Ardian Cuculi
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-07-19) 19 July 1987
Place of birth Bitola, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Shkëndija
Number 6
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 31 (0)
2019–2022 Drita 85 (3)
2022– Shkëndija 11 (0)
International career‡
2005–2006 Macedonia U17 8 (0)
2007 Macedonia U19 2 (0)
2014 Macedonia 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 October 2014

Ardian Cuculi (born 19 July 1987) is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Shkëndija.[1] He also holds Albanian citizenship.[2]

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.[3]

He was named in the 2013–14 Macedonian First League team of the year while at Shkëndija.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] He also wore the captain armband in the match.[7]

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.[8]

Return at Shkëndija

On 6 June 2015, Cuculi returned to his first club Shkëndija by inking a two-year contract.[9]

In the 2017–18 season, Cuculi made 30 league appearances as Shkëndija won the championship for the second time in history.[10] He also played in five cup matches as the tournament ended in conquest, meaning that the team has completed an unforeseen domestic double.[11]

On 18 June 2018, Cuculi announced his departure from club along with team captain Ferhan Hasani, with the players refusing to sign contract extensions.[12]

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.[13] The player will reportedly earn €4,000 per month and various bonuses based on club's objectives.[14] 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.[15] He captained Kukësi for the first time on 15 September in the 1–0 win at Teuta Durrës due to absence of Ylli Shameti.[16]

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.[17]

Outside football

Cuculi is a law graduate after gaining his degree in January 2010 from The FON University.[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of 15 September 2018[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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

International

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

Honours

Shkëndija[1]

Individual

  • Macedonian First League team of the year: 2013–14[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. ↑ Aleksandar Zlateski (20 June 2012). "Ardijan Cuculi training with Rijeka". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 Filip Zdraveski (25 June 2014). "Team of the season 2013/14". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Ardian Cuculi set to sign with Partizani". Macedonian Football. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 1 2 "Partizanin e nderon Cuculi, thyhet Lushnja" [Partizani honoured by Cuculi, Lushnja broken] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Aleksandar Zlateski (30 May 2015). "Ardian Cuculi decides to leave Partizani". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Filip Zdraveski (6 June 2015). "Ardian Cuculi inks deal to return to Shkendija". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ Filip Zdraveski (18 June 2018). "Shkendija parts ways with Hasani & Cuculi". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Kukësi dhe Laçi barazojnë në Elbasan" [Kukësi and Laçi draw at Elbasan] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Macedonia 0-2 Cameroon". BBC Sport. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "Ardian Cuculi - national football team player". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
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