Andrei Cristea
Encyclopedia
Andrei Cristea is a Romania
n football
player, currently playing for Karlsruher SC
. He is a striker
who is known for his pace.
.
in the UEFA Cup
2004-2005
season. His fall from grace lead to him being transfer-listed in the summer of 2006.
had taken up an initial interest in the Romanian youngster, he was finally transferred by Politehnica Timişoara, in a swap which saw Gigel Coman
moving to Steaua Bucureşti.
for the second part of the 2007-08 season
, where he had a great part in saving the team from relegation, with man of the match performances with CFR Cluj
(1-0) and his former team, Steaua Bucureşti (2-1).
, where he was very well received and scored 7 times in 15 games, goals which proved crucial in helping the team continue in the first division. He returned to Dinamo in the summer and stated that, because he was so loved at Poli Iasi
, he wanted to retire from football in ten years or more, from this team. Upon his return, he became a very important player, scoring goals that brought significant victories in Liga 1, Romanian Cup or Europa League. Although he was regarded reluctantly at his first spell in Stefan cel Mare, Cristea proved to be a player that coaches and fans could rely on, with his consistent performances, steady scoring, his modest and intelligent opinions and discreet lifestyle.
He was topscorer of Romanian league in 2009-10 season with 16 goals.
signed Andrei Cristea in the attempt of avoiding the relegation.
On 13 February, Cristea scored two goals against the leader of Zweite Bundesliga
, Hertha BSC. These were his first goals on this new club.
On 27 February, he scored the last goal of the game in the 1-4 loss against FC Ingolstadt 04
, after coming from bench.
On 11 March, Cristea scored the first goal of the match in Karlsruhe
-Duisburg
, 3-1 final score.
On 15 May, in the last round of the Zweite Bundesliga
, the Romania
n striker saved his club from the relegation, scoring a "doppietta" in the 3-2 win against Union Berlin.
.
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 football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, currently playing for Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2...
. He is a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who is known for his pace.
Beginning
Cristea started football in his home town and made his debut in the Divizia A in 2001, for local club FCM BacăuFCM Bacau
FCM Bacău is a Romanian football club, founded in 1950, currently playing in the Liga II. It's the best placed Moldovan team in the Liga I All-Time Table, ranking 9th with 42 seasons played.-History:...
.
Steaua Bucureşti
His 2004 transfer to Steaua Bucureşti cost the team over one million dollars. However, Cristea didn't manage to earn a first-team place there, despite scoring the two goals that eliminated Valencia CFValencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
2004-2005
UEFA Cup 2004-05
The 2004–05 UEFA Cup season was won by CSKA Moscow, coming from behind in the final against Sporting Clube de Portugal. It was the first win by a Russian side in any European competition, and was even more impressive considering that the final was held at the José Alvalade Stadium, the home of...
season. His fall from grace lead to him being transfer-listed in the summer of 2006.
Politehnica Timişoara
While FC SochauxFC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
had taken up an initial interest in the Romanian youngster, he was finally transferred by Politehnica Timişoara, in a swap which saw Gigel Coman
Gigel Coman
Gigel Coman is a Romanian football player, raised at FC Naţional Bucureşti, currently playing for CS Otopeni. He is a left winger.- Club career :...
moving to Steaua Bucureşti.
Politehnica Iaşi
After failing to impress at Politehnica Timişoara, he was loaned at Poli IaşiFC Politehnica Iasi
Fotbal Club Politehnica Iaşi was a football club from Iaşi, Romania. Its colours were blue and white. Its home stadium was the Emil Alexandrescu Stadium. It was founded in 1945 and dissolved in 2010.-History:...
for the second part of the 2007-08 season
Liga I 2007-08
The 2007-08 season of Liga I began on July 27, 2007 and ended on May 7, 2008. CFR Cluj became champions, winning their first trophy and ending a 17-year long reign of Bucharest-based teams....
, where he had a great part in saving the team from relegation, with man of the match performances with CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002...
(1-0) and his former team, Steaua Bucureşti (2-1).
Dinamo Bucureşti
On 9 May 2008, Andrei Cristea signed a 5 year contract with Dinamo, just 6 days before turning 24. He called the transfer "a birthday present" and joined Dinamo after the summer holiday. He started scoring for the red and white team in the friendly games they played in pre-season. Cristea played only the first half on the season for Dinamo, netting 2 goals in 8 matches and entering Dinamo's history by scoring the goal that brought the 1.000th victory of the team in all-time domestic championship, against Farul Constanta. He went on loan in the winter mercato to Poli IasiFC Politehnica Iasi
Fotbal Club Politehnica Iaşi was a football club from Iaşi, Romania. Its colours were blue and white. Its home stadium was the Emil Alexandrescu Stadium. It was founded in 1945 and dissolved in 2010.-History:...
, where he was very well received and scored 7 times in 15 games, goals which proved crucial in helping the team continue in the first division. He returned to Dinamo in the summer and stated that, because he was so loved at Poli Iasi
FC Politehnica Iasi
Fotbal Club Politehnica Iaşi was a football club from Iaşi, Romania. Its colours were blue and white. Its home stadium was the Emil Alexandrescu Stadium. It was founded in 1945 and dissolved in 2010.-History:...
, he wanted to retire from football in ten years or more, from this team. Upon his return, he became a very important player, scoring goals that brought significant victories in Liga 1, Romanian Cup or Europa League. Although he was regarded reluctantly at his first spell in Stefan cel Mare, Cristea proved to be a player that coaches and fans could rely on, with his consistent performances, steady scoring, his modest and intelligent opinions and discreet lifestyle.
He was topscorer of Romanian league in 2009-10 season with 16 goals.
Karlsruhe
On 16 January 2011, KarlsruheKarlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2...
signed Andrei Cristea in the attempt of avoiding the relegation.
On 13 February, Cristea scored two goals against the leader of Zweite Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, Hertha BSC. These were his first goals on this new club.
On 27 February, he scored the last goal of the game in the 1-4 loss against FC Ingolstadt 04
FC Ingolstadt 04
FC Ingolstadt 04 is a German football club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The club was founded in 2004 out of the merger of the football sides of two other clubs: ESV Ingolstadt and MTV Ingolstadt.-ESV Ingolstadt:...
, after coming from bench.
On 11 March, Cristea scored the first goal of the match in Karlsruhe
Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2...
-Duisburg
MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
, 3-1 final score.
On 15 May, in the last round of the Zweite Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, the 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 striker saved his club from the relegation, scoring a "doppietta" in the 3-2 win against Union Berlin.
International career
Cristea has played eight times for the Romanian National football teamRomania 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...
.
External links
- Career stats at romaniansoccer.ro
- Profile UEFA.com