Gigi Ion
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 15 September 1967 | ||
Place of birth | Galați, Romania | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defender / Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1978–1983 | CSU Galați | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1983–1991 | Oțelul Galați | 41 | (3) |
1991–1992 | Universitatea Cluj | ? | (6) |
1992–1993 | Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț | ? | (?) |
1993–1994 | Dacia Unirea Brăila | 31 | (3) |
1994–1999 | Oțelul Galați | 165 | (10) |
1999–2000 | Sandhausen | ? | (?) |
Total | 206+ | (16+) | |
Managerial career | |||
2000–2001 | Oțelul Galați (caretaker) | ||
2003 | FC Vaslui | ||
2003–2004 | Dacia Unirea Brăila | ||
2004–2005 | Prefab 05 Modelu | ||
2005 | Oțelul Galați (caretaker) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 February 2018 |
Gigi Ion (born 15 September 1967), also known as Ion Gigi, is a Romanian former professional footballer and manager. Ion played as a defender or midfielder and mostly for Oțelul Galați, but he also played for other teams as: Universitatea Cluj, Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț, Dacia Unirea Brăila and German side Sandhausen. Gigi Ion is considered a symbol of Oțelul, being introduced in 2014 by the Dunărea Bătrâna publication in the top 50 symbols of the club from Galați. Ion always shown his attachment for Oțelul and even refused an important offer from FC Steaua București, years later he stated: I wanted to play for Oțelul, not anywhere else. It really matters for me to feel something for the team I play, in this way I was raised.[1] Despite its loyalty, he is considered one of the most unlucky footballers, in his career Gigi suffered two double tibia and fibula fractures, first in 1987 after which he, with much sacrifice spirit, returned to the pitch, having a metal rod in his leg and the second one in 2000, injury that ended his career.[2] After retirement Gigi Ion worked for 5 years a manager, later becoming a sports teacher.
References
- ^ 50 de ani/50 de legende: Ion Gigi. dunareabatrana.ro (in Romanian)
- ^ Viaţa lui Gigi Ion: "Cu pastramă şi cu vin, uite aşa ne chinuim!". evz.ro (in Romanian)
External links
- Gigi Ion at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- 1967 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Galați
- Romanian footballers
- Association football defenders
- Association football midfielders
- Liga I players
- Liga II players
- ASC Oțelul Galați players
- FC Universitatea Cluj players
- CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț players
- ACS Dacia Unirea Brăila players
- Regionalliga players
- SV Sandhausen players
- Romanian expatriate footballers
- Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- Expatriate footballers in Germany
- Romanian football managers
- ASC Oțelul Galați managers
- FC Vaslui managers
- ACS Dacia Unirea Brăila managers
- Romanian football defender stubs