View source for Jason Culina

{{Short description|Australian soccer player and coach}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Jason Culina
| image          = Jason Čulina.jpg
| caption        = Culina in 2010
| fullname       = Jason Culina<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: Australia |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=4 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418010111/https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1980|8|5|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], Australia
| height         = {{convert|5|ft|9|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| position       = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub    = 
| youthyears1    =           |youthclubs1 = [[St Albans Saints|St Albans]]
| youthyears2    =           |youthclubs2 = [[Melbourne Knights FC|Melbourne Knights]]
| youthyears3    = 1994–1996 |youthclubs3 = [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]]
| years1         = 1996–1998 |clubs1 = [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]]          |caps1 = 32 |goals1 = 1
| years2         = 1998–1999 |clubs2 = [[Sydney Olympic FC|Sydney Olympic]]          |caps2 = 21 |goals2 = 1
| years3         = 2000–2004 |clubs3 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]          |caps3 = 3  |goals3 = 0
| years4         = 2001            |clubs4 = → [[Germinal Beerschot]] (loan)       |caps4 = 12  |goals4 = 1
| years5         = 2002–2003 |clubs5 = → [[De Graafschap]] (loan)       |caps5 = 24  |goals5 = 1
| years6         = 2004–2005 |clubs6 = [[FC Twente|Twente]]          |caps6 = 38  |goals6 = 12
| years7         = 2005–2009 |clubs7 = [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]]          |caps7 = 98  |goals7 = 3
| years8         = 2009–2011 |clubs8 = [[Gold Coast United FC|Gold Coast United]]          |caps8 = 44  |goals8 = 8
| years9         = 2011            |clubs9 = [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]          |caps9 = 0  |goals9 = 0
| years10        = 2012–2013 |clubs10 = [[Sydney FC]]          |caps10 = 8  |goals10 = 2
| totalcaps = 280 | totalgoals = 29
| nationalyears1 = 1996–1997 |nationalteam1 = [[Australia men's national under-17 soccer team|Australia U-17]]              |nationalcaps1 = 5 |nationalgoals1 = 6
| nationalyears2 = 1999           |nationalteam2 = [[Australia men's national under-20 soccer team|Australia U-20]]              |nationalcaps2 = 4 |nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1998–2000 |nationalteam3 = [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Australia U-23]]               |nationalcaps3 = 16 |nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2005–2011 |nationalteam4 = [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]               |nationalcaps4 = 58 |nationalgoals4 = 1
| manageryears1  = 2017–2018
| managerclubs1  = [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United 58]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[AFC Asian Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011 Qatar]]|}}
}}
'''Jason Culina''' (born 5 August 1980) is a former Australian [[Association football|soccer]] player and coach. He played in two [[FIFA World Cup]] and [[AFC Asian Cup]] tournaments for the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia national football team]]. At club level, Culina had a nine-year spell in the Netherlands, winning four [[Eredivisie]] titles (one with [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] and three with [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]]).

== Club career ==
[[File:Culina.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Culina at a training session with PSV.]]
Culina began his career with [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]] under his father, [[Branko Culina]], before moving to [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], where he struggled in the reserves. Only after moving to [[FC Twente|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 Eindhoven|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. <blockquote>"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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,8659,24897120-23215,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917174145/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,8659,24897120-23215,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2012 |title=Socceroo Jason Culina officially accepts Gold Coast deal |publisher=[[The Australian]] |date=17 February 2012 }}</ref></blockquote>

On 14 January 2009, he was signed by [[Gold Coast United FC|Gold Coast United]] on a three-year contract, becoming the club's first marquee player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26083 |title=Socceroo Jason Culina signs as Gold Coast United's marquee |publisher=Goldcoastunited.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302020748/http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26083 |archive-date= 2 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26085 |title=Bleiberg: Ambition was the key to Culina signature |publisher=Goldcoastunited.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310045041/http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26085 |archive-date=10 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26086 |title=Right time, right club |publisher=Goldcoastunited.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302020632/http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26086 |archive-date= 2 March 2011 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=27999 |title=Debut goal for Culina in 4–0 win for United |publisher=Goldcoastunited.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308123210/http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=27999 |archive-date= 8 March 2011 }}</ref> On 22 February 2011, it was revealed Culina would join his father Branko Culina at [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]].<ref>{{cite web |author=James Gardiner |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/466659/jason-culina-signs-with-newcastle-jets/ |title=Jason Culina signs with Newcastle Jets |publisher=Theherald.com.au |date=22 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011 |archive-date=21 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821154959/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/jason-culina-signs-with-newcastle-jets/2083922.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Culina was injured long-term and missed the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/476814/my-call-on-jason-culina-says-ray-baartz/|title=My call on Jason Culina, says Ray Baartz|first=ROBERT|last=DILLON|date=14 September 2011}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Jason-Culina-signs-with-Sydney-FC/50081 |title=Jason Culina signs with Sydney FC - Football Australia 2011 |access-date=2012-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013191536/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/jason-culina-signs-with-sydney-fc/50081 |archive-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1140460/Sydney-FC-parts-ways-with-Culina|title=Sydney FC parts ways with Culina}}</ref> Culina announced his retirement on 18 June 2013 at a [[Football Federation Australia]] function.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1156521/Injury-plagued-Culina-calls-it-quits/|title=Injury-plagued Culina calls it quits}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
In 2015, Culina joined the [[King's School, Parramatta|King's School]] football coaching staff, helping with the school's first team. In 2016, Culina moved to [[St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill|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 [[Marko Rudan|Mark Rudan]] resigned<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/jason-culina-named-sydney-united-coach-471003|title=Jason Culina named Sydney United Coach|newspaper=[[FourFourTwo]]|date=16 August 2017}}</ref> Culina announced his resignation from the role eight games into the season, with four wins and four losses to his side's name.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nplnsw.com.au/2018/04/30/jason-culina-resigns-sydney-united-58-head-coach/ | title=Jason Culina resigns as Sydney United 58 head coach | date=30 April 2018 }}</ref>

Culina is now coach of [[Sydney United 58 FC]] under 12's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jason Culina named Sydney United coach |url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/jason-culina-named-sydney-united-coach-471003 |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=FTBL}}</ref>

On 10 August 2023 Culina joined [[Western Sydney Wanderers]] as their Head of Academy Coaches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://keepup.com.au/news/womens-world-cup-news-england-lionesses-a-league-central-coast-mariners-western-sydney-wanderers-jason-culina/|title=The Wanderers land a Socceroo legend|newspaper=KEEPUP|date=10 August 2023}}</ref>

== International career ==
[[File:Jason Culina.jpg|left|thumb|125px|Culina playing for the Socceroos]]

Culina made his debut for the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia national team]] against [[South Africa national soccer team|South Africa]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Soccer/Culina-poised-for-Socceroo-callup/2005/01/27/1106415730748.html |title=Culina poised for Socceroo call-up |work=The Age|date=28 January 2005 }}</ref> He became a regular starter for ''the Socceroos'' under head coach [[Guus Hiddink]], who was also his club coach at PSV.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/hiddink-keeps-culina-out-of-firing-line/2005/10/31/1130720482640.html |title=Hiddink keeps Culina out of firing line |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=November 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccerfeatures/young-socceroo-takes-slow-boat-to-success/2005/11/12/1131578275408.html |title=Young Socceroo takes slow boat to success |work=The Age|date=13 November 2005 }}</ref> His first international goal came in September 2005, against the [[Solomon Islands national football team|Solomon Islands]] in [[Sydney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/hiddink-era-starts-in-style-for-socceroos/2005/09/03/1125302782074.html |title=Hiddink era starts in style for Socceroos |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 September 2005 }}</ref> Culina played in both legs of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL–OFC play-off)|World Cup play-off]] against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] where Australia qualified for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world-cup-2006/from-reserve-football-to-a-dutch-title-and-the-world-cup-and-itsall-thanks-to-guus/2006/05/11/1146940675223.html |title=From reserve football to Dutch title and World Cup |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

On 3 March 2010, Culina was named captain of Australia for the first time, in an [[AFC Asian Cup]] qualifier against [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/news/972652/Culina-honoured-by-captaincy-nod |title=Culina honoured by captaincy nod |publisher=Theworldgame.sbs.com.au |date=3 March 2010 }}</ref> 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 national football team|Iraq]].

== Personal life ==
Culina is the youngest son of former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets coach Branko Culina. He is of [[Croatia]]n descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/family-matters/2008/07/05/1214951114399.html |title=Family Matters |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 July 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/aussie-update/a-game-to-embrace-not-divide-our-loyalties/2006/06/21/1150845246001.html |title=A game to embrace, not divide, our loyalties |work=The Age|date=22 June 2006 }}</ref>

On 5 February 2007, Culina and his wife Terri welcomed their first child, a boy named Roman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/culina-at-home-with-pressure/2007/05/17/1178995320827.html |title=Culina at home with the pressure |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 May 2007 }}</ref> His son Roman, is also a footballer, who currently plays for the [[Western Sydney Wanderers]] [[National Premier Leagues NSW|NPL NSW]] squad.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wanderers |first1=Western Sydney |title=Youth |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/teams/first-grade/ |website=Western Sydney Wanderers Official Website |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="3"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]]
|1996–97
|6||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||6||0
|-
|1997–98
|26||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||1
|-
!Total
!32!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!32!!1
|-
|[[Sydney Olympic FC|Sydney Olympic]]
|1998–99
|20||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||20||1
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[AFC Ajax|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
|-
|[[Beerschot A.C.|Germinal Beerschot]] (loan)
|2000–01
|12||1||4||2||colspan="2"|–||16||3
|-
|[[De Graafschap]] (loan)
|2002–03
|24||1||4||2||colspan="2"|–||28||3
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Twente|Twente]]
|2004–05
|32||11||2||0||colspan="2"|–||34||11
|-
|2005–06
|6||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||6||1
|-
!Total
!38!!12!!2!!0!!0!!0!!40!!12
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[PSV Eindhoven|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
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Gold Coast United FC|Gold Coast United]]
|[[A-League 2009–10|2009–10]]
|26||3||colspan="2"|–||0||0||26||3
|-
|[[A-League 2010–11|2010–11]]
|18||5||colspan="2"|–||0||0||18||5
|-
!Total
!44!!8!!0!!0!!0!!0!!44!!8
|-
|[[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
|[[A-League 2011–12|2011–12]]
|0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||0||0
|-
|[[Sydney FC]]
|[[A-League 2012–13|2012–13]]
|8||2||colspan="2"|–||0||0||8||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!279!!29!!32!!7!!22!!0!!333!!36
|}

===International===
:''Score and result list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Culina goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ International goal scored by Jason Culina
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1 || 3 September 2005 || [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]], [[Sydney]], Australia || {{fb|Solomon Islands}} || || style="text-align:center"|7–0 || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Ajax'''
* [[KNVB Cup]]: [[2001–02 KNVB Cup|2001–02]]
* [[Eredivisie]]: [[2003–04 Eredivisie|2003–04]]

'''PSV'''
* [[Eredivisie]]: [[2005–06 Eredivisie|2005–06]], [[2006–07 Eredivisie|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Eredivisie|2007–08]]
* [[Russian Railways Cup]]: 2007
* [[Johan Cruyff Shield]]: [[2008 Johan Cruyff Shield|2008]]

'''Australia'''
*[[AFC Asian Cup]]: runner-up [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/squad/_/id/628/league/AFC.ASIAN.CUP/season/2011|title=AFC Asian Cup 2011, Australian Squad|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual''' 
* [[Gold Coast United FC|Gold Coast United]] Player of the Year: [[2009–10 Gold Coast United season|2009–10]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.jasonculina.com}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110220062830/http://www.goldcoastunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_profile&pid=90&tid=282 Gold Coast United profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/C/CU.html Oz Football profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060822025220/http://migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/family-culina.shtml Migration Heritage Centre feature on Culina family]

{{Navboxes
| title = Australia squads
| bg = #FCD116
| fg = #008751
| bordercolor = #008751
| list1 = 
{{Australia men's football squad 2000 Summer Olympics }}
{{Australia squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2007 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia squad 2011 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}
{{2009–10 A-League Team of the Season}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culina, Jason}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Australia men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Australia]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:De Graafschap players]]
[[Category:FC Twente players]]
[[Category:PSV Eindhoven players]]
[[Category:Beerschot A.C. players]]
[[Category:Gold Coast United FC players]]
[[Category:Melbourne Knights FC players]]
[[Category:Sydney Olympic FC players]]
[[Category:Sydney United 58 FC players]]
[[Category:A-League Men players]]
[[Category:2007 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2011 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:Sydney FC players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Sydney United 58 FC managers]]
[[Category:Marquee players (A-League Men)]]
[[Category:Australian soccer managers]]
[[Category:Australian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Western Sydney Wanderers FC non-playing staff]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]