FFA Centre of Excellence

FFA Centre of Excellence
Full name FFA Centre of Excellence
Founded 1981
Ground Australian Institute of Sport
Technical Director Peter de Roo
Head Coach Tony Vidmar
League National Youth League
National Premier Leagues

The FFA Centre of Excellence (formerly the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program) is a football talent identification and player development program run by Football Federation Australia and is based at the Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra. The Centre of Excellence runs this program for men: the program was one of the eight founding sports of the AIS in 1981.

History

The AIS soccer program is funded by the Australian Federal Government, through the Australian Sports Commission. In 2005–2006 this funding amounted to A$1,115,000.[1] Currently, 20 students per year are selected for an initial period of 12 months training and study, with the additional option of a second year. The men's program is residential, while the women's is training camp-based. Students are generally 15–17 years old when selected and the only compulsory requirement is that they have current, or pending, Australian citizenship.

The original stated aim of the men's program was

"To identify and develop players for the national under-20 youth team and to develop coaches through the Scholarship Coaching scheme".

National representation

Following the decision of several soccer graduates to represent other countries at a senior national level (e.g. Josip Simunic), the AIS implemented contracts whereby the cost of the scholarship will have to be repaid by any graduate that goes on to play soccer at a senior level representing a country other than Australia, in international competition.[2]

National Soccer League

The AIS fielded teams in the former National Soccer League's youth competition. Within that competition it was placed in the Northern Division. The AIS won three titles, in 1986, 1998 and 1999.

Victorian Premier League

The men's program had previously entered a team in the New South Wales Premier League competition in 2005. In 2007 the AIS entered a team into the Victorian Premier League. This would allow regular, weekly competitive matches that were lacking for previous scholarship holders.[3] As part of their inclusion as the only non-Victorian team in the VPL competition, all 'home' fixtures were played in Victoria for the 2007 season. The side struggled for consistency throughout the season, finishing 12th on the ladder, however great benefit was reportedly gained from the participation in a men's competition. In 2008 the men's program team continued to participate in the Victorian Premier League, improving from the previous year as the AIS finished 8th on the ladder. AIS home games were also played in Canberra, while some high-profile matches which includes the Round 21 match between the AIS and the Preston Lions FC was played in Country Victoria at Rumbalara Oval, Shepparton. This was designed to promote the competition and bring the top state league competition to new areas.

However the men's program team will cease to compete in the Victorian Premier League competition for 2009, as the AIS program will be designed to accommodate younger players, hence eliminating the need to compete in a senior men's competition.[4]

National Youth League

On 3 July 2009 it was announced the AIS would compete in the National Youth League.[5]

Current squad (2016)

The following 17 players from across Australia were selected for scholarships in 2016.[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Australia GK Matthew Sutton
2 Australia DF James Fletcher
3 Australia DF Patrick Scibilio
5 Australia DF Joel King
6 Australia MF Kai Trewin
7 Australia FW Jacob Italiano
8 Australia MF Eduardo Castaneda
9 Australia FW John Roberts
10 Australia MF Lachlan Brook
No. Position Player
11 Australia FW Mirza Muratovic
12 Australia GK Jordan Griffiths
15 Australia DF Luke Callen
17 Australia MF Louis D'Arrigo
19 Australia FW Mark Moric
20 Australia FW Bryce Bafford
21 Australia FW Melad Ahmad
22 Australia FW Jaidon Selden

Notable alumni

List of players with 10 caps or more for their country. Names in bold for players who represented their Country at a FIFA World Cup.

NameClubPositionYearsCurrent statusCountryInternational caps
Farina, FrankFrank FarinaFiji FijiFW1982–83CoachingAustralia67
Spink, WarrenWarren SpinkAustralia Cooks Hill UnitedFW1983–84CoachingAustralia38
Hooker, RobbieRobbie HookerDF1984–85RetiredAustralia22
Polak, JasonJason PolakMF1985–87RetiredAustralia32
Trimboli, PaulPaul TrimboliAustralia Melbourne VictoryFW1986ManagerAustralia46
van Blerk, JasonJason van BlerkAustralia Central Coast Mariners AcademyMF1986CoachingAustralia33
Foster, CraigCraig FosterMF1986–87MediaAustralia29
Horvat, SteveSteve HorvatDF1987–88RetiredAustralia32
Murphy, ShaunShaun MurphyDF1988RetiredAustralia18
Zelić, NedNed ZelićDF1988MediaAustralia34
Sorras, GeorgeGeorge SorrasFW1989–90RetiredAustralia27
Edwards, AlistairAlistair EdwardsMalaysia Real MuliaFW1988CoachingAustralia19
Corica, SteveSteve CoricaAustralia Sydney FCMF1989–90CoachingAustralia32
Muscat, KevinKevin MuscatAustralia Melbourne VictoryDF1990–91CoachingAustralia46
Moore, CraigCraig MooreAustralia Coomera ColtsDF1992–93CoachingAustralia52
Foxe, HaydenHayden FoxeAustralia Western Sydney WanderersDF1993–94CoachingAustralia11
Skoko, JosipJosip SkokoMF1992–93RetiredAustralia51
Aloisi, JohnJohn AloisiAustralia Brisbane RoarFW1992–93CoachingAustralia55
Viduka, MarkMark VidukaFW1992–93RetiredAustralia43
Neill, LucasLucas NeillDF1994–95RetiredAustralia96
Šimunić, JosipJosip ŠimunićDF1995–96RetiredCroatia105
Emerton, BrettBrett EmertonMF1996RetiredAustralia95
Grella, VinceVince GrellaMF1996RetiredAustralia46
Colosimo, SimonSimon ColosimoDF1996–97RetiredAustralia26
Šerić, AnthonyAnthony ŠerićMF1996–97RetiredCroatia16
Sterjovski, MileMile SterjovskiMF1996–98RetiredAustralia43
Bresciano, MarkMark BrescianoUnattachedMF1997PlayingAustralia84
Ergić, IvanIvan ErgićMF1997–98RetiredSerbia11
Wilkshire, LukeLuke WilkshireRussia Dynamo MoscowMF1997–98PlayingAustralia80
Kennedy, JoshuaJoshua KennedyFW1998–99RetiredAustralia36
North, JadeJade NorthAustralia Brisbane RoarDF1999PlayingAustralia41
Brosque, AlexAlex BrosqueAustralia Sydney FCFW2001PlayingAustralia21
McKay, MattMatt McKayAustralia Brisbane RoarMF2001PlayingAustralia58
Valeri, CarlCarl ValeriAustralia Melbourne VictoryMF2001–02PlayingAustralia52
Milligan, MarkMark MilliganUnited Arab Emirates BaniyasMF2002PlayingAustralia46
Kruse, RobbieRobbie KruseGermany Bayer LeverkusenFW2005–06PlayingAustralia40
Rukavytsya, NikitaNikita RukavytsyaIsrael Maccabi HaifaFW2005–06PlayingAustralia13
Vidošić, DarioDario VidošićChina Liaoning WhowinMF2006PlayingAustralia23
Spiranovic, MatthewMatthew SpiranovicChina Hangzhou GreentownDF2006PlayingAustralia30
Holland, JamesJames HollandGermany MSV DuisburgMF2006–07PlayingAustralia15
Burns, NathanNathan BurnsJapan F.C. TokyoFW2006PlayingAustralia20
Sainsbury, TrentTrent SainsburyChina Jiangsu Suning DF2009–10PlayingAustralia14

References

  1. ↑ Net loss: let games begin, SMH, 1 July 2006
  2. ↑ Croatia warned away from 'kindie', Daily Telegraph, 13 January 2006
  3. ↑ AIS get VPL spot, The World Game, 21 November 2006
  4. ↑ "Withdrawal of the AIS" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  5. ↑ AIS Join The National Youth League
  6. ↑ "Talented youngsters chosen for FFA's Centre of Excellence". Football Federation Australia. 9 February 2016.

External links

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