 Kuol playing withA-Leagues All Stars in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Garang Mawien Kuol[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2004-09-15)15 September 2004 (age 20)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Cairo, Egypt[2] | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Newcastle United | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Shepparton Soccer Club | |||
| 2015–2020 | Goulburn Valley Suns | ||
| 2021 | Central Coast Mariners | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | CCM Academy | 6 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Central Coast Mariners | 18 | (6) |
| 2023– | Newcastle United | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | →Heart of Midlothian (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | →Volendam (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Australia U20 | 3 | (1) |
| 2023– | Australia U23 | 11 | (1) |
| 2022– | Australia | 5 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 July 2024 | |||
Garang Mawien Kuol (born 15 September 2004) is a professionalsoccer player who plays as awinger forPremier League clubNewcastle United. Born a South Sudanese refugee in Egypt, he plays for theAustralia national team.
Kuol was born on 15 September 2004 in an Egyptian refugee camp, to South Sudanese parents Mawien and Antonietta Kuol.[3][2] His family fled their war-torn home inSouth Sudan to Egypt before eventually settling inShepparton,Victoria, Australia in 2005.[4][5][6] Growing up in regional Victoria, Garang was first introduced to football by his brother Kuol Kuol and frequently trained with his two other brothersAlou Kuol andTeng Kuol.[7] Both Garang and Alou took inspiration from Australian footballersTim Cahill andMark Bresciano.[4][8] Kuol started his football as a junior for Shepparton Soccer Club, before joiningGoulburn Valley Suns, where he trained in the youth and senior ranks for five years until the age of 15.[9]
Kuol signed withCentral Coast Mariners Academy in January 2021, joining his brotherAlou Kuol.[10][11] At the age of 16, Kuol got his first start for the seniorNPL squad on 14 March, againstMounties Wanderers after the squad's main starters were absent with theA-League Men squad.[12] In December, Kuol earned his first call-up to the A-League squad for theirFFA Cup clash againstWollongong Wolves but wasn't officially named on the bench despite being with the substitute group on the day.[13] In the subsequent round, Kuol scored on his professional debut on 21 December, just seven minutes after coming off the bench, in a 6–0 away win againstAPIA Leichhardt.[14][15][16] He would miss the next game againstSydney FC due to illness.[17] Kuol returned in thefinal as a late substitute where he was involved in his side's consolation goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time in a 2–1 defeat toMelbourne Victory.[18][19]
Kuol made hisA-League Men debut on 5 April 2022, scoring a goal with a first-time shot through Phoenix keeperOliver Sail, in the Mariners' 5–0 win overWellington Phoenix.[20][21] His finish was praised by pundits including his brother, Alou, who stated, "Garangski has landed."[22] Kuol went on to score three goals in his next six A-League Men appearances to secure Finals qualification.[23][24][25] On 20 May, Kuol was one of two "Commissioner's picks" chosen to play in the2022 A-Leagues All Stars Game againstBarcelona.[26] On 23 June, Kuol signed his first professional contract on a two-years deal with the Mariners amidst notable interests from foreign clubs.[27][28] On 13 November, Kuol scored twice for the Mariners after coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 loss toWestern United. His second goal, a powerful strike from a narrow angle, was named as the A-League Men's Goal of the Month for November by10 News First, as selected by former SoccerooAlex Tobin.[29] Kuol made his first league start for the Mariners on 18 December, managing one assist in a 2–1 win overSydney FC,[30] and later his last appearance for the club on 30 December in a 2–1 win againstMelbourne Victory where he received a standing ovation from the fans atCentral Coast Stadium.[31]
In mid-September 2022, it was reported that Kuol had signed a pre-agreement and would transfer to EnglishPremier League sideNewcastle United during the January 2023 transfer window.[32] On 30 September 2022, Kuol signed a four-year deal with Newcastle United for a transfer fee of £300,000 included with sell-on clauses and other bonus triggers.[33][34][35] He officially joined the club on 1 January 2023.[36][37] On 12 January 2023, Kuol was loaned toScottish Premiership clubHeart of Midlothian until the end of the2022–23 season.[38] He made his debut atTynecastle Park the following day, coming on as a substitute forBarrie McKay at the 77th minute of a 1–0league victory overSt Mirren.[39] On 1 February, Kuol started his first league game, played out of position as amidfielder instead of his natural position as a forward, in a 3–0 defeat toRangers.[40] He scored his first goal for the club in the next fixture against Rangers in the 4th minute of additional time after coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute to secure a 2–2 draw.[41] Kuol returned to Newcastle in late June, making only limited appearances for Hearts.[42][43]
Kuol was not added to the Magpie's pre-season in theUnited States, instead training inVerona with fellow Premier League academy players, Amani Richards andSol Sidibe.[44] While awaiting for the completion of his work permit,[45] on 8 August, Kuol was sent on a season-long loan toEredivisie clubFC Volendam.[46][47] He made his debut for the club on 12 August in a 2–1 league loss toVitesse atKras Stadion.[48][49][50] In his second starting appearance, Kuol scored his first league goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat toFortuna Sittard on 17 September 2023.[51] He became the youngest foreigner to score in FC Volendam's history, having netted the club's third goal in four games, all of which have been defeats.[52] He was awarded Volendam's August–September Goal of the Month for his strike against Fortuna.[53] After the resignation of managerMatthias Kohler, Kuol faced reduced playing time under new manager and former assistantRegillio Simons, who placed tactical changes that led him to be benched.[54][55] Kuol returned from loan in May 2024, having survivedrelegation in the Eredivisie with Volendam.[56]
After his return, Kuol made his non-competitive debut for Newcastle United in afriendly againstTottenham on 22 May atMelbourne Cricket Ground, during Newcastle's pre-season tour inMelbourne, Australia.[57][58]
In October 2022, Kuol was called up to the Australian under-20 side for2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification matches in Kuwait.[59] Kuol's coach at Central Coast Mariners,Nick Montgomery, was critical of the selection, arguing that Kuol would have better chances of selection for the2022 FIFA World Cup by playing consistently for the Mariners in the2022–23 A-League Men.[60] Kuol scored in the second qualifying game in a 4–1 win overIndia as Australia progressed to the2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.[61] However, after consultation with his loanee clubHearts and parent clubNewcastle United, Kuol was deemed unavailable for selection ahead of the U20 Asian Cup.[62]
Kuol, along with his brother, Alou, was named in theAustralian under-23 team for the2023 Maurice Revello Tournament in June 2023.[63][64] Kuol accumulated three assists during the tournament, managing two against the Mediterranean Select side, and one againstMexico, to reach the semi-final.[65][66][67] After the loss to finalistsPanama, he added an assist to his tally in a 2–0 victory overFrance U21 in the third-place playoff.[68] In March 2024, Kuol and his brother were recalled to the under-23 squad for the2024 WAFF U-23 Championship.[69][70] Kuol scored one goal in the semi-final win overEgypt to reach the final againstSouth Korea. After a 2–2 scoreline in regular time, Kuol missed his respective penalty in the 4–3 penalty shootout defeat to the Koreans, becoming runners-up in the tournament.[71][72]
In April, Kuol was named to the under-23 squad for the2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup in Qatar, in contention to secure a place for the2024 Summer Olympics.[73] TheOlyroos failed to qualify past the group stage without scoring a goal, with Kuol making all three appearances of the bench againstJordan,Indonesia, andQatar.[74][75]
In September 2022, Kuol earned his first senior national team call-up, being selected in theAustralian squad to play two friendlies againstNew Zealand.[76] He made his debut at 18 years and 10 days of age as a second-half substitute in the second game of the New Zealand series,[77] earning plaudits for a number of dangerous contributions in attack.[78] Kuol's debut made him the sixth-youngest "Socceroo" of all time, and the youngest to be selected in an Australia squad sinceHarry Kewell.[79]
Kuol was named in Australia's squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup in November 2022 at 18 years old, making him the youngest player ever selected for Australia for aFIFA World Cup.[2][80] Kuol came on as a substitute in the second half of Australia's loss toFrance in their opening game of the Cup on 22 November 2022, becoming the youngest player to appear at a World Cup for Australia and the ninth-youngest player ever to take the field at a World Cup.[81] Kuol also came on as a substitute in Australia's round of sixteen loss toArgentina, who would go on to win the competition, making him the youngest player to feature in a FIFA World Cup knockout match sincePelé at the1958 FIFA World Cup.[82] Kuol had a late chance to equalise for Australia, however, his shot was saved by Argentinian goalkeeperEmiliano Martínez.[83]
Kuol scored his first international goal in Australia's first match since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his fourth international appearance, scoring againstEcuador in a friendly atWestern Sydney Stadium on 24 March 2023.[84]
Kuol has three older brothers and three younger brothers.[85] Two of his brothers,Alou Kuol andTeng Kuol, are also professional soccer players who had played withCentral Coast Mariners andGoulburn Valley Suns.[86][87][88][89][90] Most notably, Alou had played in Germany withVfB Stuttgart in theBundesliga, making one league appearance, before returning to the Mariners in July 2023.[91]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Central Coast Mariners Academy | 2021 | NPL NSW 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Central Coast Mariners | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 12 | 5 | |
| 2022–23 | A-League Men | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 2 | ||
| Total | 18 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | 22 | 7 | |||
| Heart of Midlothian (loan) | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Volendam (loan) | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | |
| Career total | 47 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 9 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 5 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 March 2023 | Western Sydney Stadium,Sydney, Australia |  Ecuador | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
