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.

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

• Jimmy Shoulder (1981–1986)
• Ron Smith (1986–1996)
• 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.

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

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

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)

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.

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
		FW	1982–83	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	67
	Template:Flagicon Cooks Hill United	FW	1983–84	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	38
		DF	1984–85	Retired	Template:Flagicon	22
		MF	1985–87	Retired	Template:Flagicon	32
	Template:Flagicon Melbourne Victory	FW	1986	Administration	Template:Flagicon	46
	Template:Flagicon Central Coast Mariners Academy	MF	1986	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	33
		MF	1986–87	Media	Template:Flagicon	29
		DF	1987–88	Retired	Template:Flagicon	32
		DF	1988	Retired	Template:Flagicon	18
		DF	1988	Media	Template:Flagicon	34
		FW	1989–90	Retired	Template:Flagicon	27
	Template:Flagicon Johor Darul Ta'zim	FW	1988	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	19
	Template:Flagicon Sydney FC	MF	1989–90	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	32
		DF	1990–91	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	46
	Template:Flagicon Coomera Colts	DF	1992–93	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	52
	Template:Flagicon Perth Glory	DF	1993–94	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	11
		MF	1992–93	Retired	Template:Flagicon	51
	Template:Flagicon Western United	FW	1992–93	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	55
		FW	1992–93	Retired	Template:Flagicon	43
		DF	1994–95	Retired	Template:Flagicon	96
	Template:Flagicon Croatia U-19	DF	1995–96	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	105
		MF	1996	Retired	Template:Flagicon	95
		MF	1996	Agent	Template:Flagicon	46
		DF	1996–97	Retired	Template:Flagicon	26
		MF	1996–97	Retired	Template:Flagicon	16
	Template:Flagicon Macarthur FC	MF	1996–98	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	43
		MF	1997	Retired	Template:Flagicon	84
		MF	1997–98	Retired	Template:Flagicon	11
		MF	1997–98	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	80
		FW	1998–99	Media	Template:Flagicon	36
		DF	1999	Retired	Template:Flagicon	41
		FW	2001	Retired	Template:Flagicon	21
		MF	2001	Retired	Template:Flagicon	59
		MF	2001–02	Retired	Template:Flagicon	52
		GK	2002	Retired	Template:Flagicon	16
		MF	2002	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	80
		FW	2005–06	Retired	Template:Flagicon	75
	Free agent	FW	2005–06	Playing	Template:Flagicon	21
		MF	2006	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	23
		DF	2006	Coaching	Template:Flagicon	36
		MF	2006–07	Retired	Template:Flagicon	17
		FW	2006	Retired	Template:Flagicon	24
	Template:Flagicon Sydney FC	DF	2008	Playing	Template:Flagicon	21
	Template:Flagicon Central Coast Mariners	DF	2009–10	Playing	Template:Flagicon	61
	Template:Flagicon Perth Glory FC	FW	2009–10	Playing	Template:Flagicon	16
	Template:Flagicon FK TSC	DF	2012	Playing	Template:Flagicon	44

External links

• Official website