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 Football Australia is the governing body of soccer, futsal, and beach soccer within Australia, headquartered in Sydney. Although the first governing body of the sport was founded in 1911, Football Australia in its current form was only establ ...

(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.

History

The AIS soccer program was funded by the Australian Federal Government, through the

Australian Sports Commission The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government commission responsible for supporting and investing in sport in Australia. The Commission incorporates the Australian Institute of Sport. From 2018 to 2022, it was known as S ...

. In 2005–2006 this funding amounted to A$1,115,000.Net loss: let games begin
''SMH'', 1 July 2006 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) * Ron Smith (1986–1996) *

Steve O'Connor Steve O'Connor played 290 games in the Australian National Soccer League (NSL) and represented Australia in the national team with 44 Socceroo appearances. Background Stephen (Steve) joineRevesby Roversas a 7-year-old and played representati ...

(1996–2008) *

Jan Versleijen Johannes Martinus Maria Versleijen (born 29 December 1955), better known as Jan Versleijen, is a Dutch professional association football coach who last managed South African PSL side Ajax Cape Town. Career Born in Venlo, Versleijen has managed a ...

(2008–2011) *

Tony Vidmar Antony Vidmar (born 4 July 1970) is an Australian soccer coach and former player, who serves as an assistant coach with the Australia national team. He was a member of the Australia national team, competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona ...

(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.Croatia warned away from 'kindie'
''Daily Telegraph'', 13 January 2006

World Cup

AIS soccer has developed many players to represent

Socceroos The Australia men's national soccer team represents Australia in international men's soccer. Officially nicknamed the Socceroos, the team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, which is affiliated wit ...

at the

FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the ' ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament ha ...

2006 Germany

John Aloisi John Aloisi () (born 5 February 1976) is an Australian former soccer player and current head coach of A-League club Western United. In a professional career that spanned 20 seasons, with league totals of 459 games and 127 goals, he was the firs ...

(1992), Marco Bresciano (1997),

Brett Emerton Brett Michael Emerton (born 22 February 1979) is an Australian former professional footballer who played for Sydney Olympic, Sydney FC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers and the Australia national team. Able to play as a wide midfielder or ...

(1995–1996), Joshua Kennedy (1998–1999),

Mark Milligan Mark Daniel Milligan (born 4 August 1985) is an Australian former professional footballer. Starting his career as a defender, Milligan has spent much of his later career playing as a midfielder. He is currently a football expert commentary and ...

(2002),

Craig Moore Craig Andrew Moore (born 12 December 1975) is an Australian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. His 2006 FIFA World Cup profile describes him as being "tough-tackling and uncompromising but also calm and composed under ...

(1992–1993),

Lucas Neill Lucas Edward Neill (born 9 March 1978) is an Australian former soccer player. Neill played as a defender, often playing as a centre back as well as a full-back. Neill spent almost 15 years of his career playing in England. He represented Austr ...

(1994–1995),

Josip Skoko Josip Skoko (born 10 December 1975) is an Australian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder for North Geelong Warriors, Hajduk Split, Genk, Gençlerbirliği, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City and Melbourne Heart. Skoko has ...

(1992–1993), Mile Sterjovski (1996–1996),

Mark Viduka Mark Antony Viduka ( ; born 9 October 1975) is an Australian retired football player who played as a centre forward. He captained the Australia national team to the Round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup which remains their best ever performance ...

(1992–1993) and Luke Wilkshire (1998),

Josip Šimunić Josip "Joe" Šimunić (; born 18 February 1978) is a Croatian retired footballer and current manager of the Croatia national under-19 team. Born in Australia to Bosnian Croat parents, Šimunić started his career at Melbourne Knights then mov ...

(1994–1996) for Croatia

2010 South Africa

(captain) (1994–1995),

(1992–1993),

(1995–1996), Luke Wilkshire (1998), Joshua Kennedy (1998–1999), Adam Federici (2002),

Vince Grella Vince is a given name, it is the anglicisation and shortened form of the name Vincent, as well as a surname. It may refer to: Given name People * Vince Agnew (born 1987), American football player * Vince Cable (born 1943), British politicia ...

(1996–1997),

Carl Valeri Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

(2000–2001), Nikita Rukavytsya (2005–2006),

(2002),

Dario Vidosic Dario is a masculine given name, etymologically related to Darius. Given name *Dario Allevi (born 1965), Italian politician *Dario Argento (born 1940), Italian film director * Dario Badinelli (born 1946), Italian triple jumper *Dario Bellezza (1 ...

(2005–2006), Marco Bresciano (1997),

(1994–1996) for Croatia

2014 Brazil

Marco Bresciano (1997), James Holland (2006–2007),

Mitchell Langerak Mitchell James Langerak ( ; born 22 August 1988) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Nagoya Grampus. Club career Melbourne Victory Langerak signed his first professional contract in February 2 ...

(2005–2006),

Matt McKay Matthew Graham McKay (born 11 January 1983) is a retired Australian professional footballer who last played for Australian A-League club Brisbane Roar, and previously with the Australian national team. McKay currently holds the club's recor ...

(2000–2001),

(2002),

Matthew Spiranovic Matthew Thomas Spiranovic (born 27 June 1988) is a former Australian soccer player who played as a defender. Spiranovic started his career with Melbourne Victory, making one competitive appearance before being released with the consent of coac ...

(2006),

(2005–2006)

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 The National Premier Leagues NSW is a semi-professional soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the organising body in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier Leagues Norther ...

competition in 2005. In 2007 the AIS entered a team into the

Victorian Premier League The National Premier Leagues Victoria, commonly known as NPL Victoria, is a semi-professional soccer league in Victoria, Australia. The league is a part of the National Premier Leagues, and is the highest level within the Victorian soccer lea ...

. This would allow regular, weekly competitive matches that were lacking for previous scholarship holders.AIS get VPL spot
, ''The World Game'', 21 November 2006 As part of their inclusion as the only non-Victorian team in the VPL competition, all 'home' fixtures were played in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

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

, 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

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.

Notable alumni

List of players with 10 caps or more for their country. Names in bold for players who represented their Country at a

References

External links

Official website
{{AIS Football National Premier Leagues clubs Soccer clubs in the Australian Capital Territory 1981 establishments in Australia A-League National Youth League Defunct soccer clubs in Australia