If you needed more evidence that Sydney FC’s Academy Schools give promising young footballers chances to fulfil sporting dreams, then look no further than 18-year old goalkeeper Max Vartuli.
The former Endeavour Sports High School pupil has just earned himself a move to Europe after putting pen to paper on a deal with Aalborg FK in Denmark’s top division. This comes after years of work with the Sydney FC Academy Schools Program.
The Sydney FC Academy Football Schools program offers young players a full-time training environment, devised and delivered by highly qualified Sydney FC Academy-approved coaches in a network of high performing schools.
Pupils combine their pursuit of academic excellence with year-round football training that reflects the Sydney FC Academy philosophies on playing, coaching, learning and talent identification.
LEARN MORE: ACADEMY FOOTBALL SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Vartuli was named on the bench in the Sydney Derby at Kogarah in 2021 after COVID-19 hampered Steve Corica’s side and forced Academy Graduate Adam Pavlesic to debut between the sticks and Max Vartuli to appear on the bench.
“It was a great experience for my development, being in that environment with the professionals and in the top league in Australia and I learned a lot from it,” Vartuli said after being named as a substitute.
“The coach [Matt Nash] called me a day or two before and pulled me in and said you are probably going to be on the bench.
“I knew it was the derby so I thought this is going to be a really good experience for me, especially with the atmosphere of the crowd, so I was just trying to get mentally prepared in case I had to go on.
“There were a few nerves being in that environment and atmosphere in front of thousands of people, however everyone welcomed me into the dressing room and I felt really at home.”
Vartuli began in Sydney FC’s Academy Schools Program at Matraville Sports High School in Years 7 and 8, aged 13, before moving to Endeavour Sports High in Year 9.
“It’s a really good program at Endeavour,” he continued. “The Sydney FC coaches are especially good at creating a good environment and it’s very professional. The program is really growing.”
Endeavour & Sydney FC Under 15’s Head Coach Pat McCann said: “We’ve known about Max since he was 13 and first entered the Academy Schools program.
“It demonstrates the effectiveness of the pathway and the connected nature of the Academy Schools and the Academy.
“Within a year of Max joining the schools’ program, he’d been scouted by Kelly Cross [Sydney FC – Technical Director – Youth] and was playing in the Academy under 15’s.
“He is 100% committed to his craft and he loves performing for the school and the club.
“He’s an ideal student athlete and a role model for younger players; he mentors our younger goalkeepers and always wants to do the best for everyone around him.
“He has the perfect profile for a Sydney FC Academy student and his journey is the exact pathway we envisioned when the concept of Academy Schools was brought to life.”
To find out more about Sydney FC Academy Schools – click this link – Academy Schools.
