Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 1 October 1957 | ||
Place of birth | Zadar, Croatia | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1972–1974 | St Albans Dinamo | ||
1974–1980 | Essendon Croatia | ||
1980 | Sydney Croatia | ||
1981 | Blacktown City Demons | ||
1982–1988 | St Albans Dinamo | ||
Teams managed | |||
1989 | St Albans Saints | ||
1990–1992 | North Geelong Warriors | ||
1992–1993 | Melbourne Knights | ||
1994–1997 | Sydney United | ||
1997–1998 | Canberra Cosmos | ||
1998–2001 | Sydney Olympic | ||
2001–2003 | Sydney United | ||
2007 | Sydney FC | ||
2009–2011 | Newcastle United Jets | ||
2012–2015 | Rockdale City Suns FC | ||
2016– | Fraser Park FC | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Branko Čulina (Croatian pronunciation: [ˈtʃulina]; born 1 October 1957 in Zadar, Socialist Republic of Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia) is a football (soccer) coach and former player. He previously managed Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.
Culina was born in Zadar, Socialist Republic of Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia and emigrated to Australia with his mother in 1968, at the age of 10, settling in Melbourne's Croatian community. His senior playing career began with St. Albans Saints where he captained the senior team at the age of 15. In 1974 he transferred to Essendon Croatia, he had seven successful years at the club which included winning the Victorian State Championship in 1978 and the Victorian treble (State Champions, Dockerty Cup and the State League Cup) in 1979.
In 1980 he joined sister club Sydney Croatia before moving to National Soccer League club Blacktown City Demons. After a season at each he returned to Melbourne with St Albans Saints, where he remained until retiring 1988.
After retiring as a player he stayed with St Albans as a coach in the Victorian Premier League for the 1989 season before taking up a role at North Geelong. At North Geelong, Culina lead the side to the 1990 Division One title leading to promotion to the VPL. He then won the VPL with North Geelong at the first go in 1991, beating Brunswick Juventus in the Grand Final at Middle Park. In 1992, he returned to the NSL at Melbourne Knights,