FFA Centre of Excellence


The FFA Centre of Excellence was a football talent identification and player development program run by Football Federation Australia 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.

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. 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

Following the decision of several soccer graduates to represent other countries at a senior national level, 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.

World Cup

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

2006 Germany

, Marco Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Joshua Kennedy, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Josip Skoko, Mile Sterjovski, Mark Viduka and Luke Wilkshire, Josip Šimunić for Croatia

2010 South Africa

, Craig Moore, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire, Joshua Kennedy, Adam Federici, Vince Grella, Carl Valeri, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mark Milligan, Dario Vidosic, Marco Bresciano, Josip Šimunić for Croatia

2014 Brazil

, James Holland, Mitchell Langerak, Matt McKay, Mark Milligan, Matthew Spiranovic, Dario Vidosic

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. 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.
In August 2017 the Centre of Excellence was closed by the FFA.

Squad

The following 19 players from across Australia were selected for scholarships in 2016.
No.PositionNameClub
1Matthew Sutton Sydney FC
2James Fletcher Canberra United
3Patrick Scibilio FNSW NTC
5Joel King FNSW NTC
6Kai Trewin Canberra United
7Jacob Italiano Perth Glory
8Eduardo Castaneda FFTAS NTC
9John Roberts FNSW NTC
10Lachlan Brook FFSA NTC
11Mirza Muratovic Sydney United
12Jordan Griffiths Brisbane Olympic
15Luke Callen Newcastle Jets
17Louis D'Arrigo FFSA NTC
19Mark Moric Sydney United
20Bryce Bafford Perth Glory
21Melad Ahmad FFSA NTC
22Jaidon Selden Perth Glory

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
FW1982–83Coaching67
Cooks Hill UnitedFW1983–84Coaching38
DF1984–85Retired22
MF1985–87Retired32
Melbourne VictoryFW1986Administration46
Central Coast Mariners AcademyMF1986Coaching33
MF1986–87Media29
DF1987–88Retired32
DF1988Retired18
DF1988Media34
FW1989–90Retired27
Johor Darul Ta'zimFW1988Coaching19
Sydney FCMF1989–90Coaching32
DF1990–91Coaching46
' Coomera ColtsDF1992–93Coaching52
Perth GloryDF1993–94Coaching11
'MF1992–93Retired51
'FW1992–93Coaching55
'FW1992–93Retired43
'DF1994–95Retired96
' Croatia U-19DF1995–96Coaching105
'MF1996Retired95
'MF1996Agent46
DF1996–97Retired26
'MF1996–97Retired16
'MF1996–98Retired43
'MF1997Retired84
'MF1997–98Retired11
' Wollongong WolvesMF1997–98Coaching80
'FW1998–99Media36
DF1999Playing41
FW2001Retired21
'MF2001Retired59
' Dandenong CityMF2001–02Playing52
' Stoke CityGK2002Playing16
' Southend UnitedMF2002Playing80
' Melbourne VictoryFW2005–06Playing75
' Maccabi HaifaFW2005–06Playing18
' ATKMF2006Playing23
'Free agentDF2006Playing36
LASK LinzMF2006–07Playing15
Free agentFW2006Playing24
Sydney FCDF2008Playing12
' Maccabi HaifaDF2009–10Playing48
' Suwon Samsung BluewingsFW2009–10Playing11
Red Star BelgradeDF2012Playing28