Tudorel Stoica

Tudorel Stoica (born 7 September 1954, in Brăila) is a Romanian retired footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is the most capped player in the history of Steaua Bucharest.

Tudorel Stoica

Personal information
Date of birth	7 September 1954
Place of birth	Brăila, Romania
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 ^1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1968–1971	Politehnica Galaţi
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1974	CSU Galaţi	56	(9)
1974–1975	FCM Galaţi	8	(0)
1975–1989	Steaua Bucureşti	369	(43)
1989–1990	Lens	17	(0)
1990–1991	Steaua Bucureşti	1	(0)
Total		446	(52)
National team
1979–1987	Romania	15	(0)
Teams managed
1991–1992	Steaua Bucureşti (assistant)
1993–1994	Steaua Bucureşti (assistant)
1998–1999	Romania U21
2017–2018	Tunari
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Stoica made his Romanian first division debuts with FCM Galaţi in 1974, having previously played for CSU Galaţi in the second league.[1]

After only one season, he transferred to country giants CSA Steaua Bucureşti where, safe for his first year, he was a nuclear midfield element as the capital team won - that season included - seven league titles and five domestic cups. He was part of the squad that won the first European title in Romanian football's history, the 1985–86 European Cup, even though he did not play in the final against FC Barcelona, because of accumulation of yellow cards.

In 1989, 35-year-old Stoica moved abroad for the first time, playing one season in France with second level side RC Lens, returning to Steaua where he finished his career at the age of 37. The longtime team captain amassed totals of 369 games and 43 goals (377 counting with FCM Galaţi) in his country's top division, over the course of 15 professional seasons; in the early 1990s, he had brief spells as assistant manager with his main club.

On 25 March 2008, Stoica was decorated by Romanian president Traian Băsescu with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — ("The Sportive Merit" Order) class II, for his part in the winning of the 1986 European Cup.[2][3]

International career

During eight years, Stoica was capped 15 times for the Romanian national team, but did not attend any major international tournament.[4]

He made his debut on 14 October 1979 in a 1–3 friendly loss with the Soviet Union.[4]

Honours

Steaua Bucureşti

• Divizia A: 1975–76, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89[1]
• Romanian Cup: 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1988–89[1]
• European Cup: 1985–86[1]
• UEFA Super Cup: 1986[1]

Personal

After retiring from football, Stoica served as scout for Belgian team R.S.C. Anderlecht. His son, Alin, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He also represented Steaua and the Romanian national team, and played mainly in Belgium, representing four teams.[5][6]

References

1. Tudorel Stoica at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian) and StatisticsFootball.com
2. "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF). Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
3. "Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc". Administrația Prezidențială. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
4. "Tudorel Stoica". European Football. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
5. "În numele tatălui! Alin Stoica se autopropune la Steaua Armatei. "Chiar și la 37 de ani, nu că joc, ci sunt cel mai bun!" Ironic cu FCSB" [In the name of the father! Alin Stoica self-proposed at the Army's Steaua. "Even at 37, I'm the best!" Ironic with FCSB] (in Romanian). digiport.ro. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
6. "SPECIAL Situaţie de gradul I în Liga 1. Ce a realizat Silviu Lung jr. prin câştigarea titlului cu Astra. De la fraţii Vâlcov, la fraţii Costea şi familia Piţurcă" [SPECIAL First grade situation in Liga 1. What Silviu Lung jr. accomplished by winning the title with Astra. From the brothers Vâlcov to the brothers Costea and the Piţurcă family] (in Romanian). prosport.ro. Retrieved 8 October 2017.

External links

• Tudorel Stoica at National-Football-Teams.com
• Tudorel Stoica at WorldFootball.net