Marius Lacatus
Encyclopedia
Marius Mihai Lăcătuş (ˈmari.us ləkəˈtuʃ; born 5 April 1964 in Braşov
) is a Romania
n retired football
player and football coach. He is so far the most successful football player ever to play for Steaua Bucureşti. He is all time top scorer for Steaua with 17 goals in European Competitions.
of Spain. Since 21 October 2008, he was the team coach of Steaua Bucureşti, the team that made him who he is. However, after a home game against Lyon
for the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League
group stage ,which his team lost with a disappointing 5-3, he resigned from the position of Steaua's manager, as he stated that that defeat was his fault.
Lăcătuş was an iconic player for Steaua Bucureşti's supporters. Even now, seven years after leaving the club as a player, the supporters shout his name at each game. The supporters loved him for his spectacular way of playing football, as well as for his commitment during the games. He was nicknamed Fiara (The Beast).
He was the first player to score in the penalty shoot-out of the 1986 European Cup final against FC Barcelona
, won by Steaua Bucureşti. After 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he scored two goals against USSR
, Lăcătuş was signed by the Italian team ACF Fiorentina and then moved to Real Oviedo in Spain. In 1994 he returned to Steaua Bucureşti and played for the team until 1999, when he finally signed for FC Naţional Bucureşti
, where he played only for half a season before retiring. However, in October 2006 he decided to enroll himself as part of UT Arad team were he was also coach until 2007 before he joined Steaua Bucureşti.
His sister is a renowned piano cafe concert player in Romania
.
On 25 March 2008 he was decorated by the president of Romania
, Traian Băsescu
with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class II for his part in winning the of 1986 European Cup Final
.
Lăcătuş played a total of 414 games in the Romanian Divizia A (now Liga I), scoring 103 goals; 21 games in the Italian Serie A
where he scored three times and also 51 games in the Spanish La Liga
, scoring 7 goals. He also made appearances 72 games in the European Cup
, Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup
, scoring 17 goals.
As a player he won the Romania
n football
championship ten times and the Romania
n Cup seven times, as well as the European Cup in 1986 and the European Supercup in 1987, all with Steaua Bucureşti.
, and played for his country in the 1990 World Cup, Euro 1996 and 1998 World Cup. He scored the 700th goal for the national team of Romania
.
Romania Steaua Bucureşti
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
) is a 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 retired 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 and football coach. He is so far the most successful football player ever to play for Steaua Bucureşti. He is all time top scorer for Steaua with 17 goals in European Competitions.
Club career
He played as a deep lying striker or inside forward for Steaua Bucureşti most of his career, being the team's captain between 1994 and 1999. He also played for AC Fiorentina of Italy and Real OviedoReal Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
of Spain. Since 21 October 2008, he was the team coach of Steaua Bucureşti, the team that made him who he is. However, after a home game against Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
for the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage ,which his team lost with a disappointing 5-3, he resigned from the position of Steaua's manager, as he stated that that defeat was his fault.
Lăcătuş was an iconic player for Steaua Bucureşti's supporters. Even now, seven years after leaving the club as a player, the supporters shout his name at each game. The supporters loved him for his spectacular way of playing football, as well as for his commitment during the games. He was nicknamed Fiara (The Beast).
He was the first player to score in the penalty shoot-out of the 1986 European Cup final against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, won by Steaua Bucureşti. After 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he scored two goals against USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
, Lăcătuş was signed by the Italian team ACF Fiorentina and then moved to Real Oviedo in Spain. In 1994 he returned to Steaua Bucureşti and played for the team until 1999, when he finally signed for FC Naţional Bucureşti
FC National Bucuresti
Fotbal Club Progresul Bucureşti is a Romanian football club from Bucharest, founded in 1944...
, where he played only for half a season before retiring. However, in October 2006 he decided to enroll himself as part of UT Arad team were he was also coach until 2007 before he joined Steaua Bucureşti.
His sister is a renowned piano cafe concert player in 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...
.
On 25 March 2008 he was decorated by the president of 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...
, Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class II for his part in winning the of 1986 European Cup Final
1986 European Cup Final
The 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides...
.
Lăcătuş played a total of 414 games in the Romanian Divizia A (now Liga I), scoring 103 goals; 21 games in the Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
where he scored three times and also 51 games in the Spanish 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...
, scoring 7 goals. He also made appearances 72 games in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, Cup Winners' Cup and 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...
, scoring 17 goals.
As a player he won 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 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...
championship ten times and 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 Cup seven times, as well as the European Cup in 1986 and the European Supercup in 1987, all with Steaua Bucureşti.
International
Lăcătuş was capped 84 times, scoring 13 goals for the Romanian national 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...
, and played for his country in the 1990 World Cup, Euro 1996 and 1998 World Cup. He scored the 700th goal for the national team of 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...
.
International goals
- Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first. "Score" column indicates the score after the player's goal.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 November 1984 | Bloomfield Stadium Bloomfield Stadium Bloomfield Stadium is a 14,700-seat football stadium in the Tel Aviv District city of Jaffa, Israel. It is the home stadium of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv.-History:... , Jaffa Jaffa Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:... , Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 30 January 1985 | Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon Lisbon Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban... , Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 30 January 1985 | Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal | 2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly | |
| 4 | 10 September 1986 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest Bucharest Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... , 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... |
2–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 1988 Qualifying | |
| 5 | 26 May 1990 | Heysel Stadium King Baudouin Stadium The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition... , Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly | |
| 6 | 9 June 1990 | Stadio San Nicola Stadio San Nicola The Stadio San Nicola is a multi-use all-seater stadium designed by Renzo Piano in Bari, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Associazione Sportiva Bari. It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade. The stadium itself resembles a... , Bari Bari Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
1–0 | 2–0 | World Cup 1990 Group B | |
| 7 | 9 June 1990 | Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy | 2–0 | 2–0 | World Cup 1990 Group B | |
| 8 | 29 August 1990 | Luzhniki Stadium Luzhniki Stadium The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, or briefly Luzhniki Stadium , is the biggest sports stadium in Russia. Its total seating capacity is 78,360 seats, all covered. The stadium is a part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, previously called the Central Lenin Stadium... , Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... , USSR |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly | |
| 9 | 6 May 1992 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | 3–0 | 7–0 | FIFA World Cup 1994 Qualifying | |
| 10 | 14 December 1994 | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... |
1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 Qualifying | |
| 11 | 7 June 1995 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 Qualifying | |
| 12 | 11 October 1995 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | 1–2 | 1–3 | UEFA Euro 1996 Qualifying | |
| 13 | 24 April 1996 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | 4–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Romania Steaua Bucureşti- Liga ILiga 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"...
: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 (Record)- Romanian CupRomanian CupThe Cupa României is a football competition which was held annually since 1933-34, except during the World War II. It is the country's main cup competition, and it is open to all clubs affiliated with FRF and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to...
: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1999 - Romanian Super Cup: 1994, 1995, 1998
- European Cup: 19861986 European Cup FinalThe 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides...
- European Super CupEuropean Super CupThe UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
: 19861986 UEFA Super CupThe 1986 UEFA Super Cup was played between FC Steaua Bucureşti and FC Dynamo Kyiv, with Steaua winning 1–0.-Match details:-External links:*...
- Romanian Cup
- Lăcătuş is the Romanian football player who won the most domestic awards.