With decentralisation the war cry, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has swung the axe upon Australian football, announcing their Canberra-based Centre of Excellence (CoE) will close at the end of 2017.
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.
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.
Left Back – Lucas Neill
A defensive tyrant and one of the most talented, dedicated footballers to ever don the Socceroos jersey, Lucas Neill left the CoE for England in 1995 – aged just 17 – where he would spend the next 15 years of his decorated career.
After establishing himself at Millwall, he left the Den to join Blackburn Rovers where for the next seven years he would build a reputation for being one of the English Premier League’s fiercest leaders.
In some ways a victim of his own love for the Socceroos, Neill alienated many of his own fans due to a series of incidents late in his career.
Yet with 91 caps for Australia, 61 as captain (the most of any Socceroo) and one of the most impressive European careers of any Australian, Neill’s legacy should always be one of immense admiration.
Centre Back – Josip Simunic
Born in Canberra to Bosnian-Croat parents, the exceptionally talented and technically adept defender is truly the one who got away.
Simunic’s decision to abandon the country of his birth to represent Croatia – and become the third highest-capped Croatian of all time – was so devastating to Australian football that the CoE forced future abdicating internationals to pay the FFA for their academy tuition.
Regardless of Australian animosity towards Simunic – a sentiment enhanced by his controversial 2006 World Cup performance against Australia – the 1996 NSL Youth Player of the Year is one of the finest products to ever come out of the CoE.
One hundred and five caps for the Vatreni complements a legendary Bundesliga career, with 222 appearances for Hertha Berlin bringing an era of success to one of Germany’s famously under-achieving clubs.
Tactically proficient both on and off the field, Simunic’s days of haunting Australia may not be over yet – the 39-year-old is now Croatia’s assistant coach.
Centre Back – Craig Moore
Another fierce leader and pillar of defensive gusto, Craig Moore spent one year at the famed Canberra academy before joining Ranger’s youth set-up in Scotland.
After 10 years captaining the Scottish giants, punctuated by a brief spell at Crystal Palace, Moore returned to England, joining Newcastle United in 2005, before returning to Australia to captain the Brisbane Roar for two seasons.
Kevin Muscat may have had a greater European impact – for reasons right and wrong – but Moore was a different style of defender. Reserved, composed, yet incredibly effective.
Besides, a Simunic / Muscat combination might be a little too much, even for an academy that taught ‘Australian football’.
Moore will forever be remembered for his slotted penalty against Croatia that delivered Australia their best-ever performance at the 2006 World Cup.
Over the course of 15 years and 52 appearances for the Socceroos, Moore cemented his place among the greatest centre-halves Australia, and the CoE, have ever produced.
Right Back – Luke Wilkshire
The only starter in Australia’s 2006 World Cup campaign to still be playing today – for Dynamo Moscow no less – Guus Hiddink praised Wilkshire as one of the most technically gifted Australian players during his reign – and there were a few to choose from.
Unfortunately for Wilkshire, his place at the heart of the golden generation is often overlooked, and he now occupies a position as one of the Socceroos forgotten men.
Wilkshire left the CoE aged 18 for Middlesborough’s academy, and went on to become a Bristol City stalwart, making 112 appearances for the Robins.
Wilkshire then flourished in the Russian Premier League for Dynamo Moscow, and the Eredivisie for FC Twente and Feyenoord.
A fantastic crosser and capable on either flank, Wilkshire was a constant threat down Australia’s right-side during both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, exhibiting the searing work-rate and tactical nous that has added to the defender’s longevity.
Many pundits considered him an unfair victim of Postecoglou’s Socceroos regeneration, but he’ll always be remembered as the finest specialist fullback the CoE has ever produced.
Left Midfield – Mark Bresciano
The bald beauty who could bend the ball like Beckham, Mark Bresciano will be remembered as one of the greatest Socceroos of all time. 84 caps, 13 goals and three World Cup campaigns for Australia barely does the midfield maestro justice.
With a tendency for the spectacular, ‘Spartacus’ himself scored some of the finest goals ever struck in the Green and Gold.
A stunning left-footed volley against Bahrain in 2006 takes the cake, but perhaps most importantly, Bresciano scored the only goal in Australia’s 2005 victory over Uruguay, leading to the Socceroos first World Cup qualification in 32 years.
At club level, ‘Bresc’ re-invented what success looked like for Australians in Serie A, with 330 appearances for Empoli, Parma, Palermo and Lazio after leaving the CoE in 1997.
He also had a very successful six years in the Middle East, especially compared to many of the Australians who ventured over then, and now.
His unique standing among the Socceroos golden generation saw him become one of only two regular starters in the 2006 World Cup to be retained for the 2014 tournament, with Bresciano eventually retiring a year later.
Defensive Midfield – Ned Zelic
While a media-mastermind midfield combination of Zelic and Craig Foster may be too cheesy to make this list, Zelic’s inclusion is due to his fearsome ability (as well as his fiercely bizarre commentary).
Graduating from the CoE in 1989, three years later Zelic would trailblaze a path for Langerak by devoting three very successful years to Borussia Dortmund, winning the 1995 Bundesliga and reaching a UEFA Cup final during his spell.
A hard-hitting footballer who was equally adept in defence or midfield, Zelic also notably represented Queens Park Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt and 1860 Munich, making 102 appearances for the latter.
Zelic captained Australia to fourth at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, but received a disappointing 34 caps for the Socceroos, due in part to persistent disagreements with national team coach Frank Farina.
Regardless of his national career, Zelic’s ‘individual brilliance’ is the reason Four Four Two named him one of the 25 Greatest Australian Footballers of All Time, and the reason he’s one of the CoE’s greatest XI.
Centre Midfield – Vince Grella
A brilliant defensive midfielder, Grella was the unsung hero of Australia’s 2006 World Cup campaign, and the only Australian to make the preliminary FIFA team of the tournament.
Despite obvious talent, during his international career Grella was often the victim of the overshadowing forces around him, otherwise known as the likes of Kewell, Bresciano and Emerton.
But even though Grella’s Italian career largely echoed that of Bresciano, with similar success in stints for Empoli, Ternana, Torino and Parma – captaining the latter – Grella’s tactical acuteness deserves special recognition within this XI.
Unfortunately for Vince, his international legacy – and 46 caps – may have been far greater had he not suffered from the endless injuries that eventually forced his retirement at the age of 32.
Nevertheless, Grella’s distinguished European career – in spite of his betraying body – nudges him above the usually irrepressible Josip Skoko for the last central midfield role in this list.
Right Midfield – Brett Emerton
A graduate of both the New South Wales Institute of Sport and the CoE, ‘Emo’ had it all from a very young age, quickly gaining the nickname ‘the greyhound’ due to his infallible stamina.
With overwhelming pace, agility and strength, Emerton is yet another player on this list that formed a crucial part of Australia’s golden generation.
Most underestimated in Emerton’s impressive arsenal was his ability over a dead ball and venemous long-range strike, a trait he first showcased during his time at Feyenoord, before touring it for Australians during his time at Sydney FC.
Like Neill however, Emerton forged the majority of his career in Blackburn, making 247 appearances for the Riverside club.
Due to his prodigious skill, work-rate and subsequent longevity, Emerton enhanced the reputation of Australians in England, as able to offer vastly more than just robust aggression.
Centre Forward – Mark Viduka (C)
The captain of this lineup, and arguably the greatest player to grace the CoE, Mark Viduka is an enigma in almost every sense of the word.
So without trying to analyse what made Australia’s mysterious captain tick – and prematurely depart the national spotlight – lets look at the stats that made ‘Dukes’ Australia’s most fearsome striker.
Fourty goals in just 48 appearances for the Melbourne Knights – where the Knights Stadium’s only grandstand now bears his name. 40 goals in 84 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb, a mammoth 30 in 37 for Scottish giants Celtic and 59 in 130 for (at the time) English powerhouses Leeds United.
Two hundred and two goals in 409 league appearances isn’t a bad tally for a footballer that on multiple occasions admitted he didn’t love the game.
Viduka scored the most goals of any Australian in the UEFA Champions League, was rumoured to have turned down a move to Barcelona, and captained Australia’s legendary 2006 World Cup side.
Enough said.
Striker – John Aloisi
Although Frank Farina deserves a lot of credit as a fellow CoE graduate – and it would be nice if this list didn’t replicate Australia’s 2006 World Cup squad – in terms of exceptional talent, there’s no question Aloisi deserves the final spot in this XI.
In fact, considering Brisbane Roar’s current performances under Aloisi’s reign, he may even be a better coach than Farina (2001 Confederations Cup aside), but let’s not rub it in.
Aloisi was the first Australian to ever play and score in La Liga, the English Premier League and Serie A. His nerves of steel from the penalty spot guided Australia to their first World Cup in 32 years, where he then became the second Australian to score a goal.
Although many consider Aloisi to be a classic poacher, he had tremendous bursts of speed (that topless dash around Stadium Australia) and a powerful physique to compliment the calm precision that defined his career.
At club level, Aloisi played for Cremonese in Italy, Portsmouth and Coventry City in England, Osasuna and Alaves in Spain before returning to play for the Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart in an undervalued A-League career.
And while many remember him for delivering one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history, even more impressive from a personal standpoint is his 55 caps and 27 goals for Australia, at a goal to game ratio to rival Tim Cahill.
It’s fitting that a list marking the end of an era concludes at a player that with just one kick, ushered in an entirely new one.
Related Articles
Backlash over Fox Sports new season launch
W-League, A-League set for world-first equal marketing split
