Nicolas Rouco: Expert in Football Coaching at ATTFA

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Why does ATTFA exist?

FOOTBALL GAVE ME MORE THAN FOOTBALL.

I spent most of my childhood and young adult life chasing football.

I played at a high level, travelled overseas, experienced different football environments, competed for positions, won, lost, sat on benches, dealt with injuries and had plenty of moments where things didn't go the way I hoped.

At the time, I thought I was simply trying to become the best footballer I could be.

Looking back, football was teaching me something much bigger.

It was teaching me how to back myself.

THE LESSONS THAT STAYED WITH ME

Football taught me how to set a goal and work towards it.

It taught me how to respond when things didn't go my way.

How to walk into unfamiliar environments.

How to compete.

How to accept feedback.

How to work with different personalities.

How to deal with disappointment, adapt and go again.

Most importantly, it gave me experiences I could look back on as evidence that I was capable of doing difficult things.

That became genuine self-belief.

And when my playing career eventually finished, those qualities didn't disappear with football.

They came with me.

FROM FOOTBALL TO BUSINESS

BUSINESS OWNER

At 23, with no formal business background, I started my own personal training studio.

I ran that business for more than a decade.

Looking back, so much of what allowed me to build it had already been developed through football.

Setting goals.

Working consistently.

Leading people.

Handling pressure.

Responding to setbacks.

Learning from mistakes.

Taking responsibility.

Backing myself when there was no guarantee things would work.

Football had given me a set of qualities that transferred far beyond the pitch.

That realisation became incredibly important to me.

Because very few young footballers will ultimately make their living playing professional football.

But every young footballer can take something valuable from the journey.

THAT'S WHY ATTFA EXISTS.

Of course, we want to develop excellent footballers.

We want players who are technically capable, understand the game, make good decisions and have the confidence to express themselves.

And for the small percentage who have the ability, commitment and opportunity to pursue football at the highest level, we want to help them chase that ambition.

But ATTFA has a bigger purpose.

We want the experience of pursuing football to help shape the young person carrying the dream.

That means giving players real opportunities to experience challenge.

To make decisions.

To get things wrong.

To improve.

To compete.

To deal with disappointment.

To solve problems.

To take responsibility.

And to discover, through their own experiences:

I can do hard things.

I can improve.

I can handle setbacks.

I can find a way through.

THE GRADUATE WE WANT TO DEVELOP

My ambition is that every ATTFA graduate leaves us with more than better football ability.

I want them to leave knowing themselves better.

I want them to have experienced difficult moments and worked through them.

I want them to have made decisions, taken responsibility, made mistakes, improved and accumulated genuine evidence of what they're capable of.

We describe those qualities through four words:

BRAVE.

The courage to act even when you're unsure.

INTELLIGENT.

The ability to notice, understand and make thoughtful decisions.

CREATIVE.

The confidence to explore possibilities and find your own solutions.

RESILIENT.

The ability to reset, adapt and keep going when things don't go your way.

These aren't simply football qualities.

They're life qualities.

FOOTBALL IS THE VEHICLE.

Some ATTFA players will go on to play football at an incredibly high level.

I hope they do.

Others will eventually take a completely different path.

They might become business owners, teachers, tradespeople, coaches, parents, leaders or something they haven't even imagined yet.

We can't control where every player's journey will take them.

But we can influence what they carry with them when they leave.

That's what I want ATTFA to give its players.

Not manufactured confidence.

Not constant praise.

Not the belief that everything will always work out.

Something much stronger.

Genuine self-belief built through experience.

The confidence to look at the next challenge - in football or in life - and think:

I've done difficult things before.

I'll back myself to figure this one out too.

That is what football gave me.

And that is what I want ATTFA to give the next generation.

My experiences shaped the coach, leader and person I became.

ATTFA exists to give young players an environment where their experiences can shape them too.

Nicolas Rouco
Founder, ATTFA

Develop Better Footballers and Better People Through Football.

NICOLAS ROUCO | HEAD COACH

Two young soccer players in blue uniforms stand side by side outdoors.

AFC C Diploma (Currently in AFC B Diploma), Cert IV Fitness, Cert Life Coaching, Cert Sports Psychology

Nicolas spent the majority of his junior and senior football career in the NSW Premier League (NPL), making his First Grade debut at just 17, where he scored his first senior goal. Throughout his career, he played for notable clubs including Blacktown City Demons, Parramatta Eagles, Penrith, and Northern Spirit FC.

His football journey also took him abroad, with playing stints in both Brazil and the UK (Wales). It was his time at Grêmio in Brazil that left the most lasting impact, shaping not only his playing style but also his coaching philosophy. Immersed in an elite football environment among world-class players (Anderson pictured below), coaches, and club staff, this experience became a cornerstone of his development.

This opportunity arose after Nicolas was scouted at the Punta Cup in Punta del Este, Uruguay, at age 16-a prestigious international youth tournament featuring top clubs such as Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Grêmio, and Nacional. During the tournament, Nico shared the pitch with future global stars including Luis Suárez & Edinson Cavani.

Two young men posing together, one in a Gremio football jersey.

PLAYED IN BRAZIL, WALES AND AUS

Nicolas’s Uruguayan heritage sparked his passion for football from a young age, inspired by the flair and brilliance of South American heroes like Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and of course, Messi.

Known for his skill and composure, Nico grew up playing as an attacking midfielder, proudly wearing the #10 jersey - a number synonymous with creativity and influence on the pitch. He credits playing in the #10 role for deepening his appreciation for coaching, as the position required him to read the game, orchestrate attacking play, and understand opposition defensive structures.

Since relocating to the Illawarra region, Nicolas has represented Shellharbour FC, consistently playing in both the #10 and #9 roles. In the 2023 season, he scored 19 goals across league and cup competitions, helping lead Shellharbour FC to the Minor Premiership and promotion to the Illawarra Premier League.

In 2024, Nico captained Warilla Wanderers FC’s First Team, and midway through the season, he was promoted to First Team Head Coach. He stepped into the role to support the club's efforts to remain in the District League following a challenging start to the year.

Following the season, Nico completed his AFC C Diploma, further developing his coaching skills and aligning his ATTFA programs with the AFC Coaching Curriculum - bringing professional structure and passion to the next generation of players

Two soccer players competing for the ball during a night match.

Successful Business owner since 2012

At just 24 years old, Nicolas founded and operated a successful gym in Sydney, where he not only helped hundreds of members achieve their health and fitness goals but also mentored aspiring trainers into business ownership. His time in the industry gave him the opportunity to work with high-profile business professionals and respected leaders - most notably Tony Popovic during his tenure at the Western Sydney Wanderers - providing Nico with a unique understanding of what true leadership looks like.

With over 15 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Nicolas brings a powerful combination of leadership, nutrition knowledge, goal-setting strategies, and coaching insight to his work with young footballers - empowering them to not only elevate their game but grow as individuals.

Driven by a passion for holistic athlete development, Nicolas pursued further education in life coaching and sports psychology, inspired by his time in Brazil, where clubs provided comprehensive athlete support - physical, mental, and emotional. It was there he saw firsthand how the right environment and guidance could allow players to truly thrive, both on and off the field.

Nico believes many of the qualities that shaped his success in business were forged on the football pitch. Today, he’s committed to passing on those lessons to his academy players, helping them build the resilience, character, and mindset needed to succeed in football and in life

Technical Director - Shellharbour Junior FC

In 2025, Nico was appointed Technical Director of Shellharbour Junior Football Club - an exciting new chapter in his coaching journey. With over 100 teams at the club, it presents not only a significant opportunity for player and coach development, but also a chance for Nico’s leadership and philosophy to make a lasting impact across all age groups.

Nico has set big goals for the club, aiming to build on its already impressive legacy and take it to the next level. It’s a perfect environment for his progressive coaching methodologies to shine through - fostering technical development, character, and a strong football culture.

To support his continued growth and stay aligned with modern coaching standards, Nico has also begun working towards his AFC B Diploma, further advancing his knowledge in player development and performance coaching.

In 2025, during his tenure, Nico built a coaching framework for the club to aid in their development for 2026. 2026 will see them now compete in the premier league 3 at a domestic level with the introduction of a reserve and first grade team. In 2025 the club was also one of the first in the country to be awarded a level 3 Club Changer award recognised by football Australia.

Young soccer player kicks ball during Sydney Premier League match.

ATTFA Squads - 2026's Newest Program

2026 saw us introduce our ATTFA Squads program.

2 x 90mins per week + Sunday Games (SPL)

Squads of u8s and u9s as well as u10s and u11s. These age groups get to train together, introducing the concept of a squad. Healthy competition at training, standards that require discipline and and environment that demands players to do more at home.

Our squads will compete against other academies in the Sydney Premier League in 2026, an exciting prospect for our squads, consisting of players who have never experienced the next level provided by some great academies across NSW. A necessary environment for their development and growth on and off the field.

ATTFA FULLTIME - 2027's Newest Program

Coming soon - click to learn more.

Our model will provide:

More touches on the ball every week
More technical repetition and individual development
More tactical understanding and game education
More opportunities to train under pressure
Significantly more games against the very best in the Sydney Premier League
Greater consistency in the development process
Our ATTFA Logbook version 2.0 for our more advanced footballers

Learn More