Alex Tobin back from Brazil

Alex Tobin, Central Coast Mariners Development Manager is back from Brazil, Sao Paolo to be exact. Mariners Release below.

Tobin returns from eye opening São Paolo excursion

Central Coast Mariners Development Manager Alex Tobin has returned from a week-long stay with Mariners’ sister club São Paolo in Brazil eager to further establish the yellow and navy’s links with one of the true giants of world football.

Tobin was given a rare insight into São Paolo’s truly one of a kind facilities in Brazil’s most populous city by virtue of the Mariners’ relationship with English Championship club Sheffield United, who have formalised links with both the Mariners and São Paolo in recent times.

While in São Paolo, Tobin was treated to a viewing of the club’s staggering youth academy and senior squad structures, which over the years has produced an astounding number of world class players including no less than Brazilian national team icons Adriano, Cafu, Juninho and Kaká – the world’s most expensive footballer.

The São Paolo youth development network is commonly regarded as the best in South America, if not the world, and continues to produce wave after wave of exceptional footballers, many of whom dominate the big leagues of Europe, South America and Asia at present.

"The quality on show during my stay, on and off pitch, really has to be seen to be believed," said Tobin.

"It’s quite phenomenal just how well resourced São Paolo FC is by way of facilities and infrastructure and this translates to a talent pool at their disposal that would be the envy of any professional football club in the world.

"The trip was hugely beneficial in terms of further developing the relationship between the Mariners, Sheffield United and São Paolo and we will certainly explore these links in greater depth in the future – both long and short term.

"The prospect of São Paolo sending one or more of their best youngsters to the Hyundai A-League to link with the Mariners is one that appeals to them, as it provides the player with a chance to develop their game in an environment different to what they would be typically used to, as well as providing us with a top-class player capable of contributing most positively to our season.

"This is just one of the initiatives that were talked about between the clubs that were so kindly invited to experience São Paolo’s facilities and we will absolutely keep the lines of communication open between all that belong to our worldwide network in the lead up to the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season."