MANY people might describe Jason Culina as a real “footballer’s footballer.”

While he’s capable of scoring a long-range goal from 30 yards out or delivering a perfectly weighted through-pass, he’s just as likely to be seen getting back to cut off a critical angle of the oppositions attack or providing an option for his full back to make a useful pass out of defence.

He’s not often mentioned in the same breath as Kewell, Cahill or Bresciano, but he’s achieved as much if not more than any of them. While Kewell has limped his way towards a couple of major trophies with Liverpool, Culina plays with a team that has won the Dutch championship four years in a row and counting.

He’s played in more Champions’ League fixtures than those three combined. He has had a very successful European career that has gone somewhat unnoticed by the Australian public; certainly those not completely familiar with the world brand of football.

As such, many might see it as a surprise that Clive Palmer and Miron Bleiberg have targeted Culina for their inaugural marquee player position. If we’re to believe the early indications, Gold Coast FC should offer a level of glitz or ‘bling’ that would leave Sydney FC looking more like English Conference side Accrington Stanley.

But Culina doesn’t bring a World Cup winners medal, or a famous stint with Manchester United. He didn’t even score a famous penalty forever burnt into the minds of Australian football fans.

Culina, rather, offers an engine that will run for 90 minutes. He offers services going from box to box, maintaining possession and applying pressure to opposition midfields.

He might not necessarily dribble past three defenders or chip the goalkeeper from long range, but he’ll ensure that those teammates around capable of such marvels get every chance to do so.

Teams built on flashy and attack-minded footballers often end in disaster - just ask Ruud Gullit. Bleiberg too has established with his time at Queensland Roar an ambition for style that outweighs the ambition for success.

Should Bleiberg sign a host of players of this ilk, Culina can provide the perfect counterbalance. He might well be the player that makes the difference between an entertaining but ultimately fruitless first foray into the national league for Gold Coast FC and achieving Palmer’s desire to take the league by storm.

Even from a marquee signing point of view, Culina makes a sensible choice. A defender like Craig Moore might be able to nullify any striker in the competition, few of them are really capable of turning a game given a lesser defensive opponent.

A striker like John Aloisi can only be as brilliant as his midfield supply allows. Culina, on the other hand, can play the bulk of a match on the ball, contributing regularly and providing fans with good value for money.

If the aim is not only to get new fans through the gates but also keep them coming back, a player like Culina is critical.

It remains to be seen whether we will see Culina on home soil as soon as 2009, but more important is the fact that he is being targeted. It shows the club is willing to look beyond the obvious marketing ploys and build a club with the real capability of revolutionising the A-League.

Even if unsuccessful in their bid, hopefully the club will continue the hunt for a marquee player capable of not only being the best, but working hard to bring the best out of those around him.