On the subject of private academies, there's a relatively new one established in Australia with backing from Italian clubs like AS Roma, which is a branch of Genova International School of Soccer .They've become pretty influential on the Australian scene and have even started a Victorian state league club - called funnily enough MELBOURNE PHOENIX (OI! YOU'VE STOLEN OUR NAME !!!)
Melbourne Phoenix FC
Melbourne Phoenix FC was establsihed in 2008 as an affiliate of AS Roma Australia, and will offer football to male and female players from 10 to 26 years. Melbourne Phoenix FC was formed by the founders of Genova International School of Soccer as a direct result of player demand for professional level development. The aim is to provide a seamless training regime between the GISS academy and club competition participation. Melbourne Phoenix FC will implement a professional training program to groom players into elite players, with intentions to be a feeder club into the Australian A-league in the future. Melbourne Phoenix FC has established club offices and grounds at the Reggio Calabria Club, 476 Brunswick Rd, Parkville. Melbourne Phoenix FC will participate in the FFV competitions of 2010 at five team levels: u18, u16, u14, u13 and u11.Training sessions are held at Melbourne Phoenix FC, Reggio Calabria Club, 476 Brunswick Rd, Parkville (Melway 29,B9).
GISS Australia's aim is to train young players for pro careers in Europe and the A-League and it's already getting a few into Italian clubs. Teams from it's Aussie centre now regularly tour Italy and Europe playing matches.
It's another option for young kiwi players too. Former NZ u-20 international Liam Graham attended it in Australia and has now spent two seasons in Italy's top youth league playing for Vicenza against AC Milan u-20, Inter Milan, Brescia, Chievo etc.:
http://www.issgenova.com/au/index.php
September 15 2010: Vicenza signings « September 18 September newsletter » Three Genova International players have signed contracts with Vicenza Calcio: left, Theo Markelis (GISS Australia), coach Rino Lavezzini, Steven Domenici (GISS Australia), and right, Liam Graham (GISS New Zealand).
In an interview published in Goal Weekly, Theo Markelis discusses his move from Valencia to Vicenza.
About Genova International School of Soccer
The Genova International School of Soccer provides opportunities for outstanding young soccer players in Europe, North and South America, and Australia to develop a soccer career to international standard.
The school is based in Ovada, in Piedmonte, northern Italy, in a recently built fully equipped sports complex, and offers the right balance of an elite training regime and a healthy lifestyle. The complex includes indoor tennis courts, a basketball stadium, and a gym, and can accommodate up to 60 people at any one time. Detailed images of the centre can be viewed here.
GISS operates in an autonomous capacity as it is not controlled by any official organisation or governing body. GISS maintains close relationships with key clubs and personnel across Europe.
The Genova International Academy currently trains players five days per week in Melbourne, Australia, with the purpose of developing professional players for the European market and in future to feed into the Australian A-league. In the past eighteen months GISS has held five AS Roma clinics in Melbourne, establishing the brand in Australia and generating much publicity in Europe.
In 2007, Genova International director Morris Pagniello arranged for Australian players to particiapte in games against top Italian clubs and saw four teams travel to Italy to play games against seria A and B teams interested in talented young Australian players. Of these Australians, seven players have been successfully signed to professional clubs.
Activities for 2008 included three Australian AS Roma campuses in the early part of the year, two AS Roma campuses in Asia, three coaching courses and overseas coaching tours, and four Australian team tours. Morris is also negotiating major events in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia for Italian serie A teams to come to Australia and Asia for exhibition games against the Hyundai A-league Teams. Morris has also negotiated the exclusive distribution rights to AS Roma merchandising for Australasia.
As of September 2008, Morris Pagniello and the famous Gigi Maifredi - Juventus 1st team coach in the 80's and 90s' - are to jointly open a new football academy. Gigi Maifredi is one of Italy's major icons in the football world. The Maifredi family management group will also be GISS's Fifa agents for Italy. Christian Maifredi visited Australia in January, 2008 and met with Gabriela Priolo (GISS Australian Administrative Director) and Joe De Martino (Head Coach, GISS) to discuss future plans for the Australian academy.
An agreement has also been formalised between Morris Pagniello and AS Roma's famous 1st team player Alessandro Mancini, for Genova International School of Soccer to be represented by the Mancini family in Brazil. This will allow the exchange of players between Brazil, Italy & Australia.
GISS has operations in Holland, France, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, Singapore, Mexico and Australia.
In order to enhance players' competitive standards, Genova International established Melbourne Phoenix FC, officially affiliated with AS Roma Calcio, to compete in the Victorian Football Federation state competition from 2008. In the 2008 competition, each Melbourne Phoenix team won its league by a convincing margin. For 2009, Melbourne Phoenix is fielding 4 junior boys teams - under 12, under 13, under 15, and under 18.
Genova International will also field junior teams in European and Asian competitions as Melbourne Phoenix FC.
Aims of GISS
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To provide a professional approach to training
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To provide professional standard technical knowledge
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To raise the standards of players to compete at an elite or professional level
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To create a bridge for Australian soccer players to access European teams
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To place players in professional or semi-professional teams throughout Europe
GISS TV includes some video of Genova International activities, conversations with signed players, and other
