and had a fantastic season. I just want to build on that.”

While Thompson played mainly as a striker and a winger, Troisi will be deployed in the attacking midfield role usually seen by players wearing the No. 10.

Troisi said he is thrilled to be wearing the famous shirt.

“Musky and the board offered me the No.10, which is a very big honour,” he said.

“Arch has done wonders for the club and I wish him the best, but it’s my turn now to play my football.

“I’ve got a number on my back which is important, but it’s also important not to get too caught up in that and just do what I came here to do.”