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
Home colours Away colours

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. 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.

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. 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.

National Youth League

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

Current squad (2014)

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

No. Position Player GK James Delianov GK Duro Dragicevic GK Brandon Osipov DF Henry Davies DF Perry Fotakopoulos DF Solomon Monohan-Vaiika DF Kye Rowles DF Zac Speth DF Malcolm Ward MF Jackson Bandiera MF Joe Caletti

No. Position Player MF Charlie Devereux MF Jamie Dimitroff MF Josh Hope FW Peter Kekeris DF Danny Kim FW Daniel Maskin MF Marc Tokich FW Daniel Arzani FW Cameron Joice FW Nicholas Panetta FW Kosta Petratos FW Jamal Reiners

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.

Name	Club	Position	Years	Current status	Country	International caps
Frank Farina	Fiji U-20	FW	1982–83	Coaching		67
Warren Spink	Cooks Hill United	FW	1983–84	Coaching		38
Robbie Hooker		DF	1984–85	Retired		22
Jason Polak		MF	1985–87	Retired		32
Paul Trimboli	Melbourne Victory	FW	1986	Manager		46
Jason van Blerk	Central Coast Mariners Academy	MF	1986	Coaching		33
Craig Foster		MF	1986–87	Media		29
Steve Horvat		DF	1987–88	Retired		32
Shaun Murphy		DF	1988	Retired		18
Ned Zelić		DF	1988	Media		34
George Sorras		FW	1989–90	Retired		27
Alistair Edwards	Real Mulia	FW	1988	Coaching		19
Steve Corica	Sydney FC	MF	1989–90	Coaching		32
Kevin Muscat	Melbourne Victory	DF	1990–91	Coaching		46
Craig Moore	Coomera Colts	DF	1992–93	Coaching		52
Hayden Foxe	Western Sydney Wanderers	DF	1993–94	Coaching		11
Josip Skoko		MF	1992–93	Retired		51
John Aloisi	Brisbane Roar	FW	1992–93	Coaching		55
Mark Viduka		FW	1992–93	Retired		43
Lucas Neill		DF	1994–95	Retired		96
Josip Šimunić		DF	1995–96	Retired		105
Brett Emerton		MF	1996	Retired		95
Vince Grella		MF	1996	Retired		46
Simon Colosimo	Werribee City	DF	1996–97	Playing		26
Anthony Šerić		MF	1996–97	Retired		16
Mile Sterjovski		MF	1996–98	Retired		43
Mark Bresciano	Unattached	MF	1997	Playing		84
Ivan Ergić		MF	1997–98	Retired		11
Luke Wilkshire	Unattached	MF	1997–98	Playing		80
Joshua Kennedy		FW	1998–99	Retired		36
Jade North	Brisbane Roar	DF	1999	Playing		41
Alex Brosque	Sydney FC	FW	2001	Playing		21
Matt McKay	Brisbane Roar	MF	2001	Playing		57
Carl Valeri	Melbourne Victory	MF	2001–02	Playing		52
Mark Milligan	Baniyas	MF	2002	Playing		42
Robbie Kruse	VfB Stuttgart	FW	2005–06	Playing		38
Nikita Rukavytsya	Beitar Jerusalem	FW	2005–06	Playing		13
Dario Vidošić	Western Sydney Wanderers	MF	2006	Playing		23
Matthew Spiranovic	Hangzhou Greentown	DF	2006	Playing		32
James Holland	MSV Duisburg	MF	2006–07	Playing		15
Nathan Burns	F.C. Tokyo	FW	2006	Playing		15
Trent Sainsbury	PEC Zwolle	DF	2009–10	Playing		14

External links

• Official website

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