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.
jimbo
Guest
Not a good result tonight for the Jets with a 2-1 loss to Fury. Teams that still have a mathematical chance to make the HAL top six: 1 Melbourne Victory FC 13 5 7 25 44 2 Gold Coast United 13 5 7 25 44 3 Sydney FC 13 3 9 25 42 4 Perth Glory FC 10 6 9 25 36 5 Wellington Phoenix FC 8 10 7 25 34 6 Newcastle Jets FC 10 4 11 25 34 7 Brisbane Roar FC 8 6 11 25 30 8 North Queensland Fury 7 8 10 25 29
jimbo
Guest
Anything but conventional. Newcastle has three reasonably easy games left - away to Fury and the Mariners and then last round against AU at home. So they are a chance to get 2 or 3 wins out of those remaining 3 games and should cement 4th spot, maybe even an outside chance to make third if some upsets happen in their favour. But you really need to finish in the top two and get that second chance to have any hope of winning the Golden Toilet Seat.
jimbo
Guest
Love him or hate him, Branko is always truthful and likes to say what he thinks. He strikes me as a true Australian footballer, who supports local talent, tries new things and takes it on the chin. He's like one of the mates you go to watch an A-League game with. I'm sure Branko would have loved it when he outsmarted Bleiberg and beat Jason's Gold Coast and then outplayed SFC at the SFS.
Il Duce
Roar Rookie
I think Branko is great manager, I love the fact that he speaks his mind and I love the fact the he is willing to try new things. Sydney never gave him a real chance, Newcastle were in the same predicament after about 8 weeks (when Sydney sack branko) and from there on in they have been a competative side and are in the 6. I understand that Sydney supporters dont think much of him and thats there choice but I would more than happly have Branko at my club (Adelaide). I also like the style of play his team plays, the short passing game and hopefully he manages in the A-league for a long time yet, its that kind of play that will attract fans to go back to Newcastle games (and the results) and yeah anyone in the top 6 can win it but conventional wisdom would say its down to the top 3, but if history has shown us anything is that fooball is anything but conventional
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
He’s a crap man-manager who relentlessly tinkers with his players trying squeeze them into formations that work only in the abstracted realm of pure thought. He won an NSL title last century and has been coasting off it ever since. Oh and he’s also a petulant arse in post-match press conferences. Yeh those are probably the reasons I like him :) @Davstar I know what you mean but I think they have to do so to counteract the amount of football commentators that are just way too negative and editors that would love to have negative football stories because they get people excited and writing in.
Davstar
Guest
I like Brako i like his honesty, i hate how the FFA sugar coats the A-league sometimes.
Horza
Guest
He's a crap man-manager who relentlessly tinkers with his players trying squeeze them into formations that work only in the abstracted realm of pure thought. He won an NSL title last century and has been coasting off it ever since. Case in point: the SFC game, where he put Costanzo in as a sweeper - total waste as he stayed on the backline and didn't push up into midfield (and isn't really the type for it), leaving them to be overrun and stretched apart in the 1st half, culminating in Sydney's equaliser. They never recovered their shape and barely threatened for the rest of the game. Oh and he's also a petulant arse in post-match press conferences.
whiskeymac
Guest
yeah he is a good character and a canny coach. SFC did him wrong and its good t see him make a better impression on the HAL this time around. who cares if he is outspoken. He isnot that bad to be honest.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Jimbo, I was one who was critical of Branko when he was the manaber at SFC. But he has shown to be now a good manager for the Jets----well done Branko on your 300 milestone.. ~~~~~~ AF