Australian soccer player
Garang Mawien Kuol (born 15 September 2004) is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Eredivisie club Volendam, on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United. Born a South Sudanese refugee in Egypt, he plays for the Australia national team.
Early life
Garang Kuol was born on 15 September 2004 in an Egyptian refugee camp, after his family fled their war-torn home in South Sudan.[3][2] His parents, Mawien and Antonietta Kuol, had sought safety in Egypt before eventually settling in Shepparton, Victoria, along with Garang and his five brothers.[4][5] Kuol's family arrived in Australia as refugees in 2005, and over time, the family grew to include ten members.[6]
Growing up in regional Victoria, Garang's passion for football was influenced by his older brother, Kuol Kuol, who would take him and their other siblings to kick the ball every day. Alou Kuol, Garang's elder brother, followed in the same path and trained to become a footballer. Garang learned from Alou and his other brother, Teng Kuol, playing for hours in their backyard, which greatly contributed to his development as a footballer.[7] Garang and Alou familiarised themselves with their new home's football history by watching highlights of the Socceroos' previous World Cup appearances, taking inspiration from Australian footballers like Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano.[4][8]
Garang started his football as a junior, initially joining Shepparton Soccer Club, before spending almost 5 years with semi-professional side, Goulburn Valley Suns, where he trained in the youth ranks before being promoted to the senior side when he was only 15 years old.[9]
Playing career
Central Coast Mariners
Kuol signed with Central Coast Mariners Academy in January 2021, joining alongside his brother Alou Kuol.[10][11] At the age of 16, Kuol got his first start for the senior NPL squad on 14 March, against Mounties Wanderers after their main starters were out with the A-League Men squad.[12] He finished his first season with 6 league appearances for the NPL senior side.[13]
At the start of December, Kuol was reunited with his brother, Teng Kuol, who signed with the Mariners after a brief stint at Melbourne Victory Youth. In the same period, he earned his first call-up to the A-League squad for their FFA Cup clash against Wollongong Wolves but wasn't officially named on the bench despite being with the substitute group on the day.[14] However, in the subsequent round, Kuol scored on his professional debut on 21 December, just 7 minutes after coming off the bench, in a 6–0 away win against APIA Leichhardt.[15][16][17] He would miss the next game against Sydney FC due to illness.[18] Kuol returned in the final, being brought on late, where he was involved in his side's consolation goal in the 7th minute of stoppage time before the match ended in a 2–1 defeat to Melbourne Victory.[19][20]
Having not made an appearance since February 2022, Kuol made his A-League Men debut on 5 April, scoring a goal with a first time shot through Phoenix keeper Oliver Sail, in the Mariners' 5–0 win over Wellington Phoenix.[21][22] His finish was praised by pundits including his brother, Alou, who told his younger brother, "Garangski has landed."[23] Kuol went on to score 4 goals in his first 7 A-League Men appearances to secure Finals qualification;[24] netting a brace, two minutes after coming on, in an F3 Derby match against Newcastle (4–2),[25] and the winning goal against Western United (1–0) on 2 May.[26] On 20 May, Kuol was one of two "Commissioner's picks" chosen to play in the 2022 A-Leagues All Stars Game against Barcelona.[27] On 23 June, Kuol secured his first professional contract with the Mariners — a two-year deal — after attracting interest from "some of the biggest teams in world football" according to the club due to his cameo appearance against Barcelona.[28][29]
On 13 November, Kuol scored twice for the Mariners after coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 loss to Western United. His second goal, a powerful strike from a narrow angle, was named as the A-League Men's Goal of the Month for November by 10 News First, as selected by former Socceroo Alex Tobin.[30] Kuol made his first league start for the Mariners on 18 December, setting up a goal in a 2–1 win over Sydney FC.[31] He made his last appearance for the club on 30 December, in a 2–1 win against Melbourne Victory where he received a standing ovation from the fans at Central Coast Stadium.[32]
Newcastle United
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.[33] On 30 September 2022, Kuol signed a four-year deal with Newcastle United for a transfer fee of £300,000 included with sell-on clauses and other bonus triggers.[34] His initial wages were reported to be £25,000 per week, making Kuol one of Australia's highest-paid footballers.[35][36] He officially joined the club on 1 January 2023.[37][38]
On 12 January 2023, Kuol was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian until the end of the 2022–23 season.[39] He made his debut at Tynecastle Park the following day, coming on as a substitute for Barrie McKay at the 77th minute of a 1–0 league victory over St Mirren.[40] On 1 February, Kuol started his first league game, played out of position as a midfielder instead of his natural position as a forward, in a 3–0 defeat to Rangers.[41] He scored his first goal for the club in the next fixture against Rangers in the 4th minute of additional time after coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute to secure a 2–2 draw.[42] Kuol returned to Newcastle in late June, after making only limited appearances for Hearts.[43][44] Following his return to Newcastle, Kuol was not added to the Magpie's pre-season in the United States, instead training in Verona with fellow Premier League academy players, Amani Richards and Sol Sidibe.[45]
While awaiting for the completion of his work permit,[46] on 8 August, Kuol was sent on a season-long loan to Eredivisie club FC Volendam.[47][48] He made his debut for the club on 12 August in a 2–1 league loss to Vitesse at Kras Stadion,[49][50] but wouldn't be named in the following match squads as his side suffered their second consecutive defeat in the league. Matthias Kohler told the media that the youngster needs to be patient for playing time.[51] In his second starting appearance, Kuol scored his first league goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat to Fortuna Sittard on 17 September 2023.[52] He became the youngest foreigner to score in FC Volendam's history, having netted the club's third goal in four games; all of which have been defeats.[53] He was awarded Volendam's August-September Goal of the Month for his strike against Fortuna.[54]
International career
Youth
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.[55]
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.[56] Kuol scored in Australia's second qualifying game, a win over India, with a long-range shot.[57]
Kuol, along with his brother, Alou, was named in the Australian under-23 team for the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament in June 2023.[58][59]
Senior
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.[60] 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,[61] earning plaudits for a number of dangerous contributions in attack.[62] 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.[63]
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][64] Kuol came on as a substitute in the second half of Australia's loss to France in their opening game of the Cup on 22 November 2022, becoming the youngest player to appear at a World Cup for Australia and the ninth-youngest player ever to take the field at a World Cup.[65] Kuol also came on as a substitute in Australia's round of sixteen loss to Argentina, who would go on to win the competition, making him the youngest player to feature in a FIFA World Cup knockout match since Pelé at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.[66] Kuol had a late chance to equalise for Australia, however, his shot was saved by Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.[67]
Kuol scored his first international goal in Australia's first match since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his fourth international appearance, scoring against Ecuador in a friendly at Western Sydney Stadium on 24 March 2023.[68]
Personal life
Kuol has three older brothers and three younger brothers.[69] Two of his brothers, Alou Kuol and Teng Kuol, are also professional soccer players who had played with Central Coast Mariners and Goulburn Valley Suns.[70][71][72][73][74] Most notably, Alou had played in Germany with VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, making one league appearance, before returning to the Mariners in July 2023.[75]
Ecuador