Robert Cullen.

[osarusan]

Anybody heard of this guy? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cullen)

He's doing reasonably well over here. The bio says he has taken Japanese citizenship, but it's not too late yet, I'm pretty sure he hasn't played a senior game.

[Graemerz]

Never heard of him. Very strange.

[Steve Bruce]

Fair play to him to want to play the country he is from rather than a country that would be more recognisable on a football front and would possibly open doors to bigger things

[Steve Bruce]

Oh and I wasn't having a digg at ROI taking NI players if that's the way it came across.

[osarusan]

Fair play to him to want to play the country he is from rather than a country that would be more recognisable on a football front and would possibly open doors to bigger things

To be honest I wouldn't be too sure of the second part of that statement. If he becomes a regular for Japan, he's pretty much guaranteed appearances in 2 or 3 World Cups. That just isn't the case with NI or and other club in the British Isles except England.

[EalingGreen]

There was a thread about him on OWC from three years ago.

Apparently his Da is from Belfast and he even played in NI at the Milk Cup (International Youth Tournament) with a Japanese side.

But his Ma is Japanese, he was born and brought up in Japan and hardly speaks any English. In addition, he has represented Japan at under-age level (e.g. Japanese U-19 team in the AFC Cup in 2004) etc, so there doesn't look to be any sign of his opting for NI (never mind ROI :eek:).

Anyhow, some more info from that OWC thread:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89523

[dcfcsteve]

Picture of him here :

http://www.wldcup.com/Asia/jleague/jubilo/cullen.html

He looks like a Norn Iron fella wearing a Japanese man wig.....! :D