Jason Čulina

Football player infobox
playername = Jason Čulina
fullname = Jason Čulina


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|8|5
cityofbirth = Melbourne
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.75
currentclub = PSV Eindhoven
clubnumber = 15
position = Attacking Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs = St Albans Dinamo
Melbourne Knights
Sydney United
years = 1996-1998
1998-1999
2000-2004
2001
2002-2003
2004-2005
2005-
clubs = Sydney United
Sydney Olympic
Ajax Amsterdam
→ Germinal Beeschot "(loan)"
→ De Graafschap "(loan)"
FC Twente
PSV Eindhoven
caps(goals) = 32 0(1)
21 0(1)
03 0(0)
12 0(1)
24 0(1)
38 (12)
70 0(2)
nationalyears = 1996-1997
1999
1998-2000
2005-"present"
nationalteam = flagicon|Australia Australia U-17
flagicon|Australia Australia U-20
flagicon|Australia Australia U-23
flagicon|Australia Australia
nationalcaps(goals) = 05 0(6)
04 0(1)
16 0(1)
34 0(1)
pcupdate = 6 May 2007
ntupdate = 17 September 2008

Jason Čulina [IPA|ˈtʃulina] (born August 5, 1980 in Melbourne, Victoria) is a Croatian Australian football player who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven and Australia.

Club career

Culina started off with Sydney United under his father Branko before moving on to Ajax where struggled in the reserves. Only since moving to PSV has Culina shined at the top level in club football.

International career

Čulina 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. Čulina 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. Jason is a vital player to the Australian national team with his ability to run at defenders and hold the ball in midfield controlling the game is one of many reasons for Australia's reputation in world football.

Personal life

Čulina is the youngest son of renowned Australian coach and former Sydney FC manager Branko Čulina and is of Croatian descent.

His brother Dean Culina plays for Australian side Northern Spirit FC.

On February 5, 2007, Čulina and his wife, Terri, welcomed their first child, a boy named Roman.

External links

* [http://www.jasonculina.com Official Website]
* [http://english.psv.nl/web/show/id=58754/dbid=12345/typeofpage=55009 PSV Eindhoven profile]
* [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Socceroos/default.aspx?s=soc_player_profile&pid=90&tid=23 FFA - Socceroo profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/C/CU.html Oz Football profile]
* [http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/family-culina.shtml Migration Heritage Centre feature on Culina family]