After 30 hours of travel, a group of South Australian coaches arrived in Eindhoven for what has already proven to be an invaluable learning experience. The group visited PSV Eindhoven to gain first-hand insight into one of Europe’s most respected youth development systems.
Immersed in PSV’s Player Development Philosophy
The trip offered a unique opportunity for South Australian coaches to share experiences from their own club environments while observing how PSV operates from a junior development perspective. The Dutch club’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent is evident in the number of players who progress from the academy to the Eredivisie, move on to major clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool, and represent their national teams.
During the visit, the group toured the Herdgang PSV Training Centre and gained an in-depth understanding of the academy’s structure, which supports players from Under 13 through to Under 19 and integrates education through partnerships with local schools. PSV’s world-class facilities include six full-size pitches and three regional development centres that connect community clubs to the PSV pathway.
Adelaide City FC Technical Director Steven Grelli said the experience was a powerful reminder of the standards set by professional environments abroad.
The PSV trip was an eye opener around the level of coaching, level of players and level of facilities at a professional club,” Grelli said. “As a Technical Director, it offered a great insight into the type, duration and intensity of trainings undertaken by youth players abroad. It’s clear what we need to do here in Australia to give our players the best opportunity to play at the highest level.
The coaches observed training sessions across a range of age groups, including U9 to U12 and the PSV Women’s team, gaining a deep appreciation for the club’s holistic approach. Every session reflected PSV’s clear game model built around core principles of attack, defence, and transition, with an emphasis on technical mastery, game-based learning, and player creativity.
For Niall Fay, the experience highlighted not just the professionalism of PSV, but also the culture that underpins it.
The quality and intentionality of player development at PSV is something we can genuinely aspire to here in South Australia,” Fay said. “Players in the academy train longer, play longer matches, and with an intensity that’s breathtaking to watch. What stood out most was how every session had a clear plan and purpose — designed to create specific learning moments while keeping things match realistic.
A major highlight of the trip was attending the UEFA Youth League match between PSV and Napoli (U19s), providing a live demonstration of the club’s playing identity in action. Beyond the pitch, the shared learning and camaraderie among the South Australian coaches also made the trip memorable.
Beyond the football insights, it was the shared moments and connections across our travelling group that stood out,” Niall added. “Just exceptional people from across our football community coming together, learning from and with one another — it really reinforced how the same values of connection and love of the game create environments where there’s joy to be found, on and off the pitch.
Reflections from Football SA
Reflecting on the experience, Football SA’s Marie said the trip offered an invaluable perspective on how alignment and detail drive success at all levels of PSV’s program.
This trip has been an incredible learning experience — not just in seeing how PSV’s academy operates at every level, but in understanding the consistency, detail, and culture that drive their success, Marie said. Every decision connects back to their game model and long-term player development. From the foundation phase through to the women’s and men’s programs, there’s a clear identity and alignment that underpins everything they do.
She added that sharing ideas and reflecting on how these principles can be applied within South Australian programs has been equally valuable.
It’s been great to compare our environments back home and think about how we can embed some of these principles locally. A huge thank you to PSV and facilitator Alexandre Rilhas for being so open and generous with their time, and to Football SA and Adelaide United for making this opportunity possible.