When the Australian National Soccer League (NSL) folded in 2004 and the A-League was introduced, one of its aims was to promote the growth of talented young footballers.

While the NSL helped produce a vast number of Socceroo stars over the years, the cream of the young crop would always head to big European clubs at a very early age. Harry Kewell, for example, left for England in 1995 and made his debut for Leeds at only 18, while Tim Cahill made his move to Millwall only a few years later.

Now though, the A-League is finally starting to produce the environment necessary for young players to prosper. As such, a new breed of talented Australians are coming of age having grown up in the domestic top flight and National Youth League (in which A-League clubs participate).

Europe will always be the destination of choice, and for every prospective Socceroo in the A-League there is another in an overseas academy. The Australian competition has also taken a lot of flack, with former national team manager Pim Verbeek once famously proclaiming that training in Europe was better than playing regularly in the A-League.

“If you train for three weeks with Nurnberg or with Karlsruhe, I have to be very honest, I still think that’s better than playing A-League games.”

New Socceroos boss Holger Osieck is much happier with the standard of the A-League, and this stance has pleased his Football Federation Australia paymasters. At the Asian Cup last January, where then Brisbane Roar player Matt McKay starred for the Green and Gold, Osieck refuted Verbeek’s claims.

“It’s [being in the squad] first of all a reflection of the ability of the players, not of which league they play in. That is why they are here. I don’t care whether they play for Melbourne or Middlesbrough.”

And the 63-year-old German’s words are more than just lip service; several of Osieck’s recent squads have featured A-League players.

With a Socceroos coach who appreciates the rising quality of the A-League, and with the 10 clubs in the competition now regularly producing talented youngsters who don’t have to rush to Europe at the earliest opportunity, things are looking bright for Australia’s domestic league.

In recognition of the A-League’s achievements, this blog will now profile several top home grown stars – all of whom are currently first team regulars at their respective clubs.

Bernie Ibini-Isei

If last season was the season of Mustafa Amini, who starred for the Central Coast Mariners and then earned a (delayed) move to Borussia Dortmund, the 2011/12 A-League season belongs to his teammate – Bernie Ibini-Isei.

The Nigerian born striker played a bit part role for the Mariners most of last campaign, before bursting onto the stage in the final few rounds. A stellar performance in the Youth World Cup only further wowed his admirers, with Ibini-Isei one of the few Australians to impress in a disappointing tournament.

The loss of seasoned forward Matt Simon to Korea will only create more opportunities for the lethal striker, and it would not be surprising to see interest from European heavyweights solidify in the near future. Having been in the Central Coast youth set up for several years, Ibini-Isei certainly represents a triumph of A-League youth development.

Aziz Behich

A product of Victorian Premier League club Green Gully, left back Aziz Behich spent time with Melbourne Victory before moving to cross town rivals the Heart in 2010. Flourishing in his new surrounds, 21-year-old Behich has been a revelation for Melbourne this season and impressed many with his skill and versatility.

Despite his age, a Socceroos call-up has been mooted, and it won’t be long until Behich is a regular in Holger Osieck’s team. Alongside a number of other talented young Australians at the Heart, Behich has been a driving force behind the club’s successful season so far, and the Victory will be annoyed at letting him go.

Terry Antonis

After winning a television football talent show at the age of 10 and flying to Madrid to make a DVD with David Beckham, Terry Antonis was famous before he’d reached his teenage years. The attacking dynamo signed a contract with Everton, but due to FIFA restrictions on the transfer of young players the deal was torn up and Antonis remained in Australia.

Despite this disappointment, the Bankstown lad went about his business and continued developing into one of Australia’s biggest prospects. A stint at the Australian Institute of Sport honed his technical skills, while his Sydney FC appearances just keep getting better.

Perhaps Antonis will be a good, if slightly flawed, yardstick to measure the A-League’s progress. Denied a move to Europe at a young age, if Antonis becomes a Socceroo star his time in the A-League will not have hindered his progression.

While no-one will ever know the player Antonis could have been if his Everton move was permitted, his performances in the next few years could indicate the quality of the A-League’s youth development system.

Mat Ryan

Sometimes in football coincidence and luck can be everything. And this was never truer than in goalkeeper Mat Ryan’s rise to prominence. Signed as a reserve keeper for the Central Coast, Ryan was thrust into the spotlight when Jess Vanstrattan suffered a season ending injury and the then 18-year-old was suddenly number one.

While many would struggle in that situation, Ryan never looked out of place and was named A-League young player of the season after an outstanding campaign. To top it off, he was awarded the Joe Marston medal – awarded to the man of the match in the Grand Final, despite being on the losing team.

This season Ryan has proved his performances were no fluke, and has arguably been one of the best players so far. But despite rumours of a move to Europe, the keeper has stressed he is staying with the Mariners, at least for the foreseeable future.

“I’m still contracted for next year, and I still have a job to do here. Every kid wants to go on to bigger and better things. I’m no different, and overseas you have bigger clubs and a better standard of football. But the A-League is doing wonders for my development at the moment,” he said.

W-League

It would be remiss to not also praise the Australian women’s competition, the W-League, for their achievements in regards young talent. The league is now several years old and has already helped numerous footballers become real stars.

The likes of Ellyse Perry, whose amazing exploits – only 21, but having already represented Australia in both cricket and football – were detailed in an earlier blog, have found life much easier due to the burgeoning W-League.

Sydney FC winger Caitlin Foord was only 16 when she represented Australia at the Women’s World Cup, and her development has been boosted greatly by the ability to play in a high quality domestic competition.

This list is far from definitive, and the likes of Mustafa Amini, Eli Babalj, Scott Neville, Mark Birighitti and many others all deserve more mention than the word limit allows.

The A-League and W-League will only continue to grow, and as they do the number of top quality players they produce will also increase. Granted both competitions have had and will continue to have growing pains, but the future certainly looks bright.

While it is unlikely the A-League will ever surpass the Premier League as destination of choice for young Australians, having the option to stay at home and play in a high quality league will reap dividends for the Green and Gold well into the future.