ENGLAND’S desire to make sure they don’t let the next
Harry Kane slip through the net will make life difficult for fringe
Australian players looking to work their way up their lower tiers.
But that might not be a bad thing for Australian football, says Professional Footballers Australia chief executive Adam Vivian.The new work permit rules in England, which come into play on May 1 from the Home Office, are part of England’s Football Association’s desire to see more English players in their top flight to, in theory, improve the success of the Three Lions on the international stage.
While it won’t impact Australians currently in England, or budding stars who hold a European passport as well as an Australian passport, it will be difficult for unknown Australian youngsters looking to emulate Massimo Luongo (who has dual passports) by carving their reputation in England’s lower tiers.
From May 1, to get a work permit, you need to come from a nation ranked inside FIFA’s top 50, and have played a percentage of international matches over the previous two years depending on your ranking (see breakdown below).
Vivian says the timing of the changes in England are opportune as they “put the onus” on Australian football and “squarely puts the focus on the A-League” to ensure our developmental pathways are up to scratch.
“Historically that move overseas was important for the development of a footballer, but now it puts more onus on Australia for that developmental pathway,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“The A-League has matured domestically so the timing is right. One of the key elements with Ange (Postecoglou) as coach, with an Australian brand, and a unique style, people are rallying behind the Socceroos and starting to like this style of football. It’s starting to resonate with some passive supporters, who are becoming more active.
“So the timing is ideal in that regard, because we’re looking at the next evolution of Australian football now.”
Swindon Town’s Massimo Luongo was a dual passport holder.
Source: Twitter
But there are a number of Australians overseas who didn’t make it into the current developmental pathways available, such as the Australian Institute of Sport or the A-League’s youth sides, and took it upon themselves to claw their way up the football food chain in England.
What about players like them?
“It’s an opportunistic time for us to look at our developmental pathway and the academy model at A-League level,” he said.
“There’s the FFA’s ‘Whole of Football’ plan (to be implemented in July 2015). I think that will take up a huge section of the developmental pathway – the way we can produce the best possible players to play at the best possible level.
“Things have stacked up to ensure we’ve got the best possible outcomes for Australian football.”
He added: “It’s an important time for us to sit back, take stock and assess the developmental pathway so we don’t get confronted by these issues going forward.”
Adam Federici in England’s Championship for Reading.
Source: Getty Images
For those who can get visas in Europe and are prepared to learn a foreign language, there is that opportunity to explore as well.
But what advice would Vivian give an up and coming young player deciding how to make a career in football without the England avenue?
“There’s a lot of young Australian talent that are dual passport holders anyway, it won’t preclude them,” he explained.
“It’s the other group. The reality is for them to really explore their options domestically and where the opportunities present themselves, to make sound football decisions because (England’s) not a market as accessible as it historically was. It needs to be a smart football decision making process.”
Bailey Wright plays for Preston North End.
Source: Getty Images
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WORK PERMITS
Currently: a player must have played in at least 75 percent of senior competitive international matches over the previous two years a top 70 FIFA-ranked nation, averaged over two years.
From May: a player must come from a top-50 team, with a sliding scale of appearances based on the ranking.
The Socceroos are currently ranked 65th.
- 1-10: 30 percent or more games
- 11-20: 45 percent or more
- 21-30: 60 percent or more
- 31-50: 75 percent or more
The period assessed reduces to 12 months for players below 21 years old.
The FA said 87 of 129 players from outside the European Economic Area who joined English clubs from 2009 to 2013 would have been granted a work visa under the new system.
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SQUADS
- By 2020, the FA wants a maximum of 13 rather than 18 non-homegrown players in 25-man Premier League squads.
- The homegrown rule would also be redefined as a player affiliated with an English or Welsh club for the three years before the player’s 18th rather than the current 21st birthday.
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FA STATISTICS
- There been an increase in the number of English players playing in the Premier League this year - from 32 percent to 35 percent - but that is due to Burnley’s high volume of English players.
- FA chairman Greg Dyke said it is “particularly worrying” that English players account for only 22 percent of the starting line-ups at Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool, compared to 28 percent last season.
- Dyke pointed to the “serious problem” that the Champions League group stage featured only 23 English players, compared with 78 Spaniards, 55 Germans and 51 Brazilians.
“That’s the grim picture at the top of the game,” Dyke said. “But it is hard to argue we don’t have the talent.”
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