One of the Goulburn Valley’s brightest football talents has made a shock career move.
Shepparton’s Alou Kuol will return to Australia to play for former club Central Coast Mariners following two years at German Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart.
The 22-year-old cut his teeth professionally at the Mariners and is keen to recapture his electrifying form from when he lit up the A-League Men with seven goals across 30 appearances.
“It is great to be back on the Coast and I am just really excited for the upcoming season,” Kuol said.
“Being around the boys again and back with Monty (head coach Nick Montgomery) and Serg (assistant coach Sergio Raimundo) for the next three years, I’m excited for what is in store for us.
“Being given the chance to come home and play in front of my family and for coaches that I know very well is amazing. I know what they want from me and I think they will get the best out of me.
“It is an amazing feeling to come back and help defend the colours of the Coast, the yellow and navy. I’ll do everything that I can for this club.”
Monday’s surprise announcement is a homecoming for Kuol.
Kuol first landed a move to the Coast in 2019 thanks to a 22-goal season in Goulburn Valley Suns colours, which had him secure the National Premier League Two golden boot.
He impressed in the Mariners’ youth ranks before debuting in March the following year, going on to make a serious impact off the bench for head coach Nick Montgomery.
Following a successful season-and-a-half in yellow, Kuol scored a move to the German giant for a reported 400,000 euros on a four-year deal.
The Shepparton striker netted seven goals in his first 13 appearances for Stuttgart’s under-21 squad before he was loaned out to SV Sandhausen in Bundesliga 2 — where he made one cameo off the bench all season.
Kuol was rewarded with a Bundesliga debut in January this year for Stuttgart, but his lack of regular, senior game time is a likely factor in his decision to come home to Australia and the Coast, where his family currently resides.
Montgomery was elated to see Kuol return to the Mariners following its championship-winning season.
“We are absolutely delighted to bring Alou back to the club,” Montgomery said.
“We have full belief in his ability, which he has already proven before leaving for Europe’s elite.
“Sergio and I scouted Alou as a raw 17-year-old and his rise was quite incredible.
“Some moves don’t always work out, but Alou will have learnt some valuable lessons and experiences that have given him the platform to become one of Australia’s top strikers and push for the Socceroos one day in the near future.
“Alou had a lot of interest and offers, but he knows how much the Coast loves him.”