Garang Kuol is now officially a Newcastle United player after playing his final Central Coast Mariners match in a 2-1 New Years Eve win over Melbourne Victory.
The New Years Eve win capped off an incredible year for the 18-year-old who’s meteoric rise has captured the attention of football audiences around the world.
After making his A-League debut in April the electric attacker went on to make 18 appearances in the competition, scoring six times and becoming revered for his ability to turn a game on it’s head when coming on as a substitute.
A series of eye-catching performances earned Kuol a spot in the A-League All Stars squad where he put in another impressive showing against Barcelona.
Kuol made his Socceroos debut in September against New Zealand before being named in Australia’s World Cup squad and appearing against eventual finalists France and Argentina in Qatar.
Next up for Kuol is St James Park and English Premier League, with his move to Newcastle complete now the January transfer window has opened.
“I’m really excited to learn more stuff, be around more people, different cultures and I can’t wait,” Kuol said.
The 18-year-old who’s older brother Alou Kuol is also in Europe plying his trade at German outfit, VFB Stuttgart added his focus was on making his family proud.
“I think, I just want to try take away that stress. I was focused more on just making them proud,” Kuol said.
“I just want to do my job.”
Mariners Head Coach, Nick Montgomery understands the rigours of the English game as well as anyone, having made 399 appearances over twelve seasons at Sheffield United.
Speaking to the media following the Mariners win over Victory, Montgomery who handed Kuol his professional debut said the sky was the limit for the 18-year-old.
“For Garang it’s about staying humble, Newcastle are a fantastic club, good people there, they’ve got a world class manager and the destination is for him to get in the first team at Newcastle,” Montgomery said.
“What happens between now and then is between them is going to be between them and Garang has to go there and work his socks off.
“He's unlucky that he didn’t get a goal tonight and didn’t get the penalty, I think that would’ve been a good way to sign off, but there’s a big future ahead of him.
“It’s always a bumpy road, there’s going to be ups and downs but like I said before we’ll be there to support Garang and he’s always going to be part of the Mariners family like so many others that have gone on to big things.”