By riquelmes_laces - 26 Jul 2023 10:16 AM
In discussions on this forum, there has been much praise for what was often referred to as the "holy trinity" for Australian youth development—comprising the Belgium Pro League, Dutch Eredivisie, and Germany's Buli.2. These leagues were considered excellent pathways for young Australian players to advance their skills and careers. With France now dropping out of the Big 5 league rankings, the emphasis on Belgium as a top destination for Australian players to develop their game has been reinforced.
Recently, Buli.2 has proven to be a favorable environment for Australian players, and The Championship in England can also be seen as a similar destination offering valuable opportunities for growth. On the other hand, countries like Italy, Spain, and France are known to present cultural challenges for players to settle into, and their leagues tend to prioritize players with national heritage ties. Portugal falls into this category as well, with many Australian players struggling to make an impact there. Interestingly, Turkey has shown more promise as a destination for European player development compared to Portugal.
Given the current rankings, it seems that the "holy trinity" concept resonates with many on the forum, as the Belgium Pro League, Dutch Eredivisie, and Buli.2 remain among the best destinations for Australian footballers to consider once they graduate from the A-league. The European League rankings, as of June 30, 2023, are as follows:
1. England (Premier League)
2. Italy (Serie A)
3. Germany (Bundesliga)
4. Spain (LaLiga)
5. Belgium (Belgian Pro League)
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6. Netherlands (Eredivisie)
7. France (Ligue 1)
8. Portugal (Liga Portugal)
9. Turkey (Süper Lig)
10. Switzerland (Swiss Super League)
These rankings provide valuable insights for aspiring Australian players looking to make informed decisions about their career paths and opportunities in European football.
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By riquelmes_laces - 31 Jul 2023 8:42 AM
+x+xInteresting when thinking about the WC form of Croatia the last 3/4 - their domestic league ranks 18th ? The antithesis of Scotland. Croatia is doing wonders in international football for its small size. Whilst Scotland isn't. We had a few Scottish residents on here saying international football isn't important!
Scotland's football environment is lightyears behind Croatia. The bottom end of Scottish football is still stuck in the 1980's. I listened to a lot of Scottish podcasts last year when Ange was in charge of Celtic and even the locals bemoaned the relative quality of Scottish football and were wishing for a change in approach.
I used to think the same about Championship football in England, but so much has changed over there ever since Pep took charge of ManCity and essentially influenced a whole nation to think differently about football. Teams in The Championship are playing far more expansive and progressive football with success than they used to (see Kompany's Burnley as the most recent example).
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