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Ion Geolgău

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Ion Geolgău
Personal information
Date of birth (1961-02-20) 20 February 1961 (age 63)
Place of birth Pielești, Dolj County, Romania
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1975–1976 Universitatea Craiova
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1989 Universitatea Craiova 293 (33)
1989–1990 Argeș Pitești 11 (1)
1990–1991 Aris Limassol 21 (1)
1991–1992 Avenir Lembeek
1992–1993 Jiul Craiova
Total 325 (35)
International career
Romania U-21 20 (2)
1980–1988 Romania[a] 24 (3)
Managerial career
1994 Jiul Petroșani
1996–1997 Universitatea Craiova (assistant)
1997–2002 HB Tórshavn
2002–2003 B36 Tórshavn
2004 Fram Reykjavík
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ion Geolgău (born 20 February 1961) is a former Romanian football midfielder and manager.

Club career

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Ion Geolgău was born in Pielești, Dolj County.[3] On 7 November 1976, being 15 years and 9 months old, Geolgău made his Divizia A debut under coach Constantin Teașcă, playing for Universitatea Craiova in a 3–1 victory against UTA Arad.[3][4] After his debut, writer Adrian Păunescu wrote an article about him called Visul lui Geolgău (Geolgău's dream), in which he mistaken Geolgău's first name calling him Gheorghiță instead of Ion, thus Gheorghiță becoming Ion Geolgău's nickname.[4][5] On 16 March 1977, he scored his first Divizia A goal at the age of 16 in a 5–0 victory against Progresul București.[6][7] Geolgău went on to play 13+12 seasons with Universitatea Craiova, being part of the "Craiova Maxima" generation, helping them win two consecutive league titles in 1980 and 1981, at the first he was used by coach Valentin Stănescu in 24 games in which he scored two goals and at the second coach Ion Oblemenco gave him 29 appearances in which he scored three goals.[3][8] He also won the Cupa României four times, in the years 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1983.[3] Geolgău played 38 games and scored 8 goals for "U" Craiova in European competitions, being part of the team that reached the 1982–83 UEFA Cup semi-finals in which he contributed with two goals scored in 9 matches from the campaign.[3][4] In the middle of the 1989–90 season, Geolgău transferred to Argeș Pitești where he would stay only half of season, scoring one goal in 11 Divizia A appearances.[3] After the 1989 Romanian Revolution, Geolgău went to play in the Cypriot First Division for Aris Limassol.[3][9] After one season spent in Cyprus, he went to play for one year at Belgian side Avenir Lembeek, returning to Romania where he retired at Jiul Craiova.[3] During his whole career, Ion Geolgău played 304 Divizia A matches in which he scored 34 goals and 21 games with one goal scored in the Cypriot First Division.[3][10]

International career

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"From Pielești to Bratislava / From Craiova to Glasgow / Europe hums / Come on Geolgău, Geolgău, Geolgău!"

–Adrian Păunsecu's verses dedicated to Geolgău after his goal scored against Czechoslovakia[4]

Ion Geolgău played for Romania in 23 matches, scoring three goals, making his debut on 10 September 1980 when coach Valentin Stănescu sent him on the field in the 60th minute to replace Tudorel Stoica in a friendly which ended with a 2–1 away victory against Bulgaria, which took place in Varna on the Yuri Gagarin Stadium.[1][11] He played four games at the Euro 1984 qualifiers, scoring the decisive goal that mathematically qualified Romania at the final tournament in a 1–1 against Czechoslovakia, which took place on Tehelné pole from Bratislava, earning him the nickname "The hero from Bratislava".[1][12][13] Geolgău also played three matches at the 1986 World Cup qualifiers, scoring one goal in a 3–2 loss against Northern Ireland.[1][14] His last match for the national team was on 1 June 1988 in a 2–0 away loss in a friendly against Netherlands.[1][15] Geolgău also played one game for Romania's Olympic team in a 0–0 against Italy at the 1984 Summer Olympics qualifiers.[16]

International goals

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Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first.[1]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 30 November 1983 Tehelné pole, Bratislava  Czechoslovakia 1–0 1–1 Euro 1984 qualifier
2. 12 September 1984 Windsor Park, Belfast  Northern Ireland 2–3 2–3 1986 World Cup qualifier
3 30 March 1988 Kurt-Wabbel-Stadion, Halle  East Germany 3–3 3–3 Friendly

Managerial career

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Ion Geolgău started his coaching career in 1994 at Jiul Petroșani and from 1996 until 1997 he was an assistant coach at Universitatea Craiova.[10][17] In 1997 he went to coach in the Faroe Islands at HB Tórshavn where he spent five years, winning the title and the cup in 1998.[10][17][18] In 2002 he moved to B36 Tórshavn where he stayed until 2003 when he won a cup.[10][17][18] In 2004 Geolgău had his last coaching experience at Fram Reykjavík from Iceland.[10][17][19]

Personal life

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Geolgău said that he was born on 19 February 1961 but his birth date was declared by his father to the People's Council only on 20 February 1961.[13][20]

Honours

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Player

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Universitatea Craiova

Manager

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HB Tórshavn

B36 Tórshavn

Notes

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  1. ^ Including one appearance for Romania's Olympic team.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Ion Geolgău". European Football. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Ion Geolgău at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ion Geolgău at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  4. ^ a b c d "Descoperitorul de talente" [The talent discoverer] (in Romanian). Mesagerulneamt.ro. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Citeşte aici cîteva episoade memorabile cu Adrian Păunescu!" [Read here some memorable episodes with Adrian Păunescu!] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Enes Sali, cel mai tânăr marcator din istoria Ligii 1! A doborât un record vechi de 44 de ani" [Enes Sali, the youngest scorer in the history of League 1! He broke a 44-year-old record] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Moment istoric! Enes Sali a devenit cel mai tânăr debutant din istoria României, la 15 ani, 8 luni și 22 de zile" [Historic moment! Enes Sali became the youngest debutant in the history of Romania, at 15 years, 8 months and 22 days] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Trei decenii de la Marele Exod" [Three decades since the Great Exodus] (in Romanian). Wesport.ro. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Cu "eroul de la Bratislava" pe OZN-ul din Bănie: "Craiova va reintra în circuitul internațional odată cu inaugurarea stadionului"" [With the "hero from Bratislava" on the UFO from Bănie: "Craiova will re-enter the international circuit with the inauguration of the stadium"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Bulgaria 1-2 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Czechoslovakia 1-1 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Ion Geolgău, "eroul de la Bratislava", a ajuns la borna 60:"Am fost un fotbalist bun. Mari au fost alții!" Exclusiv" [Ion Geolgău, "the hero from Bratislava", reached the 60th milestone:"I was a good footballer. Great footballers were others!" Exclusive] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Northern Ireland 3-2 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Netherlands 2-0 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Romania 0-0 Italy". 11v11. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "Geolgău avertizează România înaintea meciului cu Insulele Feroe, țară în care a antrenat șase ani: "Nu sunt pescari, dar nici de speriat"" [Geolgău warns Romania before the match with the Faroe Islands, a country where he trained for six years: "They are not fishermen, but not to be afraid of"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Ion Geolgău a reușit eventul cu HB în 1998" [Ion Geolgău won the double with HB in 1998] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Geolgau va antrena in Islanda" [Geolgau will coach in Islanda] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 10 January 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Gheorghiță Geolgău nu e născut de ziua lui! Mezinul Craiovei Maxima a împlinit azi 56 de ani" [Gheorghiță Geolgău was not born on his birthday! The youngest of Craiova, Maxima, turned 56 today] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
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