1 / 10

Phil Stubbins (AIS staff coach)
The former NSL player and successful VPL coach was instrumental in Adelaide’s run to the ACL final of 2008 and enjoyed a fruitful relationship with former Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar. He is currently on the staff of the AIS and has taken time since his axing by Rini Coolen to update his coaching badges while working in the elite national development system.

2 / 10

Joey Peters (Newcastle Jets W-League)
Peters was a colossus in the Matildas (110 appearances; 28 goals including in the famous 2007 World Cup side) before injury finally caught up with the rock solid midfielder and she retired in 2009. Since then the 32 year-old has had a stint coaching with the national youth set up and now is learning her trade as an assistant coach to Clayton Zane at Newcastle Jets. Peters's football nous and her long career – including being the only Australian female player ever to play in Brazil (at Pele’s club Santos no less) – should put her in good stead in years to come.

3 / 10

Tony Vidmar (SASI)
We’re hearing some very encouraging reports about how the former Socceroo legend has improved standards of coaching in the state development system. South Australia, like WA, is beginning to dominate the AIS programme’s influx and Vidmar’s influence in the rise of SA is being seen.

4 / 10

Ante Milicic (Melbourne Heart)
The Young Socceroo hero of 1993 has enjoyed a steady rise up the coaching ranks. First at Sydney United as a player-coach, then as coach at the same club followed by a move up to A-League level as a number two with Heart in their inaugural season. We’ve admired his style from the sessions we’ve seen and the 37-year-old former Socceroo is learning off one of the best in John van’t Schip.

5 / 10

Zeljko Kalac (Sydney FC)
Big Spider is a natural. Passionate, intelligent and a great motivator with a bank of knowledge from playing at some big clubs – including Italian super-club AC Milan – as well as years in the national team seeing the likes of Guus Hiddink inspire the green and gold to new heights. He is currently keeper coach with the Sky Blues and at Sydney United but could easily progress as a team coach in the future.

6 / 10

John Aloisi (Melbourne Heart)
The Socceroo legend could easily have approached one of his many former clubs in Spain, Italy or England and perhaps got a foot in overseas – but he chose to start on the first rung with the National Youth League at Melbourne Heart after retiring from the game with the club last season. A natural from what we’ve seen at training, his youth players are responding to the message this 35-year-old Socceroo great is providing. And like Ante Milicic, he'll be learning everything he can off club boss John van't Schip.

7 / 10

Arthur Papas (Newcastle Jets)
The youngest of the new guard, Papas had a massive year in 2011. He won coach of the year in the VPL, took his team Oakleigh to a grand final finish before Melbourne Heart poached him for their youth team assistant position with John Aloisi – who is a big fan. But Papas’s previous work at the AIS linked him with incoming Jets manager Gary Van Egmond who snapped him up from Heart. Still in his early 30s, Papas has fans in high places despite never being part of the Socceroo set-up in his playing days.

8 / 10

Kevin Muscat (Melbourne Victory)
This is Musky's first season as an assistant and as such is still learning the ropes. But we like what we see at Victory training. The former Socceroo has boundless energy and enthusiasm to learn the finer points of what it takes to be a top gaffer. Working under managers like Jim Magilton and Mehmet Durakovic can only help the 38-year-old A-League luminary.

9 / 10

Peter Tsekenis (Sydney Olympic)
Tseka has been doing his apprenticeship in the second tier NSW Premier League for some years. Bankstown City and latterly Sydney Olympic to name two. Last season, the 38-year-old won everything on offer at Olympic and did it in some style, too. The name may not be that well known, but the former Olyroo, Young Socceroo and NSL midfielder is carving out a strong reputation and can progress further if given the chance.

10 / 10

Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace)
A playing career spanning the UK, Asia and Australia and a World Cup Socceroo, Popovic is a rarity in that he’s returned overseas after commencing his coaching career in the A-League. Poppa was a Palace great and former skipper. Now he’s on staff at the Championship club working alongside former team-mate Doogie Freedman with Palace currently in a mid-table position. We predict big things for the 38-year-old former central defender who got his foot in the door as an assistant coach at Sydney FC.