Dumitru Copil

Dumitru Alexandru Copil (born 14 March 1990)[1] is a Romanian footballer, who plays as a midfielder.[2]

Dumitru Copil
Personal information
Full name Dumitru Alexandru Copil
Date of birth (1990-03-14) 14 March 1990
Place of birth Arad, Romania
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Atletico Arad
Luceafărul București
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Heart of Midlothian 0 (0)
2009–2014 Gloria Arad
2009–2010 → UTA Arad (loan) 6 (1)
2010–2012 → Bihor Oradea (loan) 6 (0)
2012–2013 → Jiul Petroșani (loan)
2013–2013 → Șoimii Pâncota (loan)
2013–2014 → CS Ineu (loan)
2014–2017 UTA Arad 98 (16)
2017 Șoimii Lipova
2018 Gloria Lunca Teuz Cermei
2018–2019 Progresul Pecica
2020– Frontiera Curtici
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 September 2018

Career

Early career

Copil began his career at Atletico Arad, and spent time at the Luceafărul București development centre. He came to prominence in December 2006, when it was reported that Liverpool and Celtic were interested in signing him.[3] He was described in the press as "the new Hagi".[4]

Heart of Midlothian

Heart of Midlothian won the race to sign Copil, paying a fee in the region of £125,000[5] to secure him to a two-year deal with a further five-year option.[6] His parents were flown over from Arad to Edinburgh to accompany him.

In November 2007 the magazine World Soccer named Copil among the top 50 young footballers in the world.[5][7] However, he was unable to break into Hearts' first-team and went AWOL in March 2008, returning to Arad after being substituted in a Youth Cup tie.[8]

He was persuaded to return, but told to stay away until pre-season training began in June 2008. The Lithuanian owners of the club suspected that he was only coming back in order to be paid over the summer break.[9] Copil's homesickness and frustration at his absence of first-team football continued in 2008–09, with Hearts' manager Stephen Frail stating that he was not yet good enough to play in the SPL.[10]

Copil left Hearts in January 2009 at the culmination of his initial two-year deal. Hearts had reneged on the five-year option, but offered a one-year extension which they claimed entitled them to a transfer fee when he moved on.[11]

Return to Romania

While AWOL from Hearts, Copil had announced his intention to train with Dinamo București,[8] but he rejoined Atletico Arad on transfer deadline day.[12][13] After playing in the first round of the 2009–10 Cupa României for Gloria Arad,[14] he joined UTA Arad on loan.[15]

In June 2010 he was linked with a move to Swindon Town.[15] Swindon distanced themselves from the move, revealing that Copil had been on a week's trial with them in March 2010, but they could not get clearance to play him in the reserves.[16]

Between 2010 and 2013, Copil spent brief periods with various Romanian clubs, before being released by CS Ineu in 2014.

International career

Copil has represented Romania at U-17 level.[17]

References
  1. "Dumitru Copil - Unknown - Stats - titles won". www.footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  2. Copil și Blănaru – la Pecica, Diarra și Stanciu – la Glogovăț sau Avrămuțiu la Curtici, transferuri calde în Liga 4-a Arad. sportarad.ro (in Romanian)
  3. "Hearts could beat Celtic to Copil". BBC Sport. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  4. Hugh Keevins (22 December 2006). "Football: POVERTY TO PARADISE; EXCLUSIVE ROMANIAN WONDERKID SET TO COMPLETE RAGS-TO-RICHES MOVE". Daily Record. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  5. Nick Bidwell (November 2007). "Hagi comparisons for Hearts youngster". World Soccer: 43. Retrieved 18 June 2010. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "Hearts confirm Romanian signing". BBC Sport. 15 January 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  7. Cristian IONIÞÃ (20 November 2007). "Fotbal: Dumitru Copil printre cei mai buni 50 de tineri fotbalisti ai lumii" (in Romanian). Infonews.ro. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  8. Barry Anderson (3 April 2008). "Copil's heart set on switch to Bucharest". Evening News. p. 47. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  9. Chris Burton (21 June 2008). "Copil returns from Hearts exile". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  10. "Dumitru still has chance". Sunday Mail. 30 March 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  11. "Article: Hearts seek transfer fee as Copil heads home to Romania". The Scotsman. 16 January 2009. p. 65. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  12. Stuart Bathgate (3 February 2009). "Berra joins Wolves for GBP 2.3million and targets playing in top flight". The Scotsman. p. 70. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  13. "Copil returns to Atletico Arad". Heart of Midlothian FC. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  14. "Gloria Arad – Naţional Sebiş 5-2" (in Romanian). glsa.ro. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  15. "Dumitru Copil s-a înteles cu Swindon Town!" (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  16. Anthony Marshall (8 June 2010). "Irish striker coming to Town". The Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  17. "Romania 1-1 Iceland". UEFA. 25 September 2006. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
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