FFA Centre of Excellence

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]

FFA Centre of Excellence

Full name	FFA Centre of Excellence
Founded	1981
Dissolved	2017
Ground	Australian Institute of Sport
League	National Youth League National Premier Leagues
2017	2nd
Home colours Away colours
Current season

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

• Jimmy Shoulder (1981–1986) ^[1]
• Ron Smith (1986–1996) ^[1]
• Steve O'Connor (1996–2008)
• Jan Versleijen (2008–2011)
• Tony Vidmar (2012–2017)

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.

Name	Club	Position	Years	Current status	Country	International caps
Frank Farina		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	Administration		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	Johor Darul Ta'zim	FW	1988	Coaching		19
Steve Corica	Sydney FC	MF	1989–90	Coaching		32
Kevin Muscat		DF	1990–91	Coaching		46
Craig Moore	Coomera Colts	DF	1992–93	Coaching		52
Hayden Foxe	Perth Glory	DF	1993–94	Coaching		11
Josip Skoko		MF	1992–93	Retired		51
John Aloisi		FW	1992–93	Coaching		55
Mark Viduka		FW	1992–93	Retired		43
Lucas Neill		DF	1994–95	Retired		96
Josip Šimunić	Croatia U-19	DF	1995–96	Coaching		105
Brett Emerton		MF	1996	Retired		95
Vince Grella		MF	1996	Agent		46
Simon Colosimo		DF	1996–97	Retired		26
Anthony Šerić		MF	1996–97	Retired		16
Mile Sterjovski		MF	1996–98	Retired		43
Mark Bresciano		MF	1997	Retired		84
Ivan Ergić		MF	1997–98	Retired		11
Luke Wilkshire	Wollongong Wolves	MF	1997–98	Coaching		80
Joshua Kennedy		FW	1998–99	Media		36
Jade North		DF	1999	Retired		41
Alex Brosque		FW	2001	Retired		21
Matt McKay		MF	2001	Retired		59
Carl Valeri		MF	2001–02	Retired		52
Adam Federici		GK	2002	Retired		16
Mark Milligan		MF	2002	Coaching		80
Robbie Kruse		FW	2005–06	Retired		75
Nikita Rukavytsya	Free agent	FW	2005–06	Playing		21
Dario Vidošić		MF	2006	Coaching		23
Matthew Spiranovic		DF	2006	Retired		36
James Holland	Austria Wien	MF	2006–07	Playing		17
Nathan Burns		FW	2006	Retired		24
Rhyan Grant	Sydney FC	DF	2008	Playing		21
Trent Sainsbury	Al-Wakrah SC	DF	2009–10	Playing		58
Adam Taggart	Perth Glory FC	FW	2009–10	Playing		16
Milos Degenek	Columbus Crew	DF	2012	Playing		41

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.

External links

• Official website