Robert Cullen (footballer)

Robert Cullen (カレン・ロバート, Karen Robāto, born 7 June 1985) is a former Japanese footballer of Irish descent.

Robert Cullen
カレン・ロバート
Personal information
Full name Robert Cullen
Date of birth (1985-06-07) 7 June 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward, Midfielder
Youth career
2001–2003 Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2010 Júbilo Iwata 110 (29)
2010 Roasso Kumamoto 18 (3)
2011–2013 VVV-Venlo 69 (7)
2014 Suphanburi 22 (7)
2015 Seoul E-Land 35 (2)
2016 NorthEast United 8 (0)
2018 Leatherhead 8 (3)
Total 270 (51)
International career
2003–2005 Japan U-20 11 (0)
Medal record
Júbilo Iwata
Winner J.League Cup 2010
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2004
Representing  Japan
AFC U-19 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Malaysia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Cullen is a forward, Cullen made his senior football debut for Júbilo Iwata on 5 May 2004, Oita Trinita being the opponent.

Cullen started training in the youth ranks at Kashiwa Reysol before eventually joining the team at Ichiritsu Funabashi High School. After his graduation, he signed with Jubilo Iwata in 2004. Although mostly limited to substitute appearances and the occasional league cup start in his rookie year, big things were expected of Cullen as he matured and gained experience playing with such seasoned professionals as Masashi Nakayama and Toshiya Fujita.

He left Júbilo in 2010 to join Roasso Kumamoto of J2 League. In January 2011 it was announced that Cullen joined Dutch Eredivisie club VVV-Venlo, best known in Japan for featuring another Japanese, Maya Yoshida, and having been Keisuke Honda's first European club.[1] In July 2018, Cullen signed for English non-league side Leatherhead FC.[2]

National team career

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In 2005, Cullen selected Japanese citizenship in order to be able to play for the Japan national team. He was a member of the Japan national U-20 team which played in the 2005 World Youth Championship held in the Netherlands. He played all 4 matches.[3]

In February 2012 it was reported that Michael O'Neill had contacted Cullen with a view to convincing him to play for the Northern Ireland national team.[4]

Club statistics

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[5]

Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental3 Other4 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Funabashi High School 2003 - 3 0 - - - 3 0
Total - 3 0 - - - 3 0
Júbilo Iwata 2004 9 0 0 0 4 0 2 1 - 15 1
2005 31 13 2 1 2 0 5 1 - 40 15
2006 23 5 2 0 5 0 - - 30 5
2007 26 7 1 2 4 2 - - 31 11
2008 16 4 1 1 3 3 - - 20 8
2009 4 0 3 1 1 0 - - 8 1
2010 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - 1 0
Total 110 29 9 5 19 5 7 2 - 145 41
Roasso Kumamoto 2010 18 3 1 0 - - - 19 3
Total 18 3 1 0 - - - 19 3
VVV-Venlo 2010/11 15 2 - - - 4 2 19 4
2011/12 28 3 1 0 - - 29 3
2012/13 26 2 - - 26 2
Total 69 7 1 0 - - 4 2 68 9
Suphanburi 2014 22 7 - - - 0 0 22 7
Total 22 7 0 0 - - 0 0 22 7
Seoul E-Land 2015 35 2 - - - 0 0 35 2
Total 35 2 0 0 - - 0 0 35 2
NorthEast United 2016 8 0 - - - - 8 0
Total 8 0 - - - - 8 0
Career total 262 48 15 5 19 5 7 2 4 2 307 62

1Includes Emperor's Cup.

2Includes J. League Cup.

3Includes AFC Champions League.

4Includes Eredivisie Playoffs.

References

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  1. ^ "Iers/Japanse aanvaller Cullen op weg naar Venlo" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  2. ^ "StackPath".
  3. ^ Robert CullenFIFA competition record (archived)  
  4. ^ NI boss Michael O'Neill sounds out Dutch-based Robert Cullen
  5. ^ "Japan – Robert Cullen – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway.
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