Gheorghe "Gică" Craioveanu (born 14 February 1968) is a former Romanian professional footballer who played as a striker.

He spent most of his professional career in Spain–11 years out of 18–with Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Getafe, respectively, amassing totals of 330 matches and 70 goals in both major levels combined.

A Romanian international in the 1990s, Craioveanu represented the nation at the 1998 World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Craioveanu, nicknamed Grande was born on 14 February 1968 in Hunedoara, Romania, starting to play junior level football at age 13 at Olt Scornicești.[1][2][3][4] In 1987 he started his senior career at Constructorul Slatina, three years later moving at neighboring club, Metalurgistul, then one year later he went at Drobeta-Turnu Severin where he was coached by Ilie Balaci.[1][3][4][5][6]

Universitatea Craiova

In 1991 he went to play for Universitatea Craiova where he made his Divizia A debut on 3 March in a 1–0 away loss in front of Steaua București.[1][3][4][5] At the end of his first season, Craioveanu helped the club win The Double under the guidance of coach Sorin Cârțu in which he contributed with three goals scored in 13 league appearances, also he was sent in the 87th minute to replace Adrian Pigulea in the 2–1 win over FC Bacău from the Cupa României final.[1][4][5][7][8] Two years later he would win another Cupa României, this time coach Marian Bondrea sent him on the field in the 70th minute to replace Silvian Cristescu in the final, managing to close the score by the end of the game, a 2–0 against Dacia Unirea Brăila.[1][9] In the following two seasons, Craioveanu would be the top-scorer of the league, scoring 22 goals in the first one and 27 in the second of which eight were in the last two rounds and consisted of five in a 10–3 over UTA Arad and a hat-trick in his last Divizia A match which was a 5–4 win against Electroputere Craiova.[1][4][5][10][11]

Craioveanu has a total of 61 goals scored in 129 appearances in the Romanian top-division, all of them for "U" Craiova.[1]

Real Sociedad

In the summer of 1995, Craioveanu joined La Liga side Real Sociedad who paid one million$ for his transfer.[1][10][12][13] He made his league debut on 8 October when coach Salva Iriarte sent him on the field in the 69th minute in order to replace Óscar de Paula in a 3–0 away loss in front of Real Valladolid.[14][15] He scored his first goal on 17 November in a 3–1 away loss with Real Betis, netting a total of 11 until the end of the season, including a brace in a 3–1 over Celta de Vigo and a hat-trick in a 8–1 against Albacete which helped the team finish in seventh position.[1][4][14][16] In the following season he scored eight goals including a brace in a victory against Extremadura and two goals in two draws with Atlético Madrid, then in his last season with The White and Blues he netted seven goals under the guidance of coach Bernd Krauss which include a double in a win over Compostela, helping the team finish on the third place.[1][12][17]

When Real Sociedad reached 100 years since its foundation, Craioveanu was voted as the club's "most loved foreigner", receiving as gift a marshal's baton.[3][18][19]

Villarreal

In 1998 he moved to Villarreal where for a short while he was teammate with fellow Romanian Marius Iordache.[1][20] He played in Villarreal's first ever La Liga match on 31 August under the guidance of coach José Antonio Irulegui, opening the score against Real Madrid with a header in the third minute, thus becoming the first ever scorer in the league for his team, however the game was lost with 4–1 and Craioveanu was replaced late in the first half after being injured by Roberto Carlos.[21][22][23] He would score in the 1–1 with Celta Vigo from the following round, going on to score two doubles in victories against Salamanca and Barcelona, two goals in a win and a draw with Atlético Madrid, his side's only goal in a victory over Valencia and also his side's goal in a 1–1 against his former team Real Sociedad, earning a total of 13 goals until the end of the season which however were not enough to avoid relegation.[4][21][22][24] He stayed with the club one year in Segunda División, netting eight goals which helped The Yellow Submarine promote back to the first league where he would spend two more seasons.[1][4]

In 2019, the Marca newspaper organized a poll in which he was placed sixth on the ranking for the best player in the history of Villarreal.[3][2]

Getafe

In 2002, Craioveanu went to play for Segunda División side, Getafe, helping the team earn a first ever promotion to the first league, two years later.[1][25] Afterwards he was teammate with compatriot Cosmin Contra, scoring his last two top-league goals during the 2004–05 season in a 2–1 loss in front of Barcelona and a 2–2 against Atlético Madrid.[1][26] In the following season, Craioveanu made his last appearances in the La Liga, having a total of 223 matches with 48 goals scored in the competition.[1]

In 2019, in a poll made by the Marca newspaper, Craioveanu was named the best player in the history of Getafe.[3][2][27] The city hall of Getafe placed a statue of him in the El Bercial park.[3][27][28]

International career

Craioveanu earned 25 caps for Romania, scoring four goals, making his debut on 8 September 1993 when coach Anghel Iordănescu sent him on the field in the 68th minute to replace Ion Vlădoiu in a 4–0 win against Faroe Islands at the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.[4][5][18][29][30] He scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly which ended with a 2–0 victory over Israel.[18][29]

He played seven games and scored three goals in both victories over Liechtenstein at the successful 1998 World Cup qualifiers.[18][29] At the final tournament, in the group stage they earned victories in the first two rounds with Colombia and England, thus mathematically being qualified before the last group match with Tunisia where in order to celebrate, they all dyed their hair blonde and presented themselves like that at the game.[29][31] However he did not play at all in the group stage, Iordănescu using him only in the round of 16 when he sent him in the 57th minute to replace captain Gheorghe Hagi in the 1–0 loss with Croatia.[29][4][32]

He played five games at the Euro 2000 qualifiers, including his last appearance for The Tricolours on 9 June 1999 in a 4–0 home win over Azerbaijan.[29]

For representing his country at the 1998 World Cup, Craioveanu was decorated by President of Romania Traian Băsescu on 25 March 2008 with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.[33]

International stats

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania[29] 1993 2 0
1994 1 0
1995 2 0
1996 4 1
1997 7 3
1998 4 0
1999 5 0
Total 25 4
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Craioveanu goal.[29]
List of international goals scored by Gheorghe Craioveanu
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 August 1996 Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania  Israel 2–0 2–0 Friendly
2 29 March 1997 Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania  Liechtenstein 7–0 8–0 World Cup 1998 Qualifying
3 6 September 1997 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 2–0 8–1 World Cup 1998 Qualifying
4 3–0

Post-retirement

After retiring, Craioveanu settled in Getafe (the city of his last club) in Madrid's metropolitan area. During the local elections of 2007 he won a sports adviser seat on the local council, running as an independent with backing from the People's Party, this was the first suffrage during which Romanian citizens were eligible in other European Union counties, following Romania's European integration.[34][35] On 16 June 2007, as a result of a local alliance between the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and Izquierda Unida, which took away PP's control over the Sports Adviser seat, Craioveanu convened with the PP not to hold a political office, and resigned from the council.[34][35] He also worked as a co-presenter in La Sexta's football programme Minuto y Resultado, and a radio commentator on Onda Cero, after his first marriage ended in divorce, he remarried with a Spanish woman named Gemma, and eventually fathered two children, one from each union.[34]

Between 2013 and 2023, Craioveanu was the image director of Universitatea Craiova.[36]

Personal life

Craioveanu's son, Alejandro, played youth football for Castellón de la Plana-based CD Drac as well as Villarreal.[37]

Honours

Universitatea Craiova

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Gheorghe Craioveanu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  2. ^ a b c ""Grande" Gică Craioveanu, legendă în Spania. Cel mai iubit jucător din istoria lui Getafe" ["Grande" Gică Craioveanu, legend in Spain. The most loved player in the history of Getafe] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g ""Grande" Gică Craioveanu a ajuns la borna 55. "Iubirea pentru Craiova nu se discută!". Orașul în care i s-a făcut statuie și amintiri de pe Bernabeu. Exclusiv" ["Grande" Gică Craioveanu has reached the 55th stop. "Love for Craiova is not discussed!". The city where his statue was made and memories from the Bernabeu. Exclusive] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Gică Craioveanu – fotbaliști de legendă" [Gică Craioveanu – legendary footballers] (in Romanian). Tikitaka.ro. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e ""Spaniolul" Craioveanu a ajuns la borna 34" ["The Spaniard" Craioveanu arrived at terminal 34] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 14 February 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Gică Craioveanu, amintiri emoționante cu marele Ilie Balaci: "M-a luat la el acasă. Am avut o relație foarte strânsă". Exclusiv" [Gică Craioveanu, emotional memories with the great Ilie Balaci: "He took me to his home. We had a very close relationship". Exclusive] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 1990–1991". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 1992–1993". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b ""Grande" Craioveanu, golgeter pe blat? Dezvăluiri din trecutul analistului Digi: "Spuneau despre el că e cancerul echipei"" ["Grande" Craioveanu, top scorer on fixed matches? Revelations from the past of the Digi analyst: "They said about him that he was the cancer of the team"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Top Scorers" (in Romanian). Romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Gica Craioveanu: "Esta Real es más rápida que la nuestra, pero le falta Darko" [Gica Craioveanu: "This Real is better than ours, but they don't have Darko"] (in Spanish). Mundodeportivo.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Gica Craioveanu: "La zurda de Javi de Pedro no era caviar, era beluga"" [Gica Craioveanu: "Javi de Pedro's left foot was not caviar, it was beluga"] (in Spanish). Diariovasco.com. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Gheorghe Craioveanu. Primera División 1995/1996". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Real Valladolid - Real Sociedad 3:0". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Pe urmele lui Roșu. Prieto a intrat în legendă cu 'hat-trick'-ul de la Madrid" [In the footsteps of Roșu. Prieto entered the legend with the 'hat-trick' in Madrid] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  17. ^ "Gheorghe Craioveanu. Primera División 1996/1997". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Gheorghe Craioveanu. Primera División 1997/1998". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d "Cât de tare l-a afectat ultimul divorț pe Gică Craioveanu și ce avere are, de fapt, fostul fotbalist al Universității Craiova: "Nu am numărat niciodată banii, i-am și cheltuit"" [How badly did the last divorce affect Gică Craioveanu and what wealth does the former football player of the University of Craiova actually have: "I never counted the money, I also spent it"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Gică Craioveanu, despre viața în Spania: "Acum sunt flăcău, divorțat. Mă cunosc doar doamnele de 70 de ani"" [Gică Craioveanu, about life in Spain: "Now I'm a lad, divorced. Only 70-year-old ladies know me"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    ""Te-ai tras la tribune, sa-ti dea umbra un pic la chelie!". Motivul pentru care Craioveanu era criticat in timpul meciurilor, desi marca" ["You pulled yourself to the stands, let the shadow give you a little baldness!". The reason why Craioveanu was criticized during the matches, despite scoring] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Iordache regreta ca a evoluat la Villarreal" [Iordache regrets that he played at Villarreal] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Gică Craioveanu, amintiri spumoase cu Real și Barcelona: "Când am iesit de la duș aveam 220 mesaje, m-am și speriat!"" [Gică Craioveanu, sparkling memories with Real and Barcelona: "When I got out of the shower I had 220 messages, I was scared!"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Gheorghe Craioveanu. Primera División 1998/1999". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Real Madrid - Villarreal CF 4:1". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  24. ^ "El Villarreal en el Camp Nou: De la exhibición de Craioveanu a la chilena de Ronaldinho" [Villarreal at the Camp Nou: From Craioveanu's show to Ronaldinho's bicycle] (in Spanish). Marca.com. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
    "Craioveanu, unul dintre eroii lui Villarreal pe Camp Nou. "Dubla" românului, evocată în Spania" [Craioveanu, one of Villarreal's heroes at Camp Nou. The Romanian's "double", evoked in Spain] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  25. ^ "Craioveanu renueva un año con el Getafe" [Craioveanu renews one year with Getafe] (in Spanish). Masdeporte.as.com. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
    "Yo jugué en el Getafe FC: Gica Craioveanu" [I played for Getafe FC: Gica Craioveanu] (in Spanish). Vavel.com. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  26. ^ "Gheorghe Craioveanu. Primera División 2004/2005". WorldFootball. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Contra va fi coleg cu Craioveanu" [Contra will be teammate with Craioveanu] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 5 August 2005. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Surpriză! Gică Craioveanu este cel mai bun fotbalist din istoria lui Getafe: cum arată votul fanilor" [Surprise! Gică Craioveanu is the best footballer in the history of Getafe: what the fans vote shows] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  28. ^ "Craioveanu va avea statuie la Getafe!" [Craioveanu will have statue at Getafe!] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Craioveanu, olteanul cu statuie în Spania" [Craioveanu, the Oltenia man with a statue in Spania] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Mai mulți etiopieni au încercat să fure statuia unui fotbalist român:"E din bronz masiv, au vrut să o vândă!"" [Several Ethiopians tried to steal the statue of a Romanian footballer: "It's made of massive bronze, they wanted to sell it!"] (in Romanian). Iamsport.ro. 4 January 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h "Gheorghe Craioveanu". European Football. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  30. ^ "Faroe Islands 0-4 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  31. ^ "ProSport vă prezintă povestea adevărată a "Generației de Aur" vopsite în galben!" [ProSport presents the true story of the "Golden Generation" painted in yellow!] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Cu totii in GALBEN! Ultima nationala care i-a scos in strada pe romani! Generalul si puii de gaina care au dus Romania la ultimul mondial!" [All in YELLOW! The last national team that brought the Romanians to the streets! The general and the chicklings that took Romania to the last world cup!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Generația (cu părul) de Aur. Imagini în premieră cu momentele în care s-au vopsit tricolorii, în 1998" [The (hairy) Golden Generation. Premiere images of the moments when the tricolors were painted, in 1998] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  32. ^ "Croatia 1-0 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "N-au fost 20, sunt 25 de ani! Profeția lui Gică Hagi a fost mai aspră decât se preconiza. La 30 iunie 1998, naționala României juca ultimul ei meci la un Campionat Mondial" [It wasn't 20, it's 25 years! Gică Hagi's prophecy was harsher than expected. On June 30, 1998, the Romanian national team played its last match at a World Championship] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    Lazăr, Mihnea (11 June 2018). "The Inside Story of Why the Entire Romania '98 Team Bleached Their Hair". Vice News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  33. ^ "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF). Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc". Administrația Prezidențială. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  34. ^ a b c "Gică Craioveanu renunță la politică" [Gică Craioveanu leaves politics] (in Romanian). Jurnalul Național. 16 June 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  35. ^ a b "Gică Craioveanu renunță la politică" [Gică Craioveanu leaves politics] (in Romanian). Adevărul. 29 May 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  36. ^ "Gică Craioveanu, dat afară de Universitatea Craiova! "Dragoste cu forța nu se poate"" [Gică Craioveanu, expelled from the Universitatea Craiova! "You can't force love"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  37. ^ "Gica, un padre ejemplar en el CD Drac Castellón" [Gica, a role model of a father at CD Drac Castellón] (in Spanish). Elperiodicomediterraneo.com. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
    "EXCLUSIV Naționala are viitor! Craioveanu junior vrea sa fie "grande"" [EXCLUSIVE National team have the future! Craioveanu junior wants to be "grande"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_Craioveanu
No tags for this post.