Jason Culina life and biography

Jason Culina (born 5 August 1980 in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian football (soccer) player of Croatian descent who currently plays for Gold Coast United and the Australia national football team.

This talented performer is a survivor from the 2006 World Cup squad and he certainly played a full part in the Socceroos' qualification for this summer's football festival in South Africa, with his 12 appearances making him one of the central figures in coach Pim Verbeek's side.

An attacking midfielder with a keen eye for goal, he seemed to have hit the big time back in 2000 when he was snapped up by Dutch giants Ajax and hailed as a potential star of the future. Yet he needed to move on from the famed home for honing young talents and only started to make his mark at FC Twente and then with Guus Hiddink's PSV Eindhoven.

The money flowing into the Australian domestic game enticed Culina home in January and he was signed as the 'marquee' name in the Gold Coast United line-up. He is at home in the heart of the midfield battle, but has also done an effective job in a full back position when called upon.

Culina started off with Sydney United under his father, Branko, before moving on to Ajax where he struggled in the reserves. Only after moving to FC 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. Whilst 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 thus attributing to Culina's versatility and utility value.

On January 9, 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.


On January 14, 2009 he was signed by Gold Coast United on a three year deal becoming the club's first marquee player. On July 1, 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.

Culina made his debut for the Australian national team against South Africa in 2005. He became a regular starter in the Socceroos matches under coach Guus Hiddink, who was also his club coach at PSV Eindhoven. His first international goal came in September 2005, against the Solomon Islands in Sydney. 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 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and started in all four of Australia's games. On the 3rd of March 2010, Culina was named captain of Australia for the first time, in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia, a game which Australia won 1-0.


Culina is the youngest son of renowned Australian coach and former Sydney FC manager Branko Čulina who now coaches fellow A-League club, Newcastle United Jets FC, and is of Croatian descent.On 5 February 2007, Culina and his wife, Terri, welcomed their first child, a boy named Roman.

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