 Culina in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jason Culina[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1980-08-05)5 August 1980 (age 45) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Melbourne,Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | 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 | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Jason Culina (born 5 August 1980) is a former Australiansoccer player and coach. He played in twoFIFA World Cup andAFC Asian Cup tournaments for theAustralia national football team. At club level, Culina had a nine-year spell in the Netherlands, winning fourEredivisie titles (one withAjax and three withPSV).
Culina began his career withSydney United under his father,Branko Culina, before moving toAjax, where he struggled in the reserves. Only after moving toTwente 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 byGold 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 forSteve 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 atNewcastle 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 withA-League clubSydney FC.[9] However, he lasted less than a year with the club, parting ways with the club in February 2013 after a disagreement with managerFrank Farina.[10] Culina announced his retirement on 18 June 2013 at aFootball Federation Australia function.[11]
In 2015, Culina joined theKing's School football coaching staff, helping with the school's first team. In 2016, Culina moved toSt 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 afterMark 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 ofSydney United 58 FC under 12's.[14]
On 10 August 2023 Culina joinedWestern Sydney Wanderers as their Head of Academy Coaches.[15]
Culina made his debut for theAustralia national team againstSouth Africa in 2005.[16] He became a regular starter forthe Socceroos under head coachGuus Hiddink, who was also his club coach at PSV.[17][18] His first international goal came in September 2005, against theSolomon Islands inSydney.[19] Culina played in both legs of theWorld Cup play-off againstUruguay where Australia qualified for the2006 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.[20]
On 3 March 2010, Culina was named captain of Australia for the first time, in anAFC Asian Cup qualifier againstIndonesia,[21] a 1–0 victory. On 18 June 2013, he announced his official international retirement at a function held before Australia's World Cup qualifier againstIraq.
Culina is the youngest son of former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets coach Branko Culina. He is ofCroatian descent.[22][23]
On 5 February 2007, Culina and his wife Terri welcomed their first child, a boy named Roman.[24] His son Roman, is also a footballer, who currently plays for theSydney United 58 Under 20's.[25]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Sydney United | 1996–97 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 0 | |||
| 1997–98 | 26 | 1 | – | – | 26 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
| Sydney Olympic | 1998–99 | 20 | 1 | – | – | 20 | 1 | |||
| Ajax | 1999–00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Germinal Beerschot (loan) | 2000–01 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 2 | – | 16 | 3 | ||
| De Graafschap (loan) | 2002–03 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 2 | – | 28 | 3 | ||
| Twente | 2004–05 | 32 | 11 | 2 | 0 | – | 34 | 11 | ||
| 2005–06 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 1 | |||
| Total | 38 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 12 | ||
| PSV | 2005–06 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| 2006–07 | 28 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
| Total | 98 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 134 | 6 | ||
| Gold Coast United | 2009–10 | 26 | 3 | – | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | ||
| 2010–11 | 18 | 5 | – | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | |||
| Total | 44 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 8 | ||
| Newcastle Jets | 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sydney FC | 2012–13 | 8 | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 279 | 29 | 32 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 333 | 36 | ||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 September 2005 | Sydney Football Stadium,Sydney, Australia |  Solomon Islands | 7–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Ajax
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Australia
Individual
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