Jason Culina: Primed to set the Gold Coast United alight

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AFTER spending the best part of a decade overseas in Holland’s top division, senior Socceroo Jason Culina is returning home to Australia after agreeing terms on a three-year deal to become the marquee signing for Hyundai A-League newcomers, Gold Coast United.

Culina will complete the season with his current club, leading Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven, before joining up with his new teammates on the Gold Coast.

Capped for his country at every international level including 36 appearances for the Socceroos, he returns to home soil at the peak of his powers. At just 28-years-old the midfielder will become the highest profile Australian international to return to the Hyundai A-League and represents a major coup for the Clive Palmer-led club.

A key member of the Socceroos’ bid for qualification to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Culina will wear the captain’s armband for United and lead the club’s charge for honours when they enter the competition later this year.

“Some people scoffed when we said six months ago how we intend to win the Hyundai A-League in our first season. Since then we have set about building a squad and team to achieve our aims,” said United Chairman, Professor Clive F Palmer.

He continued: “Jason wants to come back to Australia to be the number one player in the country and show the Australian public his considerable talents. We intend to provide him with the environment to showcase his ability.

“We had a verbal agreement in place and we’re delighted to have now completed all the paperwork; we’re very much looking forward to him joining us. Leadership, strength, character, creativity, professionalism; these are just some of the attributes he will bring to our club.

“He has enjoyed an exciting career so far and his future is just as exciting,” Professor Palmer declared.

Having secured the signature of his number one transfer target, United Head Coach Miron Bleiberg said his aim all along was to bring in a player at his peak.

“Thanks to Clive Palmer we are bringing home a player in his prime who is a polished midfielder and delightful to watch. The public expect to see the Hyundai A-League marquee players heavily involved in the game and with Jason being a midfielder that’s what they will get,” Bleiberg said.

“Jason has everything we were looking for in a marquee player. He’s elegant, hard-working and will be a great example to our players.

“He has a great character and is very well disciplined. That’s what we want from our captain and our leader on the field.”

Joining Jason at Gold Coast United is former Socceroo striker Joel Porter and Dutch defender Bas van den Brink.

30-year-old Porter represents another coup for United who fought off the competition to land the former Socceroo striker on a three-year deal. Porter has been banging in goals for Hartlepool in England’s League One, leading the club’s goalscoring charts with 13 goals in 29 appearances so far this term.

Porter, the former West Adelaide, Melbourne Knights and Sydney Olympic hit-man, will be looking to make an immediate impact on the Hyundai A-League after spending the last six years in England.

188cm defender Bas van den Brink was a teammate of United midfielder Zenon Caravella at FC Omniworld in the Netherlands and will add both depth and quality to the United rearguard.

Van den Brink, who is comfortable in a number of defensive positions, played in the top Dutch division and UEFA Cup with FC Utrecht and at just 26-years-old he has his best years in front of him.

The signing of Culina, Porter and van den Brink takes the Gold Coast United roster to a total of 21 out of the permitted 23 players.

CONFIRMED ROSTER TO DATE (21 players):
Goalkeepers: Jess Vanstrattan, Scott Higgins.
Defenders: Adam Griffiths, Daniel Piorkowski, Kristian Rees, Michael Thwaite, Bas van den Brink.
Midfielders: Jason Culina (marquee), Steve Pantelidis, Robson, Jefferson, Richard Greer, Matt Osman, Steve Fitzsimmons, Zenon Caravella, James Brown.
Strikers: Shane Smeltz, Andrew Barisic, Milson, Joel Porter, Tahj Minniecon (U/23 marquee).