FFA Centre of Excellence

The FFA Centre of Excellence (formerly the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program) was a football 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]

FFA Centre of Excellence
Full nameFFA Centre of Excellence
Founded1981
Dissolved2017
GroundAustralian Institute of Sport
LeagueNational Youth League
National Premier Leagues
20172nd

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 FarinaFW1982–83CoachingAustralia67
Warren SpinkAustralia Cooks Hill UnitedFW1983–84CoachingAustralia38
Robbie HookerDF1984–85RetiredAustralia22
Jason PolakMF1985–87RetiredAustralia32
Paul TrimboliAustralia Melbourne VictoryFW1986AdministrationAustralia46
Jason van BlerkAustralia Central Coast Mariners AcademyMF1986CoachingAustralia33
Craig FosterMF1986–87MediaAustralia29
Steve HorvatDF1987–88RetiredAustralia32
Shaun MurphyDF1988RetiredAustralia18
Ned ZelićDF1988MediaAustralia34
George SorrasFW1989–90RetiredAustralia27
Alistair EdwardsMalaysia Johor Darul Ta'zimFW1988CoachingAustralia19
Steve CoricaAustralia Sydney FCMF1989–90CoachingAustralia32
Kevin MuscatDF1990–91CoachingAustralia46
Craig MooreAustralia Coomera ColtsDF1992–93CoachingAustralia52
Hayden FoxeAustralia Perth GloryDF1993–94CoachingAustralia11
Josip SkokoMF1992–93RetiredAustralia51
John AloisiFW1992–93CoachingAustralia55
Mark VidukaFW1992–93RetiredAustralia43
Lucas NeillDF1994–95RetiredAustralia96
Josip ŠimunićCroatia Croatia U-19DF1995–96CoachingCroatia105
Brett EmertonMF1996RetiredAustralia95
Vince GrellaMF1996AgentAustralia46
Simon ColosimoDF1996–97RetiredAustralia26
Anthony ŠerićMF1996–97RetiredCroatia16
Mile SterjovskiMF1996–98RetiredAustralia43
Mark BrescianoMF1997RetiredAustralia84
Ivan ErgićMF1997–98RetiredSerbia11
Luke WilkshireAustralia Wollongong WolvesMF1997–98CoachingAustralia80
Joshua KennedyFW1998–99MediaAustralia36
Jade NorthDF1999RetiredAustralia41
Alex BrosqueFW2001RetiredAustralia21
Matt McKayMF2001RetiredAustralia59
Carl ValeriMF2001–02RetiredAustralia52
Adam FedericiGK2002RetiredAustralia16
Mark MilliganMF2002CoachingAustralia80
Robbie KruseFW2005–06RetiredAustralia75
Nikita RukavytsyaFree agentFW2005–06PlayingAustralia21
Dario VidošićMF2006CoachingAustralia23
Matthew SpiranovicDF2006RetiredAustralia36
James HollandAustria Austria WienMF2006–07PlayingAustralia17
Nathan BurnsFW2006RetiredAustralia24
Rhyan GrantAustralia Sydney FCDF2008PlayingAustralia21
Trent SainsburyQatar Al-Wakrah SCDF2009–10PlayingAustralia58
Adam TaggartAustralia Perth Glory FCFW2009–10PlayingAustralia16
Milos DegenekUnited States Columbus CrewDF2012PlayingAustralia41

References
  1. "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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