Sydney FC's team coach, Branko Culina faces the media. AAP Image/Ardiles Rante
Branko Culina is one of us – one of the many football supporters in this country. Sure Branko is a former professional footballer and current football manager, most recently with the Newcastle Jets, but Branko is a supporter of Australian football above all else.
Talk about skin in the game.
Branko has been involved with football in this country for many years. He’s had a fourteen year top division playing career in Australia from 1974 to 1988, with Melbourne Knights, Sydney United, Blacktown Demons and St Albans Saints.
The former NSL Football Coach of the year (1997) started his football managerial career with St Albans in 1989. He moved onto coach or manage teams like the Melbourne Knights, Sydney United, Canberra Cosmos and Sydney Olympic.
After a stint as Football NSW Technical Director, he took up an A-League managerial position with Sydney FC, and then his current A-League club, the Newcastle Jets.
He has two sons, Dean and Jason who have also played top level football. And, of course, Jason Culina has risen to prominence with a distinguished overseas career and a regular spot with the current Socceroos squad.
But Branko is becoming better known recently as the Jets A-League football manager and for the comments he has made to the press. Branko is a no nonsense type of manager who speaks his mind, even though it has cost him plenty of fines over the years.
The Jets were 2008 A-League Champions, but finished as last season’s wooden-spooners, with just 18 points. In the first twelve rounds of this season, they had won just three games.
The team was made up of A-League veterans, untested youth league players and an aging and injury prone Italian marquee player. Things weren’t working out for the Jets.
Then Branko Culina, the technical director, takes charge of the Jets as the football manager.
The Jets are one of the most limited teams in the competition when it comes to resources. The club is stretched to its limit financially and their owner Con Constantine has always tried to sell their best players to make some money.
But what a turnaround by Branko, the players and the Newcastle club.
The Jets have won six of their last nine games, rising to fourth on the ladder, all but cementing their spot in the final six.
What an improvement and its one that Culina can take most of the credit for. The new spirit of the club was highlighted in that recent 3-2 win over the current A-League champions, Melbourne Victory.
Maybe some people don’t like Culina because he’s a bit outspoken. As coach of Sydney FC, he said the Sky Blues were the Manchester United of the A-League. Didn’t go down too well in the southern half of Australia.
When the team made it into the top six, he said “We’re only a finals team because all the teams around us are pretty shit as well.”
Or because he says things like: “I don’t care what their coach says and the fact that he’s on $500,000 and I’m on 50 bucks or whatever it is … if that’s what the foreigners are going to bring to this game, let’s have more local coaches.”
But I admire Branko for what he has done.
No one says much in Australian football because they’re wary of punishment from the FFA. But Culina’s outbursts, among other things, have undoubtedly inspired his team.
He’s brought in quality players like Michael Bridges and turned the ones he was lumped with into better players. He’s given the game some headlines. He’s stood up for local talent. He’s helped raise interest in the football loving Newcastle area.
Deep down, he’s a supporter of Australian football, doesn’t like the injustices, tells it like it is, and wants to see it improve and prosper.
Wouldn’t it be some sort of an Australian football fairytale if he could take Newcastle all the way from wooden spooners to the A-League title in just one season.
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