Australian Institute Of Sport Football Program
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The FFA Centre of Excellence (formerly the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program) was a
soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
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 The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is a high performance sports training institution in Australia. The institute's headquarters were opened in 1981 and are situated in the northern suburb of Bruce, Canberra. The AIS is a division of the ...
, in
Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
. 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 (1996–2008) * Jan Versleijen (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 and head coach of Australia. He was a member of the Australia national team, competed at the 1992 Summer Olympic ...
(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 at the
FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, Fédération Internatio ...
.


2006 Germany

John Aloisi (1992), Marco Bresciano (1997),
Brett Emerton Brett Michael Emerton (born 22 February 1979) is an Australian former professional Association football, footballer who played for Sydney Olympic FC, Sydney Olympic, Sydney FC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers F.C., Blackburn Rovers and the ...
(1995–1996),
Joshua Kennedy Joshua Blake Kennedy (born 20 August 1982) is an Australian former professional footballer who played as a striker for the Australia national soccer team. At club level, he played mostly for soccer clubs in Germany and Japan. Kennedy is kno ...
(1998–1999), Mark Milligan (2002), Craig Moore (1992–1993),
Lucas Neill Lucas Edward Neill (born 9 March 1978) is an Australian former Association football, soccer player. Neill played as a Defender (association football), defender, often playing as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, centre back as well ...
(1994–1995),
Josip Skoko Josip Skoko (born 10 December 1975) is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a central midfielder for North Geelong Warriors, Hajduk Split, Genk, Gençlerbirliği, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City and Melbourne Heart. Skok ...
(1992–1993), Mile Sterjovski (1996–1996),
Mark Viduka Mark Antony Viduka ( ; born 9 October 1975) is an Australian former Association football, football player who played as a centre forward. Viduka captained the Australia men's national soccer team, Australia national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup ...
(1992–1993) and
Luke Wilkshire Luke Wilkshire (born 2 October 1981) is an Australian association football, football coach and a former player. Born in Wollongong, Wilkshire played youth football for Albion Park Junior Soccer Club, Albion Park, Wollongong Wolves ,and the Aust ...
(1998),
Josip Šimunić Josip "Joe" Šimunić (; born 18 February 1978) is a retired footballer and current president of NK Rudeš. Born in Australia to Bosnian Croat parents, Šimunić started his career at Melbourne Knights then moved to Germany where he spent ...
(1994–1996) for Croatia


2010 South Africa

Lucas Neill Lucas Edward Neill (born 9 March 1978) is an Australian former Association football, soccer player. Neill played as a Defender (association football), defender, often playing as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, centre back as well ...
(captain) (1994–1995), Craig Moore (1992–1993),
Brett Emerton Brett Michael Emerton (born 22 February 1979) is an Australian former professional Association football, footballer who played for Sydney Olympic FC, Sydney Olympic, Sydney FC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers F.C., Blackburn Rovers and the ...
(1995–1996),
Luke Wilkshire Luke Wilkshire (born 2 October 1981) is an Australian association football, football coach and a former player. Born in Wollongong, Wilkshire played youth football for Albion Park Junior Soccer Club, Albion Park, Wollongong Wolves ,and the Aust ...
(1998),
Joshua Kennedy Joshua Blake Kennedy (born 20 August 1982) is an Australian former professional footballer who played as a striker for the Australia national soccer team. At club level, he played mostly for soccer clubs in Germany and Japan. Kennedy is kno ...
(1998–1999), Adam Federici (2002),
Vince Grella Vincenzo Grella (born 5 October 1979) is an Australian former footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Dandenong to Italian immigrants, Antonio and Maria, Grella began his senior career in Australia before moving to Italy, where he spent ov ...
(1996–1997), Carl Valeri (2000–2001),
Nikita Rukavytsya Nikita Vadymovych Rukavytsya ( ; ; born 22 June 1987) is a retired professional soccer player. Born in Ukraine, he played for the Australia national team. Early and personal life Rukavytsya was born in Mykolayiv, in the then Ukrainian SSR of ...
(2005–2006), Mark Milligan (2002), Dario Vidosic (2005–2006), Marco Bresciano (1997),
Josip Šimunić Josip "Joe" Šimunić (; born 18 February 1978) is a retired footballer and current president of NK Rudeš. Born in Australia to Bosnian Croat parents, Šimunić started his career at Melbourne Knights then moved to Germany where he spent ...
(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 Melbourne Victory. Club career Melbourne Victory Langerak signed his first professional contract in February 2007, with A-Le ...
(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 record ...
(2000–2001), Mark Milligan (2002),
Matthew Spiranovic Matthew Thomas Spiranovic (born 27 June 1988) is an Australian former 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 co ...
(2006), Dario Vidosic (2005–2006)


Competition participation


National Soccer League

The AIS fielded teams in the former
National Soccer League The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its ...
'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, one of the two organising bodies in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier L ...
competition in 2005. In 2007 the AIS entered a team into the
Victorian Premier League The Victorian Premier League (VPL) is an Australian soccer league based in Victoria that was founded in 2023 and administered by Football Victoria. It consists of two divisions that were named after the VPL's breakaway of the National Premier L ...
. 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 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 The Victorian Premier League (VPL) is an Australian soccer league based in Victoria that was founded in 2023 and administered by Football Victoria. It consists of two divisions that were named after the VPL's breakaway of the National Premier L ...
, 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 Preston Lions Football Club (formerly Preston Makedonia Soccer Club) is a semi-professional association football, soccer club from Preston, Victoria, Preston, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The club ...
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 The Victorian Premier League (VPL) is an Australian soccer league based in Victoria that was founded in 2023 and administered by Football Victoria. It consists of two divisions that were named after the VPL's breakaway of the National Premier L ...
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 The FIFA World Cup, often called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, Fédération Internatio ...
.


References


External links


Official website
{{AIS
Football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
National Premier Leagues clubs Soccer clubs in the Australian Capital Territory 1981 establishments in Australia A-League Youth teams Defunct soccer clubs in Australia Soccer academies in Australia