Gheorghe Craioveanu
Encyclopedia
Gheorghe 'Gică' Craioveanu (born 14 February 1968 in Hunedoara
, Transylvania
) is a retired Romania
n footballer who played as a striker.
He played most of his professional career in Spain
- 11 years out of 18 - representing three teams and amassing totals of 330 games and 70 goals, both major levels
combined.
A Romanian international
in the 90's, he represented the nation at the 1998 World Cup
.
in January 1991, one month shy of his 23rd birthday, after signing with FC Universitatea Craiova
. On 3 March, he made his competition debut in a 0–1 loss at FC Steaua Bucureşti, but his team would eventually win the national championship, with three goals in 13 games from the player; during his spell in Craiova
, the club never ranked lower than fourth and also won two domestic cups, while he was also crowned the league's top scorer in 1994 and 1995.
In the 1995 summer, after 49 goals in his last two seasons at Universitatea combined, Craioveanu signed with La Liga
outfit Real Sociedad
, netting 11 times in his first season as the Basque
finished in seventh position. Two years later, he joined Villarreal CF
which was having its first top flight experience, scoring a career-best - in Spain - 13 goals as the Valencian Community
club was immediately relegated back.
Craioveanu was again a very important offensive unit - 38 games, eight goals - as Villarreal promoted back in the year after and, already a veteran, helped to the club's top division consolidation. In 2002, the 34-year old moved to Getafe CF
in the second division
, appearing in 120 games and scoring 16 goals over the course of four seasons, and helping the Madrid
outfit achieve a first-ever top division promotion in his second year; he retired in June 2006 at the age of 38, having appeared in 459 league games during his professional career, scoring a total of 131 goals.
for Romania
, his debut coming on 8 September 1993, in a 4–0 win in the Faroe Islands
for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
qualification campaign
.
His only major tournament was the 1998 World Cup
in France
, where his output consisted of 34 minutes in the round of 16 0–1 loss against Croatia
.
(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
(PP). This was the first suffrage during which Romanian citizens were eligible in other European Union
counties, following Romania's European integration
.
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.
Craioveanu 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.
Hunedoara
Hunedoara is a city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in southeastern Transylvania near the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and administers five villages: Boş, Groş, Hăşdat, Peştişu Mare and Răcăştia....
, Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
) is a retired 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 footballer who played as a striker.
He played most of his professional career in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- 11 years out of 18 - representing three teams and amassing totals of 330 games and 70 goals, both major levels
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
combined.
A Romanian international
Romania 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...
in the 90's, he represented the nation at the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.
Club career
After playing for modest clubs, Craioveanu reached the first divisionLiga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
in January 1991, one month shy of his 23rd birthday, after signing with FC Universitatea Craiova
FC Universitatea Craiova
Fotbal Club Universitatea Craiova is a Romanian professional football club from Craiova. They became the first Romanian football team to reach the semi-finals of a European tournament, during the UEFA Cup in 1982–83...
. On 3 March, he made his competition debut in a 0–1 loss at FC Steaua Bucureşti, but his team would eventually win the national championship, with three goals in 13 games from the player; during his spell in Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, the club never ranked lower than fourth and also won two domestic cups, while he was also crowned the league's top scorer in 1994 and 1995.
In the 1995 summer, after 49 goals in his last two seasons at Universitatea combined, Craioveanu signed with La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
outfit Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, netting 11 times in his first season as the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
finished in seventh position. Two years later, he joined Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
which was having its first top flight experience, scoring a career-best - in Spain - 13 goals as the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
club was immediately relegated back.
Craioveanu was again a very important offensive unit - 38 games, eight goals - as Villarreal promoted back in the year after and, already a veteran, helped to the club's top division consolidation. In 2002, the 34-year old moved to Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, appearing in 120 games and scoring 16 goals over the course of four seasons, and helping the Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
outfit achieve a first-ever top division promotion in his second year; he retired in June 2006 at the age of 38, having appeared in 459 league games during his professional career, scoring a total of 131 goals.
International career
Craioveanu gained 25 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Romania
Romania 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...
, his debut coming on 8 September 1993, in a 4–0 win in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
qualification campaign
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
.
His only major tournament was the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where his output consisted of 34 minutes in the round of 16 0–1 loss against Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
.
Team
- Romanian LeagueLiga ILiga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
: 1990–91 - Romanian Cup: 1990–91, 1992–93; Runner-up 1993–94
Post-retirement
After retiring, Craioveanu settled in GetafeGetafe
Getafe is a city in the southern zone of the Madrid metropolitan area, Spain, and one of the most populated and industrialized cities in the municipality. The city is home to one of the oldest Spanish military air bases, as well as the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid...
(the city of his last club) in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
's metropolitan area
Madrid metropolitan area
The Madrid Metropolitan Area comprises the city of Madridand forty surrounding municipalities. It has a populationof slightly more than 6.4 million people and covers an areaof 4.609,7 km²...
; 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
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
(PP). This was the first suffrage during which Romanian citizens were eligible in other European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
counties, following Romania's European integration
2007 enlargement of the European Union
The 2007 enlargement of the European Union saw Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union on 1 January 2007. It was the latest expansion of the EU, though considered by the European Commission as part of the same wave as the 2004 enlargement of the European Union.-Negotiations:Romania was the...
.
On 16 June 2007, as a result of a local alliance between the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
and Izquierda Unida
United Left (Spain)
The United Left is a political coalition that was organized in 1986 bringing together several political organisations opposed to Spain joining NATO. It was formed by a number of groups of leftists, greens, left-wing socialists and republicans, but was dominated by the Communist Party of Spain...
, 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.
Craioveanu also worked as a co-presenter in La Sexta's football programme Minuto y Resultado, and a radio commentator
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
on Onda Cero
Onda Cero
Onda Cero, a subsidiary of Antena 3, is Spain's number two radio station.Some of its programs are these:Herrera en la Onda,La Brújula,Julia en la Onda,Noticias Mediodía,Te doy mi palabra,Radioestadio,Gente Viajera,Noticias Fin de Semana....
. After his first marriage ended in divorce, he remarried with a Spanish woman named Gemma, and eventually fathered two children, one from each union.