Garang Mawien Kuol (born 15 September 2004) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Central Coast Mariners and the Australia national team, including for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He joins English Premier League club Newcastle United in January 2023.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Garang Mawien Kuol[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2004-09-15) 15 September 2004 (age 18) | ||
Place of birth | Egypt[2] | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Central Coast Mariners | ||
Number | 14 | ||
Youth career | |||
Goulburn Valley Suns | |||
2021 | Central Coast Mariners | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021–2022 | Central Coast Mariners | 13 | (6) |
National team‡ | |||
2022– | Australia U20 | 3 | (1) |
2022– | Australia | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 October 2023 |
Garang Mawien Kuol was born on 15 September 2004,[4][5] in Egypt to South Sudanese parents.[2] His family had fled Sudan, staying in Egypt for a year, before they moved to Australia as refugees,[6] where they settled in Shepparton, Victoria.[2] He is the younger brother of professional footballer Alou Kuol, and has three younger brothers and an older brother who manages the family's football affairs. Kuol played junior football for the Goulburn Valley Suns and worked his way through their youth pathways before attracting the interest of A-League teams at the age of 16.[7]
Kuol signed a deal with the Central Coast Mariners Academy in January 2021.[8] Kuol made his debut for the Mariners' senior side at 17 years of age as a substitute in their 6–0 win against APIA Leichhardt in the 2021 FFA Cup on 21 December 2021 and scored seven minutes after coming on.[9] On 5 April 2022, Kuol made his A-League Men debut and scored a goal in the Mariners' 5–0 win over Wellington Phoenix.[10] Kuol went on to score four goals in his first seven A-League Men appearances.[11] In June 2022, Kuol signed his first professional contract with the Mariners, a two-year deal.[12] Kuol was one of two "Commissioner's picks" chosen to play in the 2022 A-Leagues All Stars Game against Barcelona.[13]
In mid-September 2022, it was reported that Kuol had signed a pre-agreement and would transfer to English Premier League side Newcastle United during the January 2023 transfer window. [14] On 30 September 2022, Newcastle United signed Kuol.[15] Kuol will join the club on 1 January 2023.[16][15]
Kuol was called up to an Australian under-20 talent identification camp in August 2022. He scored a spectacular goal in the camp's intra-squad match.[17]
In October 2022, Kuol was called up to the Australian under-20 side for 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification matches in Kuwait. Kuol's coach at Central Coast Mariners, Nick Montgomery, was critical of the selection, arguing that Kuol would have better chances of selection for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by playing consistently for the Mariners in the 2022–23 A-League Men.[18] Kuol scored in Australia's second qualifying game, a win over India, with a long-range shot.[19]
In September 2022, Kuol earned his first senior national team call up, being selected in the Australian squad to play two friendlies against New Zealand.[20] He made his debut at 18 years and 10 days of age as a second-half substitute in the second game of the New Zealand series,[21] earning plaudits for a number of dangerous contributions in attack.[22] Kuol's debut made him the sixth-youngest "Socceroo" of all time, and the youngest to be selected in an Australia squad since Harry Kewell.[23]
Kuol was named in Australia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in November 2022 at 18 years old, making him the youngest player ever selected for Australia for a FIFA World Cup.[2][24]
Club | Season | League | Australia Cup | Other | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Central Coast Mariners Academy | 2021 | NSW League One | 6 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
Central Coast Mariners | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 12 | 5 | |
2022–23 | A-League Men | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | ||
Career total | 19 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 7 |
Central Coast Mariners FC – current squad | |
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Australia squad – 2022 FIFA World Cup | ||
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