The Football Victoria (FV) Pathway Project, formally known as the International Coaching Experience, is a program that brings together coaches from around the globe to share their expertise and provide development opportunities for young players and coaches in Victoria.
This four-day event, held on the 15th, 16th, 18th, and 19th of December at The Home of The Matildas, with sessions from 9 am-2 pm each day, allows boys and girls born between 2009 and 2017 to receive coaching from international experts from the Boys game, Girl’s game and Goalkeeper specialists.
We cannot wait share a list of coaches and clubs involved in the coming weeks.
What to expect at the FV Pathway Program
International Coaches
The program features coaches from various countries, bringing diverse perspectives and best practices to the Victorian football landscape.
Player Development
The experience aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of young players through high-quality coaching sessions.
Focus on Growth and Connection
The event is part of Football Victoria’s broader strategy to foster growth, connection, and development within the football community.
Clubs
Djurgårdens IF
We are excited to announce also that we have had our first international team, Djurgårdens IF confirm the attendance of their experienced coaching staff.
Based in central Stockholm, Djurgårdens IF is a powerhouse of Swedish football with over 130 years of tradition and a fiercely loyal supporter base. A multiple-time Allsvenskan champion, Djurgården is respected not just for its success at senior level, but also for its top-tier academy that emphasises tactical intelligence, high-tempo play, and player resilience – key traits in Scandinavian football.
The club has produced elite talents who’ve gone on to represent Sweden internationally and secure transfers to major European leagues. Their involvement in The Pathway Project offers young Australian players insight into one of Northern Europe’s most respected development environments – where professionalism, community, and player-first values are deeply embedded.
Malmö FF
Our second international club confirms their commitment to Australian talent. Founded in 1910, Malmo FF is Sweden’s most successful football club – and still going strong.
With more than 20 league titles and countless cup wins, the club has been a powerhouse in Swedish football for over a century.
For the fifth year in a row, Malmö FF’s youth academy has been named the best in the country.
Malmö FF’s youth academy blends elite-level football training with strong academic support, values-driven education, and community outreach.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club
Known across England as one of the country’s leading academies, Crewe has built a reputation for producing technically gifted players who go on to thrive in the professional game. The club’s player-first philosophy and long-standing commitment to youth development perfectly aligns with the goals of The Pathway Project.
Crewe Alexandra’s academy has historically received strong rankings, particularly for its ability to develop players who go on to make league appearances. In the 2020–2021 season, the academy was ranked the 11th highest of 82 academies in England and Wales, and the top-ranked Category Two Academy for player development. More recently, the club continues to highlight the success of its academy, as evidenced by a matchday squad in October 2024 featuring 12 academy graduates.
Watford FC
We are excited to announce that Watford FC will be part of the 2025 Pathway Project. Known as “The Hornets,” Watford carry a proud tradition in English football, with a reputation for giving young players the chance to break through to the highest levels of the game.
Their academy is built on passion, intensity, and opportunity – values that align perfectly with what we are building here in Australia. For our players, this means direct exposure to Watford’s scouting network and the chance to impress a club that believes in developing homegrown talent and investing in potential.
Portland Thorns FC
When it comes to the women’s game, it does not get much bigger than this – Portland Thorns FC becomes the 5th club to join The FV Pathway Project, specialising in the women’s game.
The Thorns, the current club of Matildas superstars Mackenzie Arnold and Kaitlyn Torpey are arguably the most supported women’s sports club on the planet. playing out of Providence Park in “Soccer City USA,” they consistently draw crowds that many men’s professional clubs would envy, regularly surpassing 20,000+ fans per match, setting multiple NWSL attendance records, and creating an atmosphere that feels closer to European football culture than anything historically seen in American women’s sports.
On the pitch, they are serial winners: multiple NWSL Championships, multiple Shields, and a pathway that has featured some of the biggest names in the women’s game. But more importantly, their identity, culture, and support are the benchmark. They are proof that when you treat the women’s game seriously, professional environment, real infrastructure, genuine community connection, the game grows to match it. The Thorns are not just a team. They are the standard.
PAOK FC
PAOK FC easily has the best academy in Greece at this point. Great coaches, and a clear pathway from the youth teams to the first team. You can see the results in the players they’ve produced and sold in recent years.
Over the last five years, they’ve brought through and moved on some serious talent:
- Stefanos Tzimas to Brighton for €25 million – a record for Greek football
- Koulierakis for €11.7 million
- Christos Tzolis for €11 million
PAOK’s academy doesn’t just produce good players – it produces value. Between the coaching, and sales, it’s the clear benchmark for youth development in Greece.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Massive news as Bundesliga powerhouse Eintracht Frankfurt is locked in as The Pathway Project’s 7th club.
Eintracht’s youth setup holds a 3-Star Certification from Double PASS (DFB & DFL), recognising excellence in talent development and has over 35 academy graduates currently playing professionally in Germany or abroad.
The Riederwald Academy focuses on holistic player growth, combining technical, tactical, and character development, which has produced players including Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Jesper Lindstrøm (Napoli) and Willian Pacho (PSG) in recent years.
Melbourne Victory youth goalkeeper Luca Thomas was invited for a trial at Eintracht Frankfurt after being identified by a club representative during the 2023 edition of The Pathway Project – a powerful example of the international visibility and scouting reach our event provides.
The Pathway Project Eintracht Frankfurt’s story proves that a strong academy structure, clear pathway, and global scouting presence create genuine professional opportunities.
Pricing
Prices for the FV Pathways Project:
- Outfield Player = $600 AUD
- Goalkeeper = $800 AUD
If you would like to be a part of this exciting experience, please register via filling out the form below.
And for further details or queries please contact us at TPD@footballvictoria.com.au.
Source: Football Victoria.
