Tageblatt.lu | Record striker says goodbye

Tageblatt: You had already taken one or two long breaks in your career, but always returned to the football field. Is it a final farewell this time?

Amy Thompson: Yes, definitely from playing football. I have stood in one place almost every day since I was five or six years old. That’s a long time when you’re still willing to give it your all 27 years later. But now the moment has come in my life where I still want to benefit: I no longer want to be restricted when I plan a vacation. I also have private projects that have never been a priority before.

They always say that you should stop when things are at their best: in the next few weeks there will be the cup final with second-placed Differdange (against Leader Racing) and the two international matches against Belgium. What are the chances that you will be seen at all three appointments?

The way things are going at the moment, the chances are great. It could be a nice, personal conclusion. I also think I need this for myself. This season was difficult due to setbacks and injuries. I ended my career with the boys with a final victory at the Scolaires. I hope that this will now be repeated for the women. Even if I couldn’t play much in League B, it would be nice to stop at this peak.

It’s no secret: the stress fracture shortly before the start of the World Cup qualification in League B hit you hard. Was there any doubt that you would come back again?

Yes, I’ve thought about it often. I was back for a while and then got injured again against Junglinster. There were four or five moments when I wanted to give up everything and quit immediately. Luckily, I have a few important people at my side who convinced me. They made it clear to me that I would regret this decision. My girlfriend, Andreia Machado, Sabrina Deda (both Racing) and my best friend convinced me to finish the season. I’m grateful to them and I’m really happy that my health is improving again. Today I also know that they would have been right – and I would have regretted it because we still have a final ahead of us. The very last game would be the home game against Belgium in League B – in front of our fans. That would be a nice ending.

A farewell is always a good opportunity to look back. How would you describe your extraordinary career?

I would describe it as a roller coaster ride. I’ve experienced a lot. There were difficult moments, but also a lot of beautiful experiences. I’ll take all of this with me. In the end, these experiences are more important than the results of individual games. I will never forget these emotions, games and people I was able to get to know. There were also less beautiful days. The first time I was away from family and friends in the US, I wasn’t allowed to play there straight away. It was therefore difficult for him to integrate me into the team at college. Major injuries occurred later. The stress fracture was the second one. In this case, we don’t know if I started training too early in the winter or if the fracture was missed in December.

You won your first and only title with Niederkorn in 2011, and 12 years later you became top scorer (55 goals this season) with Mamer. What means more to you?

A title won collectively because of the emotions you share with others. I remember that we didn’t receive the trophy straight away, but were later invited to a reception in Monnerich. I don’t remember why that was. Maybe no one expected us. It was a shame because we would have preferred to celebrate with the audience. After that, I wasn’t in Luxembourg for a total of four years and missed two years due to injuries. We were always unlucky with Mamer because we weren’t able to win the cup, even though we played in two finals.

Which goal stands out?

The best ones were the ones with the national team. This is just a different level. You represent a country, your nation. In particular, the goals that I have scored in the last three years with the “Red Lionesses” mean a little more to me. Ten years ago it was much more difficult to score goals: the team was different and we had significantly fewer games. Before my comeback, I had scored eleven goals for Luxembourg – I have added 24 since 2022. This is a clear sign that the team became stronger and we played better football.

You have had a lasting impact on women’s football since you were 14 years old and will probably be the national team’s most successful striker for a long time to come. How long will the record last?

I hope not for too long. That would mean that other players could experience this joy and we would win a lot of games. But it is indeed a big lead. I hope that a new striker will overtake me at some point.

You started playing football around 25 years ago. What has happened for girls and women since then?

Today there are significantly more opportunities for every girl to play football. But I’m still convinced that as long as you feel comfortable and are well looked after, you should try to stay with the boys for as long as possible. We are not yet at the point where all the girls’ teams have good quality personnel. But one thing is certain: fun is still the priority. But if you want to develop faster and have ambitions, the boys will challenge you more. When I see how many agents and scouts from abroad are watching, I would like to be 15 years old again today. I always tell young players that they don’t know how lucky they are. We didn’t have any of that back then. I have made my way. Still, I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t have liked to play one level higher, like Charlotte Schmit does in Portugal, or Laura Miller in a top league. I was in the 2nd Bundesliga at the time, but I would probably never have had a chance in the Bundesliga. At that time no one was interested in us and it would have been out of the question.

Why?

Both the national and international levels were not good enough to attract attention. Neither the league nor the national team were worth the trip for scouts.

What does the women’s Ligue 1 need in the next few years?

The clubs need to invest more energy in the women’s area. By that I don’t mean finances, but rather interest in the team. If you want to become a champion and win titles, you need the necessary facilities and framework conditions. This ranges from a complete coaching staff to the medical team. Not every club has that. Today some want to attract the players, but don’t offer the right opportunities.

You were already on the sidelines at Progrès. When will we see you as a trainer again?

Certainly not immediately. For now, I want to benefit from life without football. As a coach, I would be the first on the pitch and the last at home. It is an option to continue my coaching training, but not a must. I have completed the basic training, the only thing missing from the C license is the sports part.

Why do you need this “cut” from football?

I will continue to exercise. I discovered padel. This is something I would like to do more often in the future, for example. Overall, I lost some of the fun. I want to be able to travel without having to worry. The time commitment in the last few years has been huge, I need distance and air.

How did the team react to your message?

They found out on Monday in the WhatsApp group. So far only emojis have come (laughs). Maybe there will be a few different reactions during the conversation. Both the coach and those responsible for the club showed understanding for my decision.

You are a great role model for many young players. What should you remember when you think about Amy Thompson’s career?

Hopefully the attitude: If you really want something and you train hard for it, you can achieve anything. I also hope that they understood that it’s okay to have fun. When it comes to training, serious work always comes first, but there is also room for laughter. Then the sport is fun.

Last question: You have immortalized all stages and moments of your career as a tattoo on your skin. What will be added in summer?

Probably not much left… There would still be a place available for the cup. Otherwise it’s probably just the date of my last game for the national team.