It’s a move that aligns Australia’s elite player pathway system with that of many global footballing superpowers, the FFA citing increased funding for A-League club development structures as their new youth focus.

But despite the decision provoking strong reactions from both sides, the prodigious Aussie conveyor belt is grinding to an unceremonious close, and nostalgic reverence for the $1.6 million per season program is at an all-time-high.

Therefore, there’s never been a better time to recap the greatest XI to emerge from the Centre of Excellence’s 36 years as the pinnacle of Australian footballer development.

Mitchell Langerak

Goalkeeper – Mitchell Langerak

For a centre that’s produced 21 World Cup footballers, there isn’t a ringing endorsement for goalkeepers. In fact, not a single CoE shot-stopper has reached ten caps for Australia.

That said, Mitchell Langerak is still a world-class keeper, whose career at one staged looked the most promising of any Socceroo. Seven caps later and while his potential may have faded, Langerak is still a definite threat to Mat Ryan’s starting position for Australia.

Arriving at Melbourne Victory from the CoE as a fresh-faced 19-year-old, Langerak would go on to secure a mammoth move to Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund in 2010, where he’d go on to make 19 appearances over five seasons, winning four trophies.

Currently the first-choice at VfB Stuttgart in the 2.Bundesliga, Langerak is attempting to re-build his success at a club equally trying to re-build theirs.

At 28-years-old, but not looking a day over 22, he still has a lot to offer.