Paul Manta, is a Romania

Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

n former football goalkeeper, who played for Sportul Studenţesc

Sportul Studentesc

Sportul Studenţesc is a Romanian football club that was established in 1916 . The Bucharest club has won the Balkans Cup once and its best result in the Romanian league is a 2nd place in 1986...

, Universitatea Craiova

FC Universitatea Craiova

Fotbal Club Universitatea Craiova is a Romanian professional football club from Craiova. They became the first Romanian football team to reach the semi-finals of a European tournament, during the UEFA Cup in 1982–83...

 and Progresul Bucureşti.

Early career

Manta was born in the Cotroceni

Cotroceni

Cotroceni is a neighbourhood in western Bucharest, Romania located around the Cotroceni hill, in Bucharest's Sector 6.The Hill of Cotroceni was once covered by the forest of Vlăsia, which covered most of today's Bucharest...

 residential area of Bucharest. Firstly he was interested in athletics (high jump and pole-vault) and he trained in the stadium located in Dr. Staicovici Street. One day, the students from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports didn’t have a goalkeeper and turned to him.

Coach Cornel Dragusin noticed his skillfulness, proposing him to join the youth team Progresul-Bucureşti in the group where I. Kluge was (he was 14 at that time) and he never gave up the ball since then.

Sportul Studenţesc

As Manta left high school to enter the Polytechnic University Faculty of Material Science and Engineering in 1961, he left Progresul-Bucureşti and joined the Sportul Studenţesc (known at that time as "Stiinta Bucureşti"). In the gym halls from "Regie", he played under the coaches St. Miu and M. Maksay and also alongside Mircea Lucescu

Mircea Lucescu

Mircea Lucescu is a Romanian former football player and current coach, and one of the most successful Romanian football managers. He is also the father of Rapid Bucharest coach, Răzvan Lucescu...

.

Progresul Bucureşti

Manta made his debut with Progresul on 1 October 1967, against Dinamo Bacau which Progresul lost 3-1, under the coaching of Penita Moldoveanu, Florin Stirbei and Cornel Dragusin.

During the period spent in the Cotroceni team, Manta played under the coaches, V. Stanculescu, Al. Karikas and L. Colceriu. His teammates included Mircea Sandu

Mircea Sandu

Mircea Sandu is a retired Romanian football player. He was a striker with Sportul Studenţesc, where he played from 1971-1986....

 and Gabi Raksi

Gabriel Raksi

Gabriel Raksi was a Romanian international football player.He made his first steps in the football career ever since 1951, joining the team Metalul Oradea ....

. With Progresul Bucureşti, he played three seasons in Division A and two seasons in Division B.

Universitatea Craiova

In 1972, Coaches Constantin Cernaianu and Constantin Otet wanted him in Universitatea Craiova team where Manta played for two years, winning second place in the 1972–73 season, and first place in the 1973-1974 season.

Progresul Bucureşti

In the summer of 1974, Manta returned to Progresul Bucureşti, under the coaching of Viorel Mateianu and Dumitru Baboia.

Tehnometal Bucureşti

In 1975–77, Manta joined "Tehnometal Bucureşti", the team that advanced in the 1975–76 season in Division B.

Non football career

After retirement from his playing career, Manta started his career as a metallurgic engineer at Tehnometal Bucharest factory.

Education

Manta graduated from Polytechnic University Faculty of Material Science and Engineering with a degree in Material Science and Engineering.

External links

• http://www.nationalfc.ro