JCF ACADEMY COACHING LINE-UP
NPL LEVEL COACHES
LICENSED, YOUTHFUL, PASSIONATE, ATTENTIVE.
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR - JORDAN CVITKOVIC
A decorated coach and football player is the inspiration and the main man behind the scenes for the academy. As a young footballer, Jordan played at the best academy's and climbed through the NPL system, earning a senior debut against Western United, which was an invaluable experience for Jordan in his footballing journey.
Already at a young age, Jordan has established himself as an NPL-level coach. Leading a division one NPL 16s squad as well as a 2015 born 12s squad competing a year above their age group.
With 4 years under his belt formally coaching at Moreland City, Keilor Park, Green Gully, Melbourne City and now going full time with JCF Academy. Jordan now has the respect in the coaching space as one of the top coaches in Melbourne.
Jordan saw the issues of the footballing system in Melbourne, and at just 18 years of age, took matters into his own hands and launched JCF Academy. It was never a drive to financially gain out of the lack of top coaches in the city, it was a drive to give every single family and player access to affordable and top-level training away from club football.
Jordan's passion stems from preventing some of the experiences he had as a young player and is striving to have a academy of young, hungry coaches, who can be role models for the young players in our community.
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - JAKE JURICA
A elite footballer playing at the highest level with Green Gully in the senior set up, Jake brings invaluable experience and knowledge JCF Academy.
Jake has had stints with Melbourne Victory, the Victorian select squad and TIDC. Not only an amazing player, Jake is a fantastic role model and communicator when it comes to coaching young footballers.
With 4+ years of coaching experience with Green Gully, Jake has taken a U8 Wallabies team all the way through to a U12 team playing a year up in the U13 this season.
Jake joins with ambitions of pursuing a career in football, and he will have the platform required to take the forward steps necessary.
Jake will be a have a massive role with assisting Jordan when it comes to overseeing the program and nurturing our players.
HEAD COACH - LUCAS RUSSO
A person who lives and breathes football and understands the game inside out. Lucas Russo brings a different understanding and idea of football to JCF Academy.
Lucas and Jordan grew up playing together at RFI when the academy was in the peak of its powers, with the highest level of coaching. Throughout this time they established a strong friendship and an incredible understanding of football together.
Lucas has had successful stints at Green Gully, Bulleen Lions, Moreland City and Altona City, playing a pivotal role as the teams vocal point in all squads he played in.
Lucas is at the beginning of his coaching journey having 1 season under his belt at Green Gully, but already shows maturity and fantastic communication skills with both players and parents.
Lucas's down-to-earth personality transfers to such a high level with young players, which makes him so unique and valuable to the academy.
Lucas will be strongly involved with a hands on role to develop our boys in the academy.
HEAD COACH - CRUZ BACIC
A former high level NPL youth player, Cruz Bacic is a coach JCF Academy is thrilled to have around our young footballers.
Cruz spent all his playing days at his boyhood club, Melbourne Knights, and climbed all the way up through the ranks. Throughout this, Cruz gained invaluable experience, played against some of the best NPL teams in the country and captained the side in matches.
Cruz has 2+ years of coaching experience, volunteering in the Miniroos at Melbourne Knights as well as shadowing Jordan during academy sessions and tournaments.
Cruz displays an elite level of professionalism and communication when it comes to dealing with players as well as parents. He gives a calm and collected approach to coaching, which creates a clear and healthy training environment for all players to develop and flourish.
GOALKEEPER COACH -
AYDIN STIFFLE
A goalkeeper who has played at the highest level, JCF Academy has a expert when it comes to producing young goalkeepers.
Aydin has played at the highest level of NPL with Moreland City and Brunswick City before he made a brave move to set himself up with trials overseas in Turkey.
Aydin came back with invaluable knowledge and experiences, receiving multiple offers from professional Turkish academy's to sign as a youth team goalkeeper.
Aydin currently coaches at Melbourne Victory as the head coach of the youth goalkeepers and is the first team goalkeeper coach and analyst at North Sunshine Eagles.
Jordan knows the qualities Aydin brings to the academy and is giving Aydin freedom to run the program for the goalkeepers on his own with his coaches.
COACH - NATHAN NIARHOS
Nathan, a former player of Jordan’s in the U16 YPL squad at Green Gully brings a injection of youth and is a role model for all our aspiring players who are working towards making it into the NPL system.
Nathan is an established leader in his team and already has extraordinary talent, alongside an eagerness to understand the deeper sides of Football. With his love for Football coupled with his high level playing experience in the Emerging Socceroos, Nathan brings something so unique to JCF Academy.
Nathan has already developed his communication skills and is a favourite of our U7-9 players in the program.
HEAD COACH -
CHANEL D'ALESIO
Having 4+ years of NPL playing experience playing for Alamein, Brunswick Juventus, and Essendon Royals, winning two player of the season awards, two top scorer awards as well as captaining multiple teams she played in, you can see from the CV already that Chanel is an achiever and obsessed with football.
Chanel discovered her love for children and coaching through her relationship with Jordan. Chanel has spent 3 years as an assistant coach with Jordan and has developed her communication skills, tactical knowledge and training sessions tenfold over this period.
Chanel brings encouragement, a bubbly personality and a real understanding of young women to JCF Academy, and this is something so valuable to our program.
Chanel has had a season coaching a U9 girls team and will now be the face of female football in the academy. Chanel will create a more comfortable environment for young girls to experience top level training and develop.
COACH - CARTIA GENOVESI
Cartia has a decorated footballing background, playing the game from a very young age and representing some of the strongest NPL sides in Calder United, Spring Hills and Brunswick Juventus.
Cartia brings a personable and enthusiastic personality to the girls in the academy. Her energy and close friendship with Chanel creates a perfect environment for our girls to thrive and develop as footballers as well as have real young female role models.
Cartia will be working closely with Chanel and will be overseen by Jordan, to ensure they get the support they need to run a elite program.
Cartia approaches sessions always aiming to give constructive individual feedback to ensure players are constantly developing and learning.
