Ted Dumitru
Encyclopedia
Theodore "Ted" Dumitru (born Dumitru Teodorescu on 2 September 1939 in Bucharest
, Romania
) is the current Technical Director of Mamelodi Sundowns
in the South Africa
n Premier Soccer League
. He is a former coach of the South Africa national football team
.
today, in the 1964–65 season, the first for "oltenii" in Divizia A. He was only 25 years old, thus establishing a record in the Liga I
: the youngest coach. After saving in extremis the team from relegation in the first season as a coach, in the second he finished in the eighth place. He left Craiova in 1966 and was for a while the coach of Romania U23 national team. In 1969 he went to Turkey where he trained Altay Izmir, Beşiktaş
and then Mersin.
In 1973 was called back in Romania but he refused. He arrived in Germany where he requested political asylum. In Romania, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison. In 1974 restart to coach, but this time across the ocean, in America, with Rochester Lancers
. He continued to train them, when it was moved to San Diego where he became the San Diego United
. From that moment begins to be known as Ted Dumitru.
In 1980 arrives in Africa, and was appointed as technical director of Zambia
, then in 1981 is called coach and leads the team in the Preliminaries African Cup of Nations, qualified in final tournament, where they don't participate, due to his U.S. passport, because tournament being hosted by Libya
, a country where Americans are not welcomed.
He left Zambia
and signed a contract with the African Football Confederation
, is sent to Swaziland
, then in Namibia
to help develop football in those countries.
In South Africa came as a result of the contract signed with the Kaizer Chiefs who won two championship titles and two national cups. Then he moved to Mamelodi Sundowns, the other big team in South Africa, which has won two titles and qualified for the first time a South African team in the African Champions Cup final.
In South Africa has also trained the club of Orlando Pirates. The Fifth and Sixth title in South Africa have been conquered with the Kaiser Chiefs, where he made the big step toward national Bafana-Bafana
, in November 2005 which unfortunately was not performing, being dismissed in February 2006, after the final tournament in African Cup of Nations.
He published a book about football, "Mosaic Training," which was published in Germany.
In South Africa is nicknamed "Master Ted", "The Professor" or "Mr Magic".
“The style of the game is a form of expression” Ted Dumitru is regarded as by far the most successful coach in the South African domestic scene.
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, 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...
) is the current Technical Director of Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns are a South African football club that plays in the Premier Soccer League.Since 2003, Sundowns are owned by rand billionaire Patrice Motsepe....
in the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
. He is a former coach of the South Africa national football team
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
.
Playing and coaching career
Playing football at Sportul Studenţesc he had a short run because injuries had ended his career prematurely; as a result, he started to coach Stiinta Craiova, Universitatea CraiovaFC 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...
today, in the 1964–65 season, the first for "oltenii" in Divizia A. He was only 25 years old, thus establishing a record in the Liga I
Liga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
: the youngest coach. After saving in extremis the team from relegation in the first season as a coach, in the second he finished in the eighth place. He left Craiova in 1966 and was for a while the coach of Romania U23 national team. In 1969 he went to Turkey where he trained Altay Izmir, Beşiktaş
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
and then Mersin.
In 1973 was called back in Romania but he refused. He arrived in Germany where he requested political asylum. In Romania, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison. In 1974 restart to coach, but this time across the ocean, in America, with Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
. He continued to train them, when it was moved to San Diego where he became the San Diego United
San Diego United
San Diego United was an American soccer team based in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 2008, the team was a member of the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. From that moment begins to be known as Ted Dumitru.
In 1980 arrives in Africa, and was appointed as technical director of Zambia
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
, then in 1981 is called coach and leads the team in the Preliminaries African Cup of Nations, qualified in final tournament, where they don't participate, due to his U.S. passport, because tournament being hosted by Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, a country where Americans are not welcomed.
He left Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and signed a contract with the African Football Confederation
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
, is sent to Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, then in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
to help develop football in those countries.
In South Africa came as a result of the contract signed with the Kaizer Chiefs who won two championship titles and two national cups. Then he moved to Mamelodi Sundowns, the other big team in South Africa, which has won two titles and qualified for the first time a South African team in the African Champions Cup final.
In South Africa has also trained the club of Orlando Pirates. The Fifth and Sixth title in South Africa have been conquered with the Kaiser Chiefs, where he made the big step toward national Bafana-Bafana
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
, in November 2005 which unfortunately was not performing, being dismissed in February 2006, after the final tournament in African Cup of Nations.
He published a book about football, "Mosaic Training," which was published in Germany.
In South Africa is nicknamed "Master Ted", "The Professor" or "Mr Magic".
“The style of the game is a form of expression” Ted Dumitru is regarded as by far the most successful coach in the South African domestic scene.