Galustian, who is co-founder of Coerver Coaching and has spent over 30 years as a skills specialist, was in Australia running FFA’s skills acquisition program. When asked how Australia could progress in youth development, Galustian suggested that youth academies at each A-League club would have a huge impact on the local game. 

“Pro-clubs overseas look at a 10-year plan for developing youth, basically from seven to 17 years-old,” Galustian told au.fourfourtwo.com. “Then at 17 you get your first chance to sign a professional contract. In nearly every league in Europe, all of the clubs have their own academies. The kids come into the club at seven and the best set of 20 players at every age group play together. You don’t have that in the A-League.

“Across the world the best kids are developed by the professional clubs. There is data on that and that has been historically how it has worked. If your pro club has scouts, they are looking for the best players. Then why wouldn’t you want them looking for the best under 10s too?

“Those scouts can identify which kids are good, bring them into the club and into a professional environment. It gives the kids something to aspire to and it would be great if every A-League club had their own academy,” said Galustian.

Galustian said the FFA’s skills acquisition program, which he oversaw last week, teaches coaches how they can improve the skills of young players and make them better players. Last weekend, Galustian also ran a NSW clinic for a wider range of coaches who wanted to know about skills training, with over 150 coaches attending over the two days.

“I have been coming to Australia for 15 years now and the passion for football here is equal to anywhere in the world,” says Galustian. “There is that desire to improve. I see the enthusiasm and they want to learn.”

Galustian, who has worked with the likes Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Arsenal in the past, will be running the FourFourTwo Performance Coerver Coaching Diploma in Youth Development later in the year. Head here for further details.