FFA Centre of Excellence

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FFA Centre of Excellence
FFA Centre of Excellence.png
Full nameFFA Centre of Excellence
Founded1981
Dissolved2017
Ground Australian Institute of Sport
League National Youth League
National Premier Leagues
2017 2nd
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

The FFA Centre of Excellence (formerly the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program) was a soccer talent identification and player development program run by Football Federation Australia (FFA) and was based at the Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra. The Centre of Excellence ran this program for men: the program was one of the eight founding sports of the AIS in 1981. The FFA announced that the centre would close at the end of 2017. [1]

Contents

History

The AIS soccer program was funded by the Australian Federal Government, through the Australian Sports Commission. In 2005–2006 this funding amounted to A$1,115,000. [2] The format involved 20 students per year selected for an initial period of 12 months training and study, with the additional option of a second year. The men's program was residential, while the women's was training camp-based. Students were generally 15–17 years old when selected and required to 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".

Head coaches

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 would later have to be repaid by any graduate who went on to play soccer at a senior level representing a country – other than Australia – in international competition. [3]

World Cup

AIS soccer has developed many players to represent Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup.

2006 Germany

John Aloisi (1992), Marco Bresciano (1997), Brett Emerton (1995–1996), Joshua Kennedy (1998–1999), Mark Milligan (2002), Craig Moore (1992–1993), Lucas Neill (1994–1995), Josip Skoko (1992–1993), Mile Sterjovski (1996–1996), Mark Viduka (1992–1993) and Luke Wilkshire (1998), Josip Šimunić (1994–1996) for Croatia [1]

2010 South Africa

Lucas Neill (captain) (1994–1995), Craig Moore (1992–1993), Brett Emerton (1995–1996), Luke Wilkshire (1998), Joshua Kennedy (1998–1999), Adam Federici (2002), Vince Grella (1996–1997), Carl Valeri (2000–2001), Nikita Rukavytsya (2005–2006), Mark Milligan (2002), Dario Vidosic (2005–2006), Marco Bresciano (1997), Josip Šimunić (1994–1996) for Croatia [1]

2014 Brazil

Marco Bresciano (1997), James Holland (2006–2007), Mitchell Langerak (2005–2006), Matt McKay (2000–2001), Mark Milligan (2002), Matthew Spiranovic (2006), Dario Vidosic (2005–2006) [1]

Competition participation

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. [4] 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. [5]

National Youth League

On 3 July 2009, it was announced the AIS would compete in the National Youth League. [6]

In August 2017, the Centre of Excellence was closed by the FFA. [7] [8]

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
Frank Farina FW1982–83Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 67
Warren Spink Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cooks Hill United FW1983–84Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 38
Robbie Hooker DF1984–85Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 22
Jason Polak MF1985–87Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 32
Paul Trimboli Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne Victory FW1986Administration Flag of Australia (converted).svg 46
Jason van Blerk Flag of Australia (converted).svg Central Coast Mariners Academy MF1986Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 33
Craig Foster MF1986–87Media Flag of Australia (converted).svg 29
Steve Horvat DF1987–88Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 32
Shaun Murphy DF1988Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 18
Ned Zelić DF1988Media Flag of Australia (converted).svg 34
George Sorras FW1989–90Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 27
Alistair Edwards Flag of Malaysia.svg Johor Darul Ta'zim FW1988Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 19
Steve Corica Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney FC MF1989–90Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 32
Kevin Muscat DF1990–91Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 46
Craig Moore Flag of Australia (converted).svg Coomera Colts DF1992–93Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 52
Hayden Foxe Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth Glory DF1993–94Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 11
Josip Skoko MF1992–93Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 51
John Aloisi FW1992–93Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 55
Mark Viduka FW1992–93Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 43
Lucas Neill DF1994–95Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 96
Josip Šimunić Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia U-19 DF1995–96Coaching Flag of Croatia.svg 105
Brett Emerton MF1996Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 95
Vince Grella MF1996Agent Flag of Australia (converted).svg 46
Simon Colosimo DF1996–97Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 26
Anthony Šerić MF1996–97Retired Flag of Croatia.svg 16
Mile Sterjovski MF1996–98Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 43
Mark Bresciano MF1997Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 84
Ivan Ergić MF1997–98Retired Flag of Serbia.svg 11
Luke Wilkshire Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wollongong Wolves MF1997–98Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 80
Joshua Kennedy FW1998–99Media Flag of Australia (converted).svg 36
Jade North DF1999Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 41
Alex Brosque FW2001Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 21
Matt McKay MF2001Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 59
Carl Valeri MF2001–02Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 52
Adam Federici GK2002Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 16
Mark Milligan MF2002Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 80
Robbie Kruse FW2005–06Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 75
Nikita Rukavytsya Free agentFW2005–06Playing Flag of Australia (converted).svg 21
Dario Vidošić MF2006Coaching Flag of Australia (converted).svg 23
Matthew Spiranovic DF2006Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 36
James Holland Flag of Austria.svg Austria Wien MF2006–07Playing Flag of Australia (converted).svg 17
Nathan Burns FW2006Retired Flag of Australia (converted).svg 24
Rhyan Grant Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney FC DF2008Playing Flag of Australia (converted).svg 21
Trent Sainsbury Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Wakrah SC DF2009–10Playing Flag of Australia (converted).svg 58
Adam Taggart Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth Glory FC FW2009–10Playing Flag of Australia (converted).svg 16
Milos Degenek Flag of the United States.svg Columbus Crew DF2012Playing Flag of Australia (converted).svg 41

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Remembering the contributions of AIS Men's football to the Socceroos". The Roar. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Net loss: let games begin, SMH, 1 July 2006
  3. ↑ Croatia warned away from 'kindie', Daily Telegraph, 13 January 2006
  4. ↑ AIS get VPL spot Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine , The World Game, 21 November 2006
  5. ↑ "Withdrawal of the AIS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  6. ↑ AIS Join The National Youth League Archived 9 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Helmers, Caden (26 April 2017). "FFA Centre of Excellence to close under strategy to provide more young players with opportunities". The Canberra Times .
  8. ↑ "FFA to close Centre of Excellence in August". The World Game . SBS. 26 April 2017.
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