Ardian Cuculi

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]

Ardian Cuculi
Personal information
Full name Ardian Cuculi
Date of birth (1987-07-19) 19 July 1987
Place of birth Bitola, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing 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 23 (0)
2019– Drita 0 (0)
National team‡
2005–2006 Macedonia U17 8 (0)
2007 Macedonia U19 2 (0)
2014 Macedonia 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and 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]

Club career

Shkëndija

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]

Partizani Tirana

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]

Return at Shkëndija

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]

Kukësi

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]

International career

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]

Career statistics

Club
As of 15 September 2018[1]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vëllazërimi 77 2005–06 Macedonian First Football League 23000——230
2006–07 14100——141
Total 37100——371
Shkëndija 2006–07 Macedonian First Football League 20000——200
2007–08 21000——210
2009–10 Macedonian Second Football League 0000——00
2010–11 Macedonian First Football League 23100——231
2011–12 311002[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0341
2012–13 301502[lower-alpha 3]1—372
2013–14 33020——350
Total 15837040101704
Pobeda (loan) 2007–08 Macedonian First Football League 5100——51
Milano Kumanovo (loan) 2008–09 Macedonian First Football League 271001[lower-alpha 3]0—281
Partizani Tirana 2014–15 Albanian Superliga 32041——361
Shkëndija 2015–16 Macedonian First Football League 300512[lower-alpha 3]0—391
2016–17 280408[lower-alpha 3]0—400
2017–18 301507[lower-alpha 3]0—421
Total 881141210—1232
Kukësi 2018–19 Albanian Superliga 400000—40
Career total 35172522211039910
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. All appearance(s) in Macedonian Football Supercup
  3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

International
As of 9 October 2014[19]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Macedonia 201460
Total60

Honours

Club
Shkëndija[1]

Individual
  • Macedonian First League team of the year: 2013–14[5]

References
  1. Ardian Cuculi at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. "Cuculi dhe Shabani pajisen me pasaportë shqiptare" [Cuculi and Shabani equipped with Albanian passport] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  3. "Futbollisti Ardian Cuculi edhe me diplomë të juristit" [Footballer Ardian Cuculi with juristic degree] (in Albanian). Ylli Press. Archived from the original on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. Aleksandar Zlateski (20 June 2012). "Ardijan Cuculi training with Rijeka". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. Filip Zdraveski (25 June 2014). "Team of the season 2013/14". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. "Ardian Cuculi set to sign with Partizani". Macedonian Football. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  7. Vladimir Prenga (25 August 2014). ""Luftë" për një pikë, Partizani barazon në Laç. Trajneri Duro: Raçiç, "bast" im i fituar" ["War" for a point, Partizani equates in Laç. Coach Duro: Raĉić, my winning "bet"] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. "Partizanin e nderon Cuculi, thyhet Lushnja" [Partizani honoured by Cuculi, Lushnja broken] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  9. Aleksandar Zlateski (30 May 2015). "Ardian Cuculi decides to leave Partizani". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  10. Filip Zdraveski (6 June 2015). "Ardian Cuculi inks deal to return to Shkendija". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  11. "Shkëndija, kampione e Maqedonisë për herë të dytë" [Shkëndija, champion of Macedonia for the second time] (in Albanian). Koha.net. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  12. "Shkëndija fiton edhe Kupën e Maqedonisë, fut Shkupin në Europa League" [Shkëndija wins the Macedonian Cup, put Shkupi in Europa League] (in Albanian). Top-Channel-tv. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  13. Filip Zdraveski (18 June 2018). "Shkendija parts ways with Hasani & Cuculi". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  14. Skerdilaid Sulozeqi (13 August 2018). "Kukësi prezanton Cuculin dhe huazimin nga Juventusi, Gjici beson te përmbysja" [Kukësi presents Cuculi and the Juventus loanee, Gjici believes the overturn] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  15. Skerdilaid Sulozeqi (11 August 2018). "Cuculi firmos me Kukësin dhe rigjen Nexhipin, ja rroga që do përfitojë te verilindorët" [Cuculi signs with Kukësi and refinds Nexhipi, here's the wage he'll receive at northeasterns] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. "Kukësi dhe Laçi barazojnë në Elbasan" [Kukësi and Laçi draw at Elbasan] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  17. Sotir Kora (15 September 2018). "Cuculi: Nder të jesh kapiten i Kukësit, askush më i fortë se ne!" [Cuculi: An honour to be captain of Kukësi, nobody stronger than us!] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  18. "Macedonia 0-2 Cameroon". BBC Sport. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  19. "Ardian Cuculi - national football team player". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
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