Eugen Trică

Eugen Trică
Trică with CFR Cluj in August 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-08-05) 5 August 1976 (age 49)
Place of birth Teslui, Romania
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1988–1993 Universitatea Craiova
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1998 Universitatea Craiova 91 (14)
1998–2003 Steaua București 130 (21)
2003–2005 Litex Lovech 54 (22)
2005–2006 Maccabi Tel Aviv 10 (1)
2006–2007 CSKA Sofia 34 (17)
2007–2008 CFR Cluj 46 (15)
2009 Anorthosis 12 (1)
2009 CFR Cluj 1 (0)
2009–2010 Universitatea Craiova 16 (2)
2010–2011 Concordia Chiajna 22 (6)
Total 416 (99)
International career
1996–1998 Romania U21 20 (6)
1999–2007 Romania 4 (0)
Managerial career
2010 Universitatea Craiova (sporting director)
2010 Universitatea Craiova (caretaker)
2011 Concordia Chiajna (sporting director)
2012–2013 Juventus București
2013 CFR Cluj
2013 Al-Nahda (assistant)
2013–2014 UTA Arad
2014 Juventus București
2015 CFR Cluj
2015 Metalul Reșița
2015–2016 Ittihad (assistant)
2017–2018 Politehnica Iași (assistant)
2019 Sportul Snagov
2019–2020 FC U Craiova
2020–2021 Turris Turnu Măgurele
2021 FC U Craiova
2021 Viitorul Târgu Jiu
2021 FC U Craiova
2022 Viitorul Târgu Jiu
2022 Metaloglobus București
2022–2023 Concordia Chiajna
2023 Gloria Băneasa
2023–2024 CSM Alexandria
2024 FC U Craiova
2024 Sohar
2025 Lovech
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eugen Trică (born 5 August 1976) is a Romanian professional football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Universitatea Craiova

Trică was born on 5 August 1976 in the Romanian village of Teslui, where he spent his early years.[1] He was raised mainly by his grandparents until age 7, when he moved to Craiova for school.[1] Shortly after arriving in Craiova, his father noticed his talent when he saw him playing football in the neighborhood, so he took him to the youth center of local club Universitatea.[1][2] Trică made his Liga I debut on 17 June 1995 under coach Victor Pițurcă in "U" Craiova's 5–4 loss to Electroputere Craiova.[1][2][3] The club reached the 1998 Cupa României final where coach José Ramón Alexanko used him the entire match in the 1–0 loss to Rapid București.[4] During this period he earned the nickname José after teammate Ionel Gane compared him to José Mari Bakero.[1]

Steaua București

Trică joined Steaua București in 1998.[2] He won the 1998–99 Cupa României after being introduced by coach Emerich Jenei in the final's overtime against Rapid, a match decided by a penalty shoot-out where he netted his spot kick.[2][5] In the 2000–01 season, he also won the championship with The Military Men, being used by coach Pițurcă in 30 games in which he scored seven goals.[2][6][7] Subsequently, he netted two goals in Steaua's 2–1 victory against Dinamo București in the 2001 Supercupa României.[2][7][8]

Litex Lovech, Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Sofia

Trică joined Litex Lovech in 2003 where over the course of two seasons he scored 22 goals in 54 league matches.[2] He helped the club win the 2004–05 Bulgarian Cup, coach Ljupko Petrović using him the entire match in the penalty shoot-out victory against CSKA Sofia in the final where he scored the first spot kick.[2][9] Subsequently, he joined the squad of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2005.[2] After a few months, he returned to Bulgaria, this time at CSKA Sofia where he played alongside fellow Romanians Florentin Petre and Alexandru Pițurcă.[10] There, he won the 2005–06 Bulgarian Cup and the 2006 Bulgarian Supercup.[2] The latter trophy was secured after he played the entire match under coach Plamen Markov in the penalty shoot-out victory against rivals Levski Sofia in which Trică netted the first spot kick.[2][11] Trică was one of the highest-scoring foreign players in the Bulgarian league as in the 98 appearances made in the competition he had 39 goals to his name.[2][12]

CFR Cluj and Anorthosis

In 2007, Trică returned to Romania, signing with CFR Cluj.[2] There, he helped the club win the championship and the cup for the first time in its history in the 2007–08 season, and Trică was the team's top-scorer, netting 13 goals in 31 league matches under coach Ioan Andone.[2][6][13] Coach Andone also sent him in the 71st minute to replace Manuel José in the 2–1 victory against Unirea Urziceni in the Cupa României final.[2][14] Subsequently, he played five games in the 2008–09 Champions League group stage with The Railway Men, and in the first match, he provided Emmanuel Culio with two assists, leading to a historical 2–1 victory at Stadio Olimpico against AS Roma.[2][15] His performances in 2008 earned him the fifth place in the Romanian Footballer of the Year award.[16] Trică moved in 2009 to Anorthosis in Cyprus.[2] However, he shortly returned to CFR Cluj where he won the 2009 Supercupa României after coach Toni Conceição introduced him in the 68th minute to replace Sixto Peralta in the penalty shoot-out win against Unirea Urziceni.[2][17]

Universitatea Craiova and Concordia Chiajna

In 2009, Trică made a comeback to his first club Universitatea Craiova.[2] However, after a year, in 2010, he joined Concordia Chiajna in Liga II which he helped gain a first-ever promotion to Liga I.[2][18] On 15 October 2011, following Concordia's 4–0 loss to his former club CFR Cluj, Trică decided to end his playing career.[2][19] Through his career, Trică earned a total of 289 matches with 51 goals scored in Liga I and 30 appearances with seven goals in European competitions.[2]

International career

Trică was part of Romania's under-21 side that managed a first-ever qualification to a European Championship in 1998, which Romania subsequently hosted.[20] In the final tournament that was composed of eight teams, coach Victor Pițurcă used him only in the 2–1 loss to Russia where he scored his side's goal, as they finished in last place.[20]

Trică played four games for Romania, making his debut on 3 March 1999 when coach Pițurcă introduced him in the 74th minute to replace Dennis Șerban in a 2–0 friendly victory against Estonia.[21][22] His following game was a 1–0 win in a friendly against Ukraine.[21] His last two were appearances in the successful Euro 2008 qualifiers, a 3–1 victory against Belarus and a 1–0 loss to Bulgaria.[21]

Managerial career

Trică started his coaching career in 2012 at Juventus București, after which he coached various other teams in Romania and abroad, including as an assistant coach.[7][23][24] His biggest performances were a runner-up position in a Cupa României final with CFR Cluj, and earning two promotions from the third league to the second and then from the second to the first with FC U Craiova.[7][23][25]

Personal life

Trică was married to Lorena, daughter of Ilie Balaci, one of Romania's best football players.[26] They divorced in 2015.[27] Their son, Atanas Trică, is also a footballer.[28]

Playing statistics

Romania national team
Year Apps Goals
1999 1 0
2001 1 0
2007 2 0
Total 4 0

Honours

Player

Universitatea Craiova

Steaua București

Litex Lovech

CSKA Sofia

CFR Cluj

Individual

Manager

CFR Cluj

FC U Craiova

References

  1. ^ a b c d e ""Mergeam cu vacile și caprele! Culegeam lădițe de mere, prune" Are 3 campionate în Liga 1 și face dezvăluiri tulburătoare: "Regret că am doar 4 meciuri la națională"" ["I was walking with the cows and goats! I was picking boxes of apples, plums" He has 3 championships in Liga 1 and makes disturbing revelations: "I regret that I only have 4 matches in the national team"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Eugen Trică at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  3. ^ "Extensiv Craiova vs Universitatea Craiova 5-4". Labtof. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Romanian Cup – Season 1997–1998". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Romanian Cup – Season 1998–1999". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d "Interviu EXCLUSIV cu Eugen Trică: "Steaua a făcut o prostie cu Alibec! Vrei d-ăia cuminți, yes men, care te duc pe locul 2?" + Ce se întâmplă cu Florin Tănase: "Și pe mine mă forțau"" [EXCLUSIVE interview with Eugen Trică: "Steaua did something stupid with Alibec! Do you want those good guys, yes men, who take you to the 2nd place?" + What happens to Florin Tănase: "They were forcing me too"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Romanian Supercup – Season 2001". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  9. ^ ""Litex" won the Bulgarian Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout final" (in Bulgarian). Dnevnik.bg. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Adevărul i-a vizitat pe românii de la ŢSKA Sofia" [Adevărul visited the Romanians from ŢSKA Sofia] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 27 November 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Trica si Florentin Petre au castigat Supercupa Bulgariei" [Trica and Florentin Petre won the Bulgarian Super Cup] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
    "Levski (Sofia) — CSKA (Sofia)". Fccska.com. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Топ 20 за чуждестранни футболисти голмайстори". bgfootball.eu. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  13. ^ "CFR 2008 Ce s-a intamplat cu cei care ii aduceau, acum 10 ani, primul titlu din istorie lui CFR Cluj" [CFR 2008 What happened to those who brought, 10 years ago, the first title in the history of CFR Cluj] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 2007–2008". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Eugen Trică a rememorat duelul cu AS Roma din perioada când juca pentru CFR. "Pe teren ne-am înjurat, dar pe tunel a venit să schimbăm tricourile!"" [Eugen Trică recalled the duel with AS Roma from the time he played for CFR. "On the pitch we swore, but in the tunnel he came to change shirts!"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Romania - Player of the Year Awards". Rsssf.org. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Romanian Supercup – Season 2009". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Încă o echipă ilfoveană în Liga 1. Concordia, pe urmele Otopeniului și ale Brăneștiului?" [Another Ilfov team in Liga 1. Concordia, following in the footsteps of Otopeni and Brănești?] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  19. ^ "CFR i-a stricat cheful de fotbal! Eugen Trică și-a anunțat retragerea definitivă, după doar 5 meciuri de la revenire" [CFR ruined his football spirit! Eugen Trică announced his final retirement, after only 5 matches since his return] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
    "Liga I e mai săracă: S-a retras Trică" [CFR ruined his football spirit! Liga I is poorer: Trică has retired] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Cum a aratat Romania U21 la Euro 1998! Cine a castigat competitia si cine au fost vedetele acelui turneu final" [How Romania U21 showed at Euro 1998! Who won the competition and who were the stars of that final tournament] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
    "TRAGERE LA SORTI EURO U21. Duelul capitanilor U21: Lutu 1998 vs. Ionut Radu 2018. "Lutu nu ne tinea discursuri mobilizatoare in vestiar"" [EURO U21 DRAW. U21 captains duel: Lutu 1998 vs. Ionut Radu 2018. "Lutu didn't give us mobilizing speeches in the locker room"] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
    "Mai ții minte? Cum arăta și ce a făcut naționala României U21 la singura calificare la European. 8 fotbaliști din lotul actual nici nu erau născuți!" [Do you remember? How it looked and what the Romanian U21 national team did in the only European qualification. 8 footballers from the current team were not even born!] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  21. ^ a b c "Eugen Trică". European Football. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Romania – Estonia 2:0". European Football. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  23. ^ a b c d "A semnat! Eugen Trică este noul antrenor de la FCU Craiova" [He signed! Eugen Trica is the new coach of FCU Craiova] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Eugen Trică a revenit în Liga 2 și va fi adversarul lui U Craiova 1948" [Eugen Trica returned to Liga 2 and will be the opponent of U Craiova 1948] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Ce se întâmplă cu Eugen Trică la CFR după ce clujenii au pierdut Cupa României în faţa lui Petrolul Ploieşti" [What happens to Eugen Trica at CFR after Cluj lost the Romanian Cup to Petrolul Ploiesti] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Liana, fata cea mica a lui Ilie Balaci, duce mai departe traditia sportiva a familiei!" [Liana, the little girl of Ilie Balaci, carries on the sporting tradition of the family!] (in Romanian). wowbiz.ro. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Eugen Trică, sprijinul Lorenei, la înmormântarea lui Ilie Balaci. Cei doi au divorţat de trei ani!" [Eugen Trică, Lorena's support, at Ilie Balaci's funeral. The two have been divorced for three years!] (in Romanian). Spynews.ro. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Atanas Trică, nepotul lui Ilie Balaci, semnează cu CS Universitatea Craiova. EXCLUSIV Reacția emoționantă a Lorenei: "Și eu sunt o povară pentru el!"" [Atanas Trica, Ilie Balaci's nephew, signs with CS Universitatea Craiova. EXCLUSIVE Lorena's emotional reaction:"I'm a burden to him too!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_Tric%C4%83