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Alou Kuol

Alou Kuol (born 5 July 2001) is a professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Central Coast Mariners. Born in Sudan, he represents Australia at youth level.

Alou Kuol
Kuol playing for VfB Stuttgart II in 2021
Personal information
Full name Alou Mawien Kuol
Date of birth (2001-07-05) 5 July 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Khartoum, Sudan
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Central Coast Mariners
Number 9
Youth career
Shepparton Soccer Club
2014–2017 Goulburn Valley Suns
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Goulburn Valley Suns 46 (28)
2019–2020 CCM Academy 9 (6)
2020–2021 Central Coast Mariners 30 (7)
2021–2023 VfB Stuttgart II 32 (7)
2022 → SV Sandhausen (loan) 1 (0)
2022–2023 VfB Stuttgart 1 (0)
2023– Central Coast Mariners 31 (5)
International career‡
2022– Australia U23 14 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2024

Early life

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Alou Kuol was born in Khartoum to South Sudanese parents, and has five younger brothers and an older brother, who he credits for forcing him to relocate for soccer when he first joined the Mariners Academy.[2] Kuol's family fled Sudan when he was three, staying in Egypt for a year before arriving in Sydney.[3] In 2015, Kuol moved to Shepparton, where he later worked as a kitchen hand while playing youth football.[4]

Club career

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Central Coast Mariners

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Kuol began his senior career with Victorian side Goulburn Valley Suns, after coming through the side's youth teams.[5] Kuol trialled with A-League clubs Melbourne Victory and Western United but was unsuccessful in receiving a contract.[2] He signed for Central Coast Mariners in late-2019, initially playing for the youth team in the Y-League.[6] Kuol also briefly trialed with Portuguese club Sporting CP in their under-19 squad.[2]

Kuol made his professional debut as a substitute on 1 March 2020 in the Mariners' 6–2 defeat against Western United.[7] Three days later, Kuol was awarded a scholarship with the Mariners, extending to the end of the 2020–21 season.[8][9] He made his starting debut for the Mariners in a goalless draw against Newcastle Jets on 24 July 2020,[10] and received media attention for his colourful post-match interview.[3]

VfB Stuttgart

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On 16 April 2021, following interest from several top European teams, Kuol signed a 4-year contract with VfB Stuttgart, signing until June 2025.[11] Delegated to VfB Stuttgart II, Kuol scored seven goals in his first 13 appearances with the reserve side, leading second in the goalscoring charts for the Regionalliga Südwest by November.[12]

On 31 January 2022, Kuol was loaned to SV Sandhausen until the end of the season.[13] He made his debut on 30 April 2022 in a 2–1 defeat to Schalke, in which he was sent off in the 5th-minute of added time, after a challenge on Thomas Ouwejan. Kuol was suspended for three games, missing the remaining matches of the league season.[14]

On his return to Stuttgart, Kuol made his Bundesliga debut on 27 January 2023 in a 2–1 defeat to RB Leipzig.[15][16][17]

Return to Central Coast Mariners

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On 10 July 2023, Kuol signed a three-year deal to return with Central Coast Mariners.[18] He made his returning debut in the A-League on 20 October 2023 in a 3–0 loss against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.[19] Kuol was taken off in the 34th minute of the match after suffering a knee injury from a challenge on Alexandar Popovic; doctors tested for an ACL injury but concluded it to be a knock.[20]

Kuol was part of the Mariners' Championship, Premiership and AFC Cup winning 2023-24 season.[21][22][23] Kuol scored the only goal of the 2024 AFC Cup final in the 84th minute against Al Ahed.[24]

International career

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In May 2022, Kuol was selected in the Australian under-23 team for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[25] He scored in Australia's second game of the group stage, netting the opening goal with a scorpion kick in a 1–1 draw with Iraq.[26][27][28][29] Kuol was named as a Puskás award nominee on 13 January 2023 for his strike at Markaziy Stadium.[30][31][32]

Personal life

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Kuol's younger brother, Garang, plays for Newcastle United.[33] Another younger brother, Teng Kuol, currently plays for Sydney Olympic,[34] after previously playing for the Central Coast Mariners Academy, Western Sydney Wanderers FC Youth and Melbourne Victory FC Youth.[35][36][37][38]

Career statistics

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As of 19 August 2024[39]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goulburn Valley Suns 2017 NPL Victoria 2 5 0 0 0 — 5 0
2018 NPL Victoria 2 15 6 2 0 — 17 6
2019 NPL Victoria 2 26 22 1 0 — 27 22
Total 46 28 3 0 0 0 46 28
Central Coast Mariners 2019–20 A-League 4 0 0 0 — 4 0
2020–21 A-League 26 7 — — 26 7
Total 30 7 0 0 0 0 30 7
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2020[40] NPL NSW 2 9 6 — — 9 6
VfB Stuttgart II 2021–22 Regionalliga 18 7 — — 18 7
2022–23 Regionalliga 14 0 — — 14 0
Total 32 7 0 0 0 0 32 7
SV Sandhausen (loan) 2021–22 2. Bundesliga 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
VfB Stuttgart 2022–23 Bundesliga 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Central Coast Mariners 2023–24 A-League Men 28 5 1 1 9[b] 3 38 9
2024–25 A-League Men 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 28 5 2 1 9 3 39 9
Career total 147 53 5 1 9 3 161 57
  1. ^ Includes Australia Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in AFC Cup

Honours

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Central Coast Mariners

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alou Kuol". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Rugari, Vince (30 January 2021). "'I'm not boring': Why Mariners cult hero Alou Kuol is just warming up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b Greco, John (24 July 2020). "Kuol leaves lasting impression after F3 derby stalemate". A-League. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Youth Academy: Alou Kuol". Benalla Ensign. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Ormond, Aidan (11 July 2019). "Shepparton teen 'ready for A-League', tips ex-Wimbledon striker". FTBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  6. ^ Mitchell, Alex (15 November 2019). "Shepparton's Alou Kuol signs for Central Coast Mariners". Riverine Herald. Retrieved 8 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Nash, Liam (2 March 2020). "Shepparton's Alou Kuol makes A-League debut". Shepparton News. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Alou Kuol's big week continues with Scholarship deal". Central Coast Mariners. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  9. ^ Nash, Liam (5 March 2020). "Shepparton's Alou Kuol signs contract with A-League club". McIvor Times. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  10. ^ Nash, Liam (27 July 2020). "Alou Kuol's starting debut one to remember". Shepparton News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  11. ^ "VfB sign Alou Kuol". VfB Stuttgart. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  12. ^ Francis, Kieran (21 October 2021). "The rise of Alou Kuol: The Australian talent making an impression at Stuttgart". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Alou Kuol comes from VfB Stuttgart" (Press release) (in German). SV Sandhausen. 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Platzverweis beim Debüt: DFB sperrt Kuol". Kicker (in German). 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  15. ^ Forage, Toby (28 January 2023). "Alou Kuol makes Stuttgart debut in Bundesliga". beIN SPORTS. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  16. ^ James, Euan (30 January 2023). "Aussies Abroad Wrap: Mooy scores and assists, Mabil & Alou Kuol debut". Socceroos. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  17. ^ Francis, Kieran (9 February 2023). "Who is Alou Kuol? Brother of Garang makes Bundesliga debut for Stuttgart". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Alou Kuol returns home to the Central Coast Mariners". Central Coast Mariners. 10 July 2023. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  19. ^ Gagliardi, Lee (21 October 2023). "Refreshed Reds show early promise even without Goodwin". FTBL. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  20. ^ Comito, Matt (20 October 2023). "Positive update to double injury blow as Mariners avoid a 'nightmare': 'Could have been worse'". A-League. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Central Coast Mariners secure A-league Men's premier's plate with win over Adelaide United". ABC News (Australia). 2 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Central Coast Mariners become first Australian club to win AFC Cup". ABC News (Australia). 6 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Mariners defeat Victory in inspirational Grand Final showdown". Coast Community News. 27 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Kuol strike secures Central Coast Mariners historic title". Asian Football Confederation. 6 May 2024.
  25. ^ "11 NSW young guns set for U23's Asian Cup quest". Football NSW. 18 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  26. ^ Ward, Roy (4 June 2022). "'Don't ask me how I've done it': Young Socceroo Alou Kuol scores scorpion goal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  27. ^ "'Don't ask me how I done it': Australian Alou Kuol scores stunning scorpion goal". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  28. ^ Rayson, Zac (5 June 2022). "'I'll do it again!' Aussie gun Alou Kuol's brilliant reply after stunning scorpion goal". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Optus Sport Daily: Australia's new Scorpion King goes viral after wonder goal". Optus Sport. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  30. ^ Roy, Shilarze Saha (19 January 2023). "Float like Alou Kuol, sting like a 'scorpion'". FIFA. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Alou Kuol nominated for FIFA Puskás Award". Socceroos. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  32. ^ Rugari, Vince (13 January 2023). "Alou Kuol bags Puskas Award nomination as Garang seals Hearts loan move". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Mariners crush APIA to reach FFA Cup semis". northernbeachesreview.com.au. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Teng Kuol scores for Wanderers as NPL gets started". Yahoo! Sport. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  35. ^ Gibson, Bransen (8 February 2023). "Teng Kuol on the score sheet in Western Sydney Wanderers' NPL NSW opener". Shepparton News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  36. ^ "Teng to Central Coast Mariners has Kuol-y Grail runneth over". Shepparton News. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Teng Kuol pens Melbourne Victory move". Shepparton News. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  38. ^ "TENG KUOL SIGNS FOR MELBOURNE VICTORY". Facebook. Goulburn Valley Suns. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  39. ^ Alou Kuol at Soccerway
  40. ^ "Player statistics for Alou Kuol". National Premier Leagues. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  41. ^ "2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Football Victoria. p. 69. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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