“If you don’t stick to your morals and values then why are you doing the job?”: Aurelio Vidmar speaks with Gary Cole

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Vidmar FCA

Season 3, Episode 8 of The Football Coaching Life Podcast sees Gary Cole chatting to Aurelio Vidmar, who has recently returned to Australia from coaching at BG Panthum United in Thailand League One.

Aurelio’s remarkable 500-plus game professional career saw the defender play in Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, and Japan, before finishing his time back in Australia. Over 260 games were with Adelaide City in the National Soccer League. And of course, he was a member of the ‘Golden Generation’ playing 44 times for the Socceroos.

Viddy, as he’s affectionately known, began his coaching journey in Australia with Adelaide United as assistant to John Kosmina, before taking on the head coach role and finishing runners up in both the A-League Men’s and the Asian Champions League in 2008 and 2009.

Aurelio then became assistant coach of the Socceroos and head coach of the Olyroos from 2010-2016, was U20 head coach in 2012 and had a short stint as caretaker Socceroos coach in 2013.

He moved off the grass into the office in a Director of Football role at Adelaide United, but realised he needed to be teaching, coaching and leading on the grass again and headed into Asia to work at Bangkok Glass in Thailand, then Lion City Sailors in Singapore before heading back to Thailand with BG Pathum United.

This is a wonderfully open and honest conversation. Aurelio has so much wisdom which he shares eloquently.

Aurelio’s ‘One Piece of Wisdom’ was: ‘Be true to yourself and don’t waiver. If you start wavering and it’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that, I don’t think that’s sustainable. So, whatever your beliefs and philosophies are, stick to them and don’t be someone you’re not.’

Enjoy this journey into Aurelio Vidmar’s Football Coaching Life.

Football West unveils Football Australia Academy

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Image credit: Football West website

Football West has confirmed its excitement about launching the Football Australia Academy for 2025.

The Football Australia Academy will serve talented boys aged 12 to 15, with a primary focus on player development.

It is in line with Football Australia’s new 10-Year National Technical Strategy and is incorporated into the advanced pathway program nationwide.

The Football West-operated Academy has been created with contributions from various levels of football governance and is aimed at preparing young talent for advancement to higher levels, such as the A-League and national representation.

It has received endorsement from the Football Australia Board, national team Head Coaches, as well as the Football West Board and Game Development Committee.

The full-time boys’ program will run alongside Football West’s girls’ NTC program, which has recently produced graduates like Georgia Cassidy, Ruby Cuthbert, and Ischia Brooking who have competed in the A-League Women’s league and earned selections for junior national teams.

Football Australia Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick stated that the Football Australia Academy provides a clear pathway for identifying and developing Australian talent.

“The timing for the Football Australia Academy to be implemented in Western Australia as a full-time program has never been more important,” he said via press release.

“This aligns with the National Technical Strategy and direction with the launch of the Football Australia Academy model integrated with our Member Federations.

“Working with young players, Football West, supported by Football Australia, can create a positive developmental environment for both coaches and players that will assist this cohort in progressing their football journey and continuing the strong record of development in Western Australia.”

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell mentioned that the new Academy would provide talented boys with the best chance to elevate their game to the highest level.

“Football West is thrilled to launch the Football Australia Academy and we look forward to working directly with Football Australia in developing the next generations of West Australian talent,” he said via press release.

“This wasn’t a decision made lightly but made with the best interests of the game as a whole, both for WA and Australia.

“The Football Australia Academy will operate to enhance the technical skills, tactical understanding and high-performance behaviours of players in WA. There is a clear development focus throughout the program. The Football Australia Academy also allows for the identification and progression of coaches, both those in the program and those with the local clubs.

“The Football Australia Academy will expand opportunities for young players across metropolitan, regional and rural areas, ensuring a broader and more inclusive pathway for talent. This approach is designed to complement, not compete with, local club programs.”

To find out more information about trials, click here.

Yvette Henshall-Bell on the official groundskeeping partnership between Husqvarna and Liverpool FC

Liam Watson
Images credit: Liverpool FC Getty

For the 2024/25 Premier League season, Liverpool FC have made sure to hit the ground running under new manager Arne Slot by teaming up with Husqvarna in an official groundskeeping partnership.

The multi-year global agreement was struck in July, where Husqvarna – a market leader in innovative and high-quality products and services for shaping green spaces in parks, forests and gardens – is with one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs in Liverpool FC.

By being the official groundskeeping partner of Liverpool FC, the Merseyside outfit will be treated to pristine playing conditions at training and gameday in a collaboration that is the first of its kind for both organisations.

Liverpool has already been using Husqvarna’s robotic mowers since 2021, maintaining high quality standards across the AXA Training Centre, and AXA Melwood Training Centre.

This partnership will see Husqvarna provide the very best state-of-the-art equipment and innovative solutions for the Ground Management team at Liverpool FC, to maintain elite playing surfaces and its upkeep for all men’s and women’s teams.

 

Yvette Henshall-Bell, President Europe, Forest & Garden Division at Husqvarna, has been one of the key people to orchestrate the deal.

From the conversations that were had between Husqvarna’s Head Office in Sweden and linking up with the team in the UK, it made a logical partnership become a reality.

“Through this partnership, Husqvarna’s state-of-the-art equipment and innovative solutions will be more deeply integrated into LFC’s groundskeeping teams’ daily routines and pitch upkeep, making it a key part of creating and maintaining optimal conditions for elite level playing and training,” Henshall-Bell told Soccerscene.

“In addition, with the collaboration, Husqvarna looks forward to learning from some of the best groundskeepers in the world – enhancing our offer even further.”

Liverpool FC fans attending home matches at Anfield are also given a glimpse of what they can expect to see when they host Brentford on Matchday 2 of the Premier League.

“LFC will help raise Husqvarna’s global profile through bespoke content and activations using its award-winning social platforms, which enjoy a combined global following of 186 million,” Spence said.

“Additionally, Husqvarna branding will also be featured on the digital LED boards during matches, reaching over 400 million TV viewers per season around the world, enhancing Husqvarna’s brand visibility and awareness on a truly global scale.”

Yvette Henshall-Bell, President Europe, Forest & Garden Division at Husqvarna.

As a global brand, Husqvarna products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. This includes Australia, where Liverpool FC have tapped into an International Academy in the country.

“As the partnership has only just been announced, we are currently scoping out what our local Australian activation looks like,” Vienna Spence, Marketing Manager for Husqvarna’s Brand Division Australia said.

Visit Husqvarna’s Australian-based website for the latest products and offers by clicking the link here.

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