At the end of this season, the curtain will come down on Leigh Broxham’s storied career.
From four Championships and three Premierships to the most appearances in A-Leagues history, the history-maker has done it all as a Melbourne Victory player.
But the 36-year-old has worked incredibly hard to get to this point. Broxham was not even a player when he first joined the club.
END OF AN ERA: Ultimate A-Leagues icon confirms retirement after 18 record-breaking seasons
Having emerged from the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) in 2005, he landed at Victory as their kit man later that year before going on to make his debut late in the 2006-07 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, which saw the club crush Adelaide United 6-0 in the Grand Final.
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“I was coming through. There was no youth team at the time. There was 20 players and just some of the young players around the traps just trained on,” former captain Broxham told reporters on Tuesday as he reflected on his journey.
“The league was growing and basically needed someone to help. The assistant coach was doing the kit – washing, packing. That’s where the league was at the time.
“He was under the pump so I think I got paid a couple of hundred bucks a week – might have worked 60 hours a week. It was a bit of slave labour but it was for just for me to train with the team.
“I’d come in at 7am, pick up the gear, put it all out. Clean the boots – proper old-school kit man. Then I got to train with the team – that was my in. They would finish up at midday and I’d go wash the gear and sit in the office until 5.
“I worked myself to the bone and nine months later I was given a professional contract. It was my mini way of going through what was the youth process at the time.”
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Broxham fronted the media after making the announcement on Tuesday, with third-placed Victory preparing for their regular-season finale against Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
He won four Championships, three Premierships and a pair of Australia Cups across 18 seasons following his A-Leagues debut in 2006.
Also a one-time Socceroo, Broxham has played 384 league games – a record for one team, and over 450 across all competitions for Victory.
Comfortable with his decision to call time on playing once the season ends, Broxham was in a relaxed mood in Melbourne, even joking about having his own statue built outside AAMI Park.
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“My career hasn’t been about any of that stuff but right out the front next to Billy (Slater) and Cam (Smith). Not that I’m at the same level as those guys but it would be nice (smiling),” Broxham laughed.
Across almost two decades as a Victory player, Broxham has played for some of the best and most respected managers in Australian football.
From Ernie Merrick to Aussie trailblazer Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat, with Tony Popovic now at the helm.
Before taking charge of Tottenham in 2023-24, Postecoglou was head coach of Victory in 2012-13 and he had a special message for Broxham.
“Hey Broxy, I just want to congratulate you on 18 unbelievable years at Melbourne Victory. A true Melbourne Victory legend,” said Postecoglou.
Credit to yourself, your family and all your loved ones. It’s been an outstanding career and outstanding contribution to one club.
“We only had a brief time together but I know that I’m probably the most influential manager you’ve had in terms of getting to where you were because when I tapped you on the shoulder at Gosch’s Paddock and said ‘have you ever played centre-back?’. I don’t think you believed what I was saying but I think added a few years to your career.
“Enjoy retirement and look back fondly on an unbelievable achievement of 18 years of great service.”
