Jason Culina: Why?

Whatever level of sport you play at stepping down at the peak of your career to play at a lower level is practically unheard of. These guys are born winners and focus on winning and everything that goes with it.

Craig Johnston stopped completely at 28, but can you imagine Ronaldo stepping down to division 2 anytime soon, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, or Roger Federer at their peak stepping down to local tournaments only.

It doesn't happen.

Even at the amateur level I've never heard of a local Premier League going to play div 4 when they are at their peak

So why has Jason Culina, 29, having had just a few short years at PSV in the Dutch Ere Division and Champions League stepped down to the A-League?

He went over to Ajax relatively late, struggled, before re-emerging with Twente and then had just 4 seasons at the top. All that work to throw it all away. What is going on?

And what makes Jason Culina so different, so interesting?

Tony Popovich came back to "help the A-League" after grabbing a year in Qatar...yeah right Tony, John Aloisi came back only when no-one else wanted him and grabbed an overflated salary to boot. Mark Viduka won't comeback, seemingly hasn't earned enough. Mark Scharzwer, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell they ain't coming are they...ever!

The point is footballers are mercenaries, fair enough, and play it seems and move only for money.

We know Mile Sterjovski is on $700,000, John Aloisi on $1.2 mill a goal or a season, and Archie Thompson $400,000 so why has Culina come back?

And is he indeed the most highly paid footballer in the country, surely he came back for more than the over-paid, under-worked ageing John Aloisi.....or has he really come back at the peak of his career for Australia, game and country.

Don't get me wrong I'm absolutely delighted he's back, but I don't get it, not at 29.
And the Aussie journo's being what they are haven't seemed to get the real answer on this one for me!