Tudorel Stoica
Encyclopedia
Tudorel Stoica (born 7 September 1954 in Brăila
, Brăila County
) is a retired Romania
n footballer who played as a central midfielder.
After only one season, he transferred to country giants FC 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
itself.
In 1989, 35-year old Stoica moved abroad for the first time, playing one season in France
with second division
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 (373 counting with FCM Galaţi) in the Romanian first division, over the course of 15 professional seasons. In the early 90's, 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.
15 times for the Romanian national team
, but did not attend any major international tournament.
He made his debut on 14 October 1979, in a 1–3 friendly loss with the Soviet Union.
team R.S.C. Anderlecht
. He settled in that country subsequently, and lost all connection with the football world.
His son, Alin
, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He also represented Steaua and the Romanian national team, with little impact however, and played mainly in Belgium, representing four different teams.
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
, Brăila County
Braila County
Brăila is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Brăila.- Demographics :In 2002, Brăila had a population of 373,174 and the population density was 78/km².*Romanians – 98%*Romas, Russians, Lipovans, Aromanians and others....
) is a retired 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 footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Club career
Stoica made his Romanian first division debuts with FCM Galaţi in 1974, having previously played for two other clubs from his native region.After only one season, he transferred to country giants FC Steaua Bucureşti where, safe for his first year, he was a nuclear midfield element as the capital
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....
team won - that season included - seven league titles and five domestic cups. He was part of the squad that won the first European
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
title in Romanian football's history, the 1985–86 European Cup, even though he did not play in the final
1986 European Cup Final
The 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides...
against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
itself.
In 1989, 35-year old Stoica moved abroad for the first time, playing one season in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with second division
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
side RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, 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 (373 counting with FCM Galaţi) in the Romanian first division, over the course of 15 professional seasons. In the early 90's, he had brief spells as assistant manager with his main club.
On 25 March 2008, Stoica was decorated by Romanian president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — ("The Sportive Merit" Order) class II, for his part in the winning of the 1986 European Cup.
International career
During eight years, Stoica was cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
15 times for the Romanian national team
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
, but did not attend any major international tournament.
He made his debut on 14 October 1979, in a 1–3 friendly loss with the Soviet Union.
Honours
- Steaua Bucureşti:
- Romanian LeagueLiga ILiga 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"...
: 1975–76, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 - Romanian Cup: 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1988–89
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1985–86 - UEFA Super Cup: 1986
- Romanian League
Personal
After retiring from football, Stoica served as scout for BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
team R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
. He settled in that country subsequently, and lost all connection with the football world.
His son, Alin
Alin Stoica
Alin Tudor Adi Stoica is a Romanian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.Played nearly one decade in his professional career in Belgium, winning almost ten major titles with Anderlecht and Club Brugge combined...
, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He also represented Steaua and the Romanian national team, with little impact however, and played mainly in Belgium, representing four different teams.