# Ardian Cuculi

Ardian Cuculi (born 19 July 1987) is a Macedonian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He also holds Albanian citizenship.

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

### 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.
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. 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. He also wore the captain armband in the match.
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.

### Return at Shkëndija

On 6 June 2015, Cuculi returned to his first club Shkëndija by inking a two-year contract.
In the 2017–18 season, Cuculi made 30 league appearances as Shkëndija won the championship for the second time in history. He also played in five cup matches as the tournament ended in conquest, meaning that the team has completed an unforeseen domestic double.
On 18 June 2018, Cuculi announced his departure from club along with team captain Ferhan Hasani, with the players refusing to sign contract extensions.

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

## 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.

## Outside football

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

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 15 September 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Vëllazërimi 77 | 2005–06 | Macedonian First Football League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| Vëllazërimi 77 | 2006–07 | Macedonian First Football League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Vëllazërimi 77 | Total | Total | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 1 |
| Shkëndija | 2006–07 | Macedonian First Football League] | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Shkëndija | 2007–08 | Macedonian First Football League] | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Shkëndija | 2009–10 | Macedonian Second Football League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Shkëndija | 2010–11 | Macedonian First Football League] | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 1 |
| Shkëndija | 2011–12 | Macedonian First Football League] | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Shkëndija | 2012–13 | Macedonian First Football League] | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| Shkëndija | 2013–14 | Macedonian First Football League] | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 0 |
| Shkëndija | Total | 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 | Albanian Superliga | 32 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 1 |
| Shkëndija | 2015–16 | Macedonian First Football League] | 30 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 1 |
| Shkëndija | 2016–17 | Macedonian First Football League] | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 0 |
| Shkëndija | 2017–18 | Macedonian First Football League] | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 1 |
| Shkëndija | Total | Total | 88 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 21 | 0 | — | — | 123 | 2 |
| Kukësi | 2018–19 | Albanian Superliga] | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 351 | 7 | 25 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 399 | 10 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Macedonian Football Supercup
* 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of 9 October 2014
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Macedonia | 2014 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 6 | 0 |

## Honours

Shkëndija
* Macedonian First Football League: 2010–11, 2017–18
* Macedonian Second Football League: 2009–10
* Macedonian Football Cup: 2017–18
* Macedonian Football Supercup: 2011
Individual
* Macedonian First League team of the year: 2013–14