BRISBANE Roar legend Thomas Broich has shelved thoughts of retirement, declaring he wants an eighth season of A-League football.

The best player in the competition’s 12-year history, Broich had been contemplating giving the game away at the end of this season due to an ankle problem and the style the Roar were playing.

But after starring in the Brisbane’s 5-1 weekend demolition of Central Coast Mariners, the 36-year-old playmaker told The Courier-Mail that he’s not ready to call it quits.

It’s music to the ears of Roar fans, who have loved every minute of Broich’s Brisbane tenure since the former German under-21 international joined the club in 2010.

“I feel very good and apart from the ankle issue, which is an easy fix. I don’t see any reason why I should stop,” the three-time A-League championship winner said.

media_camera Thomas Broich (centre) celebrates scoring against the Mariners on Sunday.

“I consider being a footballer a gift, I enjoy every single day of it and it’s almost like the older I get, the more I appreciate it, and as long as I have an impact on how things go, I feel like playing on.”

Broich is yet to sit down with Roar coach John Aloisi about the future, with talks to take place at the end of the season.

“Ultimately it’s the club’s call. All I can say is that I love this club, I love playing for this club, I still love playing football and I still feel that I can influence things and have a big impact on the way we play,” he said.

“As long as that is the case, I don’t see any reason why I should hang up my boots.”

Broich’s previous uncertainty about playing beyond this season stemmed from sometimes feeling “useless” earlier this season.

“Whether or not I’ll be a good player depends on the way we want to play,” the two-time Johnny Warren Medallist said.

“I’ve been useless out of possession my entire career. If I have to defend for long periods and play on the counter, I don’t have the pace. I’m not physically built like (teammate) Brandon Borrello to do that.

“But if we want to boss teams and move the ball around, that’s my bread and butter. I still feel inspired and creative, and it shows again.

“In recent weeks I’ve been in very good form, and the team has been playing a very nice brand of football, and that’s the football I love. The success we’ve had was built on that brand of football, so if we play like that, I don’t feel like stopping at all.”

Broich intends to delay minor ankle surgery until the end of the season to ensure he remains a part of third-placed Brisbane’s push for a fourth championship in seven years.

“The ankle’s a bit cranky these days, it’s not a secret. It’s not a major problem, it’s just a timing issue because now it’s the time of the year where it all matters,” he said.