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Melbourne City FC Youth

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = Melbourne City Youth

| image =

| upright =

| fullname = Melbourne City Football Club Youth

| nickname = City Youth

| short name =

| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2011}}

| ground = City Football Academy

| capacity =

| owner = City Football Group

| chairman = Khaldoon Al Mubarak

| mgrtitle = Youth Head Coach

| manager = Alessandro Diamanti

| league = {{Australian soccer updater| MelbourneCY}}

| season = {{Australian soccer updater| MelbourneCY2}}

| position = {{Australian soccer updater| MelbourneCY3}}

| pattern_la1 = _melbcity2425h

| pattern_b1 = _melbcity2425h

| pattern_ra1 = _melbcity2425h

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 =

| leftarm1 = 81C1FF

| body1 = 81C1FF

| rightarm1 = 81C1FF

| shorts1 = FFFFFF

| socks1 = 81C1FF

| pattern_la2= _melbcity2425a

| pattern_b2 = _melbcity2425a

| pattern_ra2 = _melbcity2425a

| pattern_sh2 =

| pattern_so2 =

| leftarm2 = 1A2040

| body2 = 1A2040

| rightarm2 = 1A2040

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| website = http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au

}}

Melbourne City Football Club Youth is the youth system of Melbourne City Football Club based in Cranbourne East, Melbourne. The youth teams consist of an under-23s team that competes in senior levels of soccer in Victoria; currently the Victorian Premier League 1, and a development squad of an under-21s team that competes in the under-23 levels of soccer in Victoria.

Melbourne City Academy was introduced in 2016 and are composed of four academy teams, ranking from under-14s to under-17s teams that compete in the youth National Premier Leagues Victoria leagues.{{cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/about/about-us/|title=About Us|website=Melbourne City|accessdate=19 January 2025}}

History

=Early years (2011–2014)=

The team was founded in 2011 as Melbourne Heart Youth, the season after their senior side Melbourne City (then known as Melbourne Heart FC), made their A-League debut. The inaugural manager was John Aloisi before he accepted the role as head manager at the end of the 2011–12 season. From 2012 onwards, Joe Palatsides had been the manager. The youth team's first match was played in the 2011–12 against local rivals Melbourne Victory in a 2–0 win at John Cain Memorial Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.y-league.com.au/news/heart-too-good-victory|title=Heart too good for Victory|date=5 December 2017|publisher=Football Federation Australia|website=A-League Youth}}

=Entry into National Premier Leagues (2014–2018)=

On 7 November 2014, it was confirmed that Melbourne City would compete in the NPL Victoria 1 competition from the 2015 season onwards. The team consists mainly of Melbourne City's youth team, which also competes in the A-League Youth.{{cite web |url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/news-melbourne-city-fc-nyl-accepted-victorian-npl |title=NEWS: Melbourne City FC NYL accepted into Victorian NPL |work=Melbourne City FC |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=14 February 2018 }} On top of this, Melbourne City opted to send a U-20 team to enter the concurrently-run development-level U-20 NPL league competition.{{cite web |url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/city-commences-2016-national-premier-leagues-npl-season |title=City commences 2016 National Premier Leagues (NPL) Season |work=Melbourne City FC |date=25 February 2016 |access-date=14 February 2018 }}

The team finished on top of the table of the 2014–15 National Youth League, tied with Brisbane Roar FC Youth on both points and goal difference but were awarded the title having scored a greater number of goals.{{cite web|title=Melbourne City FC win Foxtel NYL title|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/melbourne-city-fc-win-foxtel-national-youth-league-title/zlhjutvv0uxx18pxi03jhfmva|website=Football Federation Australia|access-date=1 March 2015}}

After several seasons competing in the NPL, Melbourne City announced they were expanding their participation to also enter teams into the U-18 and U-15 competitions. In February 2018, youth teams joined the National Premier Leagues for the under-20s and under-18s sides,{{cite web |title=City set sights on NPL with two new teams|url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/City-set-sights-on-NPL-with-two-new-teams |website=melbournecityfc.com.au |date=14 February 2018 |access-date=14 February 2018 }} with the U-18 side being managed by Davey van 't Schip (the brother of former manager John van 't Schip).

Players

===Youth===

These players can also play with the senior squad and compete in the A-League Youth and the VPL 1.

{{updated|12 February 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/squads/vpl1/|title=Youth Team – VPL1 Seniors|website=Melbourne City FC|accessdate=12 February 2025}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player |no=1 |pos=GK |nat=AUS |name=James Nieuwenhuizen}}

{{Fs player |no=2 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Peter Antoniou}}

{{Fs player |no=3 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Ryan Kalms}}

{{Fs player |no=4 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Marcus Humbert}}

{{Fs player |no=5 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Harrison Shillington}}

{{Fs player |no=6 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Xavier Stella}}

{{Fs player |no=7 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Benjamin Mazzeo}}

{{Fs player |no=8 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Zane Schreiber}}

{{Fs player |no=9 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Medin Memeti}}

{{Fs player |no=10 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Lawrence Wong}}

{{Fs player |no=11 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Arion Sulemani}}

{{Fs player |no=12 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Lewis Marinucci}}

{{Fs player |no=13 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Jayden Necovski}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player |no=14 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Angus Mackintosh}}

{{Fs player |no=15 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Ben Dunbar}}

{{Fs player |no=17 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Sebastien Giannella}}

{{Fs player |no=18 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=James Georgiou}}

{{Fs player |no=19 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Mikey Ghossaini}}

{{Fs player |no=20 |pos=GK |nat=AUS |name=Lachlan Charles}}

{{Fs player |no=22 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Mikael Evagorou-Alao}}

{{Fs player |no=23 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Kavian Rahmani}}

{{Fs player |no=24 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Emin Durakovic}}

{{Fs player |no=25 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=John Kellis}}

{{Fs player |no=27 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Roland Ballah}}

{{Fs player |no=29 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Max Caputo}}

{{Fs end}}

===Under-21s===

{{updated|11 February 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/squads/vpl1u23/|title=Development Squad – VPL1 U23|website=Melbourne City FC|accessdate=11 February 2025}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player |no=16 |pos=DF |nat=IDN |name=Mathew Baker}}

{{Fs player |no=21 |pos=MF |nat=TLS |name=Beckham Baker}}

{{Fs player |no=26 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Julian Recchia}}

{{Fs player |no=30 |pos=GK |nat=AUS |name=Jonty Benfield}}

{{Fs player |no=31 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Joel Arena}}

{{Fs player |no=32 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Luke Becvinovski}}

{{Fs player |no=33 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Roland Ballah}}

{{Fs player |no=32 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Mikael Evagorou-Alao}}

{{Fs player |no=33 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Nicholas Vardakas}}

{{Fs player |no=34 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Dion Toro}}

{{Fs player |no=35 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Nikola Djurovic}}

{{Fs player |no=36 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Yaser Payendeh}}

{{Fs player |no=37 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Jesse Langa}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player |no=38 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Jacob Greco}}

{{Fs player |no=39 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Charlie Downes}}

{{Fs player |no=41 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Theodore Limberis}}

{{Fs player |no=42 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Isiah Boston}}

{{Fs player |no=43 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Danial Kamsani}}

{{Fs player |no=44 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Dimitros Vlanes}}

{{Fs player |no=45 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Daniel Matina}}

{{Fs player |no=46 |pos=DF |nat=AUS |name=Joshua McKenzie}}

{{Fs player |no=47 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Aaron Cartwright}}

{{Fs player |no=48 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Joseph Pezzano}}

{{Fs player |no=51 |pos=GK |nat=AUS |name=Antonie Van Riet}}

{{Fs player |no=60 |pos=FW |nat=AUS |name=Akeem Gerald}}

{{Fs player |no=63 |pos=MF |nat=AUS |name=Oliver O’Carroll}}

{{Fs end}}

Current staff

Head Coaches:

class="wikitable sortable"
Alessandro DiamantiYouth Head Coach
Lewis PotterU21 Head Coach
Daniel ToppingU17 Head Coach
Leroy AlmenaraU16 Head Coach
Luke JohnsonU15 Head Coach
Frankie BarillaU14 Head Coach

Staff:

class="wikitable sortable"
Stuart McDonaldYouth Assistant Coach
Daniel ToppingU21 Assistant Coach
Daniel CappellaroU17–U16 Assistant Coach
Josh SasicU15–U14 Assistant Coach

Honours

; Youth (Under-23s)

; Under-21s

Stadium

The team hosts its home matches at CB Smith Reserve and Casey Fields. In previous years, home games have also been played at Epping Stadium, John Cain Memorial Park, John Ilhan Memorial Reserve and La Trobe University.

Team records

=A-League Youth=

{{see|Y-League}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;width:95%; text-align:center"

! rowspan=2 width=8%|Season

! colspan=9|A-League Youth

! rowspan=2 width=6%|Grand Final

! colspan=2|Top scorer

width=2%|{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals scored}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}

! width=2%|Position

! width=13%|Player(s)

! width=4%|Goals

colspan=13|League format
2011–12

|18

8283537−2265th–Zac Walker7
2012–13

|18

8193234−2256th–Joshua Groenewald8
2013–14

|18

8464030+10285th–Marcus Schroen5
2014–15

|18

10534027+1335style="background:gold;"| 1st–Wade Dekker9
colspan=13|Conference format
2015–16

|8

3141823−5103rdDid not qualifyWade Dekker
Chris Cristaldo		4
2016–17

|8

5121812+6161ststyle="background:gold;"| Champions Yusuf Ahmed5

=Football Victoria=

{{see|Football Victoria|National Premier Leagues Victoria}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;width:95%; text-align:center"

! rowspan=2 width=8%|Season

! colspan=11|Football Victoria

! colspan=2|Top scorer

width=2%|{{Tooltip|T|Tier level}}

! width=8%|League

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals scored}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

! width=2%|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}

! width=2%|Position

! width=13%|Player(s)

! width=4%|Goals

2015

|rowspan=5|3

rowspan=2|NPL Victoria 2 West28135105645+11445thWade Dekker10
2016

|28

144107045+25463rdChris Cristaldo10
2017

|rowspan=3|NPL Victoria 2 East

2811896849+19413rdAustin Wong9
201828104146059+1346thMoudi Najjar14
20192895146058+232style="background:#FFCCCC;"| 7th ↓Ramy Najjarine13
2020

|rowspan=3|4

rowspan=3|NPL Victoria 3colspan=11|''No matches played due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021148153719+18255th{{efn|Season suspended after 14 matches due to COVID-19 pandemic.}}Max Caputo12
20222215434313+3052style="background:#CCFFCC;"| 2nd ↑Arion Sulemani12
2023

|rowspan=2|3

rowspan=1|NPL Victoria 226113125456−2369thRaphael Borges Rodrigues7
2024

|rowspan=3|VPL 1

2611875541+14415thMedin Memeti9

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/ Official website]

{{Melbourne City FC}}

{{Navboxes

| titlestyle = background:#7ab2e1; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#002a5a|1px}}

| list1 =

{{A-League Youth}}

{{Victorian Premier League}}

{{Football Federation Victoria}}

{{City Football Group}}

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Youth

Category:Soccer clubs in Melbourne

Category:Association football clubs established in 2008

Category:2008 establishments in Australia

Category:A-League Youth teams

Category:Victorian Premier League

Category:City Football Group

Category:Soccer academies in Australia