| Ardian Cuculi | |
| Birth Date: | 1987 7, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Bitola, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Height: | 1.86 m |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Youthyears1: | 1998–2001 |
| Youthclubs1: | Vëllazërimi 77 |
| Youthyears2: | 2001–2005 |
| Youthclubs2: | Napredok |
| Years1: | 2005–2007 |
| Caps1: | 37 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2005–2014 |
| Clubs2: | Shkëndija |
| Caps2: | 158 |
| Goals2: | 3 |
| Years3: | 2008 |
| Clubs3: | → Pobeda (loan) |
| Caps3: | 5 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2008–2009 |
| Clubs4: | → Milano (loan) |
| Caps4: | 27 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2014–2015 |
| Caps5: | 32 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2015–2018 |
| Clubs6: | Shkëndija |
| Caps6: | 88 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs7: | Kukësi |
| Caps7: | 31 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs8: | Drita |
| Caps8: | 85 |
| Goals8: | 3 |
| Years9: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs9: | Shkëndija |
| Caps9: | 13 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2005–2006 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2007 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2014 |
| Nationalteam3: | Macedonia |
| Nationalcaps3: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
Ardian Cuculi (born 19 July 1987) is a Macedonian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He also holds Albanian citizenship.[1]
Cuculi went on trial at Croatian club HNK Rijeka in the summer of 2012 but returned to Shkëndija for the 2012–13 season.[2]
He was named in the 2013–14 Macedonian First League team of the year while at Shkëndija.[3]
Cuculi followed coach Shpëtim Duro on his way out of Shkëndija to Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana ahead of the 2014-15 season.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] He also wore the captain armband in the match.[6]
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.[7]
On 6 June 2015, Cuculi returned to his first club Shkëndija by inking a two-year contract.[8]
In the 2017–18 season, Cuculi made 30 league appearances as Shkëndija won the championship for the second time in history.[9] He also played in five cup matches as the tournament ended in conquest, meaning that the team has completed an unforeseen domestic double.[10]
On 18 June 2018, Cuculi announced his departure from club along with team captain Ferhan Hasani, with the players refusing to sign contract extensions.[11]
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.[12] The player will reportedly earn €4,000 per month and various bonuses based on club's objectives.[13] 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.[14] He captained Kukësi for the first time on 15 September in the 1–0 win at Teuta Durrës due to absence of Ylli Shameti.[15]
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.[16]
Cuculi is a law graduate after gaining his degree in January 2010 from The FON University.[17]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Vëllazërimi 77 | 2005–06 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2006–07 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 1 | |||||
| Shkëndija | 2006–07 | Macedonian First Football League] | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2010–11 | Macedonian First Football League] | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 1 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2012–13 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 37 | 2 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 158 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 170 | 4 | |||
| Pobeda (loan) | 2007–08 | Macedonian First Football League] | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | |||
| Milano Kumanovë (loan) | 2008–09 | Macedonian First Football League] | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| Partizani Tirana | 2014–15 | 32 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 1 | ||||
| Shkëndija | 2015–16 | Macedonian First Football League] | 30 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 42 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 88 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 0 | — | 123 | 2 | ||||
| Kukësi | 2018–19 | Albanian Superliga] | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 351 | 7 | 25 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 399 | 10 | |||
Shkëndija
2011
Individual