Jason Culina

Jason Culina (born 5 August 1980) is a former Australian soccer player and coach.

Jason Culina
Culina in 2010
Personal information
Full name Jason Culina[1]
Date of birth (1980-08-05) 5 August 1980
Place of birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
St Albans
Melbourne Knights
1994–1996 Sydney United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1998 Sydney United 32 (1)
1998–1999 Sydney Olympic 21 (1)
2000–2004 Ajax 3 (0)
2001 → Germinal Beerschot (loan) 12 (1)
2002–2003 → De Graafschap (loan) 24 (1)
2004–2005 Twente 38 (12)
2005–2009 PSV 98 (3)
2009–2011 Gold Coast United 44 (8)
2011 Newcastle Jets 0 (0)
2012–2013 Sydney FC 8 (2)
Total 280 (29)
International career
1996–1997 Australia U-17 5 (6)
1999 Australia U-20 4 (1)
1998–2000 Australia U-23 16 (1)
2005–2011 Australia 58 (1)
Managerial career
2017–2018 Sydney United 58
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career
Culina at a training session with PSV.

Culina began his career with Sydney United under his father, Branko Culina, before moving to Ajax, where he struggled in the reserves. Only after moving to Twente did Culina begin to shine at the top level in club football. This was proved by his moving to another top Dutch club, PSV. While originally an attack-minded midfielder with Twente, at PSV Culina played more in a disciplined defensive role for the club with immediate success. In his final year at PSV, Culina was mainly deployed at right-back with further success, attributing to Culina's versatility and utility value.

On 9 January 2009, Culina announced his intention to return to Australia after turning down a contract extension from PSV as he sought a new challenge and a fresh start in Australia.

"I want to make a fresh start and I am ready for a new challenge. I am the first international who returns to Australia and I am keen to promote the national competition and raise the standard."[2]

On 14 January 2009, he was signed by Gold Coast United on a three-year contract, becoming the club's first marquee player.[3][4][5] On 1 July 2009 he made his Gold Coast debut in a friendly in Singapore against a Singapore Olympic Selection, coming on as a substitute for Steve Pantelidis and scoring in the 88th minute from 25 yards out.[6] On 22 February 2011, it was revealed Culina would join his father Branko Culina at Newcastle Jets.[7] Culina was injured long-term and missed the 2011–12 season.[8] His contract was set aside, but he continued his rehab and training with the club.

On 12 October 2012, Culina signed with A-League club Sydney FC.[9] However, he lasted less than a year with the club, parting ways with the club in February 2013 after a disagreement with manager Frank Farina.[10] Culina announced his retirement on 18 June 2013 at a Football Federation Australia function.[11]

Coaching career

In 2015, Culina joined the King's School football coaching staff, helping with the school's first team. In 2016, Culina moved to St Joseph's College, and was the college's technical director of football and coach of the First XI.

On 16 August 2017, Culina was appointed head coach of Sydney United 58 after Mark Rudan resigned[12] Culina announced his resignation from the role eight games into the season, with four wins and four losses to his side's name.[13]

Culina is now coach of Sydney United 58 FC under 12's.

On August 10th, 2023, Culina joined Western Sydney Wanderers as their Head of Academy Coaches. [14]

International career
Culina playing for the Socceroos

Culina made his debut for the Australia national team against South Africa in 2005.[15] He became a regular starter for the Socceroos under head coach Guus Hiddink, who was also his club coach at PSV.[16][17] His first international goal came in September 2005, against the Solomon Islands in Sydney.[18] Culina played in both legs of the World Cup play-off against Uruguay where Australia qualified for the 2006 World Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out. He was selected in the Australian squad for the World Cup, held in Germany, and started all four of Australia's matches.[19]

On 3 March 2010, Culina was named captain of Australia for the first time, in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia,[20] a 1–0 victory. On 18 June 2013, he announced his official international retirement at a function held before Australia's World Cup qualifier against Iraq.

Personal life

Culina is the youngest son of former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets coach Branko Culina. He is of Croatian descent.[21][22]

On 5 February 2007, Culina and his wife Terri welcomed their first child, a boy named Roman.[23]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sydney United 1996–97 60––60
1997–98 261––261
Total 3210000321
Sydney Olympic 1998–99 201––201
Ajax 1999–00 00000040
2001–02 00400040
2003–04 30202070
Total 306020110
Germinal Beerschot (loan) 2000–01 12142–163
De Graafschap (loan) 2002–03 24142–283
Twente 2004–05 321120–3411
2005–06 6100–61
Total 381220004012
PSV 2005–06 2304220292
2006–07 2815180412
2007–08 1813040251
2008–09 2914060391
Total 9831632001346
Gold Coast United 2009–10 263–00263
2010–11 185–00185
Total 4480000448
Newcastle Jets 2011–12 00–0000
Sydney FC 2012–13 82–0082
Career total 2792932722033336

International
Score and result list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Culina goal.
International goal scored by Jason Culina
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
13 September 2005Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia Solomon Islands7–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Ajax

PSV

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2020.
  2. "Socceroo Jason Culina officially accepts Gold Coast deal". Theaustralian.news.com.au. 17 February 2012.
  3. "Socceroo Jason Culina signs as Gold Coast United's marquee". Goldcoastunited.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011.
  4. "Bleiberg: Ambition was the key to Culina signature". Goldcoastunited.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011.
  5. "Right time, right club". Goldcoastunited.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011.
  6. "Debut goal for Culina in 4–0 win for United". Goldcoastunited.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011.
  7. James Gardiner (22 February 2011). "Jason Culina signs with Newcastle Jets". Theherald.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  8. DILLON, ROBERT (14 September 2011). "My call on Jason Culina, says Ray Baartz".
  9. "Jason Culina signs with Sydney FC - Football Australia 2011". Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  10. "Sydney FC parts ways with Culina".
  11. "Injury-plagued Culina calls it quits".
  12. "Jason Culina named Sydney United Coach". FourFourTwo. 16 August 2017.
  13. "Jason Culina resigns as Sydney United 58 head coach". 30 April 2018.
  14. "The Wanderers land a Socceroo legend". KEEPUP. 10 August 2023.
  15. "Culina poised for Socceroo call-up". The Age. 28 January 2005.
  16. "Hiddink keeps Culina out of firing line". The Sydney Morning Herald. November 2005.
  17. "Young Socceroo takes slow boat to success". The Age. 13 November 2005.
  18. "Hiddink era starts in style for Socceroos". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 2005.
  19. "From reserve football to Dutch title and World Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  20. "Culina honoured by captaincy nod". Theworldgame.sbs.com.au. 3 March 2010.
  21. "Family Matters". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 July 2008.
  22. "A game to embrace, not divide, our loyalties". The Age. 22 June 2006.
  23. "Culina at home with the pressure". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 May 2007.
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