Gold Coast United captain Jason Culina will push himself forward in the club’s debut season in a bid to rediscover his attacking prowess and prove he is much more than a holding midfielder.
Culina left Australia as an attacking midfielder and scored 12 goals in his 39 match spell at Dutch side FC Twente in 2004 and 2005. But his move to PSV Eindhoven saw him drop back into a more defensive role and it is there he made his name both for one the Eredivisie’s biggest clubs as well as for the Socceroos.
But on his first day on duty with his new club, Culina announced he would seek to re-invent himself as an attacking player once again.
“During my early years I always played more of an attacking style of football, but unfortunately at PSV (Eindhoven) and with the Socceroos I’ve been playing a bit more defensively,” he said.
“I love to get involved in scoring and setting up goals. There’s no better feeling than that, so I really looking forward to playing a more advanced role with Gold Coast United.”
Culina is not concerned that his move to Australia or his intentions to play a more advanced role will affect his hopes of maintaining his place with the Socceroos.
“I decided to sign for Gold Coast United because I believe it is the right thing for me at this point in my career. It was a calculated decision and I thought long and hard about it. I’m just happy to be here now,” he said.
“All my choices are made purely on a football basis. Sure, the Gold Coast is a lovely place to live, but I decided to come here for football reasons. The club wants to be successful and has a lot to offer – that’s why I’m here.”
He denied he had any concerns that coming back to the Hyundai A-League was a drop in standard and may jeopardise his hopes of playing in next year’s World Cup.
“In football it’s always up to the individual. You can be playing at Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United, but you still have to do the hard yards during the week and at the weekend, otherwise your level is going to drop,” he said.
“I’ve always been a player who gives 100 percent and I try to do my best, so coming back to Australia certainly isn’t a drop in standards. I’m going to do my job to the best of my ability, as I always do.”
Coach Miron Bleiberg said Culina was the best possible choice to lead the club into its debut season
“He demonstrates all the things I like to see in the leader of my team. He is a clean-living guy who sets a great example to the rest of the players. He symbolises everything I want from my captain,” Bleiberg said.
“It’s his first captaincy so he’s a new captain for a new club and I believe the chemistry is perfect.”
“I’m very happy to see him here. He will bring quality, experience, leadership and a touch of glamour because he is a Socceroo who is going to play in another World Cup. What more could you ask for?”
