Jhon Culma

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jhon Culma

| image = Culma.jpg

| image_size = 260

| fullname = Jhon Jairo Culma

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|3|17}}

| birth_place = Florida, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

| height = {{Height|m=1.81}}

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1998–2000 | youthclubs1 = Independiente

| years1 = 2000–2001 | clubs1 = Independiente | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2001–2003 | clubs2 = Cruz Azul | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2003–2005 | clubs3 = Cruz Azul Oaxaca | caps3 = 31 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2005–2006 | clubs4 = Brujas | caps4 = | goals4 =

| years5 = 2006–2007 | clubs5 = Bnei Sakhnin | caps5 = 53 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2008–2011 | clubs6 = Maccabi Haifa | caps6 = 82 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2011–2013 | clubs7 = Brest | caps7 = 26 | goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2001 | nationalteam1 = Colombia U20 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2005 | nationalteam2 = Colombia | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| pcupdate = 7 June 2011

| ntupdate =

}}

Jhon Jairo Culma (born 17 March 1981), sometimes spelled as John Jairo Culma, is a Colombian former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Career

Born in Florida, Valle del Cauca, Culma was raised in Ortigal, Cauca. He began playing youth football in the local Valle del Cauca league, and would train with the youth sides of América de Cali, Millonarios and Deportivo Cali. At age 17, Culma had a trial with Montpellier, but ultimately moved to Argentina where he signed with Independiente.{{cite web|publisher=El Tiempo|author=Moreno, Mauricio|title=CULMA ES EL AS DE COPAS|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-514825|language=Spanish|date=6 January 2001}}

Culma signed a long-term deal with Cruz Azul in 2001, where he would play primarily for its affiliate club, Cruz Azul Oaxaca. However, he was selected to participate in the parent club's 2003 Copa Libertadores matches.{{cite web|publisher=Terra Deportes|title=Colombiano Culma se incorpora como refuerzo al Cruz Azul|url=http://www.terra.com/deportes/articulo/html/fox23628.htm|language=Spanish|date=22 April 2003}}

In 2005, Brujas manager Carlos Restrepo signed Culma to play for the Costa Rican Primera División club.{{cite web|publisher=Al Día|title=La culpa de Culma|author=Villarreal, Juan Diego|url=http://wvw.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2006/abril/08/ovacion6.html|language=Spanish|date=8 April 2006}}

Culma played for the Colombia national under-20 football team, participating in the 2001 South American U-20 Championship.

Honours

Israeli Premier League: 2008–09, 2010–11

Personal life

Culma's brother, Gustavo, is also a professional footballer who plays for Once Caldas.{{cite web|publisher=El Tiempo|title=Gustavo Culma, joven promesa de Once Caldas en la Liga Postobón II|author=Duque Soto, Leonardo|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-12182126|language=Spanish|date=31 August 2012}}