Ardian Cuculi (born 19 July 1987) is a Macedonian professional footballer of Albanian origin who plays as a defender for Kosovo club Drita.[1] He also holds Albanian citizenship.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ardian Cuculi | ||
| Date of birth | (1987-07-19) 19 July 1987 (age 35) | ||
| Place of birth | Bitola, SR Macedonia | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Drita | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2001 | Vëllazërimi 77 | ||
| 2001–2005 | Napredok | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2007 | Vëllazërimi 77 | 37 | (1) |
| 2005–2014 | Shkëndija | 158 | (3) |
| 2008 | → Pobeda (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | → Milano (loan) | 27 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | Partizani Tirana | 32 | (0) |
| 2015–2018 | Shkëndija | 88 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Kukësi | 31 | (0) |
| 2019– | Drita | 98 | (5) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005–2006 | Macedonia U17 | 8 | (0) |
| 2007 | Macedonia U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2014 | Macedonia | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 September 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 October 2014 | |||
Aside from football he is also a law graduate after gaining his degree in January 2010 from The FON University.[3]
Cuculi went on trial at Croatian club HNK Rijeka in the summer of 2012 but returned to Shkëndija for the 2012–13 season.[4]
He was named in the 2013–14 Macedonian First League team of the year while at Shkëndija.[5]
Cuculi followed coach Shpëtim Duro on his way out of Shkëndija to Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana ahead of the 2014-15 season.[6]
He made his debut for the club on 24 August in the opening week of 2014–15 Albanian Superliga against Laçi, playing full-90 minutes in a 1–1 draw.[7] He scored his maiden goal for his new side in the first leg of 2014–15 Albanian Cup second round versus Lushnja, netting in a 79th minute via a free kick.[8] He also wore the captain armband in the match.[8]
Cuculi appeared in 32 league matches in the 2014–15 season, and left the club at the end of May 2015 after his contract run out.[9]
On 6 June 2015, Cuculi returned to his first club Shkëndija by inking a two-year contract.[10]
In the 2017–18 season, Cuculi made 30 league appearances as Shkëndija won the championship for the second time in history.[11] He also played in five cup matches as the tournament ended in conquest, meaning that the team has completed an unforeseen domestic double.[12]
On 18 June 2018, Cuculi announced his departure from club along with team captain Ferhan Hasani, with the players refusing to sign contract extensions.[13]
On 13 August 2018, Kukësi announced to have signed Cuculi on a one-year contract, marking the return of the defender in the Albanian Superliga after three years.[14] The player will reportedly earn €4,000 per month and various bonuses based on club's objectives.[15] Cuculi made his official debut in the opening week of 2018–19 Albanian Superliga against Laçi, playing full-90 minutes as the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[16] He captained Kukësi for the first time on 15 September in the 1–0 win at Teuta Durrës due to absence of Ylli Shameti.[17]
Cuculi earned his first cap for Macedonia on 26 May 2014 in a friendly match against Cameroon, entering in the field in 26th minute by replacing the injured Goran Popov as the team lost 2–0.[18]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vëllazërimi 77 | 2005–06 | Macedonian First Football League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 1 | ||||
| Shkëndija | 2006–07 | Macedonian First Football League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Macedonian Second Football League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | Macedonian First Football League | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||
| 2011–12 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2013–14 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 158 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 170 | 4 | ||
| Pobeda (loan) | 2007–08 | Macedonian First Football League | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||
| Milano Kumanovo (loan) | 2008–09 | Macedonian First Football League | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | |
| Partizani Tirana | 2014–15 | Albanian Superliga | 32 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 1 | ||
| Shkëndija | 2015–16 | Macedonian First Football League | 30 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 42 | 1 | |||
| Total | 88 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 0 | — | 123 | 2 | |||
| Kukësi | 2018–19 | Albanian Superliga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 351 | 7 | 25 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 399 | 10 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macedonia | 2014 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 6 | 0 | |
FC Drita – current squad | |
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