“Not many people know, but in my last year of football, I was actually going through a breakup of my marriage and I was also told I wasn’t going to be playing football for the club I had basically grown up with.

“All of that was happening, all at once. It was like a big tidal wave had come over the top of me.”

The struggles that came with being in the public eye began to take its toll. Thompson juggled a marriage breakdown and mental health battles while coming to terms with the end of his professional career.

As his personal life began to unravel, Thompson was still required to train and play at the top level and attend appearances and other media calls that are part of professional football.

“When you talk about a facade, I had to put on a face because I was in the public eye, and I always had this sort of character that always has to be happy.

“But when you go home and close those doors, suddenly, the world feels very small.”

As the curtains closed on a 224 game career for the Victory that also included 54 Socceroos caps on May 16, 2016, the cheers, the chants and feelings of ‘self-worth’ disappeared with it.

“Football has been part of my life since I was four years old.

“To be out on the pitch, that’s my sanctuary. It is somewhere that I can express myself and bring joy to other people and feel good. Even still, I can say that was my inner sanctum, but there was still fear out there. A fear and anxiety about making mistakes.

“Supporters can be very fickle. One day they’re chanting your name and next week, you make one little mistake and then suddenly they’re talking about transfers and getting rid of you.”