Alou Kuol

Alou Kuol (born 5 July 2001) is a professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Central Coast Mariners. Born in Sudan, he represents Australia at youth level.

Early life
Alou Kuol was born in Khartoum to South Sudanese parents, and has five younger brothers and an older brother, who he credits for forcing him to relocate for soccer when he first joined the Mariners Academy. Kuol's family fled Sudan when he was three, staying in Egypt for a year before arriving in Sydney. In 2015, Kuol moved to Shepparton, where he later worked as a kitchen hand while playing youth football.

Central Coast Mariners
Kuol began his senior career with Victorian side Goulburn Valley Suns, after coming through the side's youth teams. Kuol trialled with A-League clubs Melbourne Victory and Western United but was unsuccessful in receiving a contract. He signed for Central Coast Mariners in late-2019, initially playing for the youth team in the Y-League. Kuol also briefly trialed with Portuguese club Sporting CP in their under-19 squad.

Kuol made his professional debut as a substitute on 1 March 2020 in the Mariners' 6–2 defeat against Western United. Three days later, Kuol was awarded a scholarship with the Mariners, extending to the end of the 2020–21 season. He made his starting debut for the Mariners in a goalless draw against Newcastle Jets on 24 July 2020, and received media attention for his colourful post-match interview.

VfB Stuttgart
On 16 April 2021, following interest from several top European teams, Kuol signed a 4-year contract with VfB Stuttgart, signing until June 2025. Delegated to VfB Stuttgart II, Kuol scored seven goals in his first 13 appearances with the reserve side, leading second in the goalscoring charts for the Regionalliga Südwest by November.

On 31 January 2022, Kuol was loaned to SV Sandhausen until the end of the season. He made his debut on 30 April 2022 in a 2–1 defeat to Schalke, in which he was sent off in the 5th-minute of added time, after a challenge on Thomas Ouwejan. Kuol was suspended for three games, missing the remaining matches of the league season.

On his return to Stuttgart, Kuol made his Bundesliga debut on 27 January 2023 in a 2–1 defeat to RB Leipzig.

Return to Central Coast Mariners
On 10 July 2023, Kuol signed a three-year deal to return with Central Coast Mariners. He made his returning debut in the A-League on 20 October 2023 in a 3–0 loss against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium. Kuol was taken off in the 34th minute of the match after suffering a knee injury from a challenge on Alexandar Popovic; doctors tested for an ACL injury but concluded it to be a knock.

Kuol was part of the Mariners' Championship, Premiership and AFC Cup winning 2023-24 season. Kuol scored the only goal of the 2024 AFC Cup final in the 84th minute against Al Ahed.

International career
In May 2022, Kuol was selected in the Australian under-23 team for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. He scored in Australia's second game of the group stage, netting the opening goal with a scorpion kick in a 1–1 draw with Iraq. Kuol was named as a Puskás award nominee on 13 January 2023 for his strike at Markaziy Stadium.

Personal life
Kuol's younger brother, Garang, plays for Newcastle United. Another younger brother, Teng Kuol, currently plays for Sydney Olympic, after previously playing for the Central Coast Mariners Academy, Western Sydney Wanderers FC Youth and Melbourne Victory FC Youth.

Honours
Central Coast Mariners
 * A-League Men Championship: 2023-24
 * A-League Men Premiership: 2023-24
 * AFC Cup: 2023-24

Individual
 * National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 top scorer: 2018