Mihai Nesu
Encyclopedia
Mihai Mircea Neșu (born 19 February 1983 in Oradea
) is a former Romania
n football
player, who played most of his career for Steaua București. He also played for FC Utrecht. His career came to an end when he suffered a bad neck injury.
Neșu made his debut on 21 April 2002 in a game against Petrolul Ploiesti
which ended 1–1. In the first two seasons he did not play too much, only 13 games, and his best performance was the vice-champion title in 2002–2003
.
They succeeded the same performance in the next season when Mihai played more, 13 games. In the season 2004–2005
he won his first champion title with Steaua and he succeeded to score his first goal in Divizia A, although he played only 7 games. In the next year he played in 19 games and Steaua won for the second consecutive year the title of champion team.
After Ogararu
's transfer to Ajax Amsterdam
, Mihai Nesu won a place in the first "eleven" and now was a basic player for the team.
In the European Cups he played in 20 games but did not score any game. He debuted in the season 2003–2004 in UEFA Cup
when played 3 games2.
After only one European game in 2004–2005 he had in the next season very good results and Nesu played in all four games for the qualifiers in UEFA Champions League
. After this he played in UEFA Cup and succeeded to defeat teams like Lens
, Heerenveen, Real Betis
and Rapid București, but they were eliminated in the semi-final by Middlesbrough.
In the season 2006–2007
Steaua with Mihai as a titular player eliminated Standard Liège
and succeeded after 10 years to qualify in UEFA Champions League groups in a group with Real Madrid
, Olympique Lyonnais
and Dynamo Kiev.
As of 23 August 2008 Neșu played 87 games in Liga I of Romania
, scoring once. All the games were played under Steaua București's badge.
who left for PSV in the summer. He played well, but on 10 May 2011 he suffered a bad injury during a training session with his team. Mihai Nesu, collided heavily with a team mate during Tuesday's training.
He broke his cervical vertebrae. The doctors said that it may take days, weeks or even several months before it becomes clear if he will ever recover.
n soccer
referee. His nephew, Nikos Barboudis
, is also a football player.
He married Maria Laura Gherman in June 2006.
landed on top of him as they challenged for the ball in a practice match. Neșu broke a cervical vertebra in his neck and was left without any feeling in his body from the neck down and fighting for breath. After a 5 hour surgery and 4 days of unconsciousness he started to speak and recognize people around him but he still couldn't feel his arms and legs. He risks to remain paralyzed for the rest of his life.
During this time, his teammates were in shock, especially Alje Schut
who was deeply affected by the accident and couldn't even train anymore.
Meanwhile, the FC Utrecht fans showed extraordinary support for their player, sending hundreds of mails and postcards with emotional messages. Also scarves and T-shirts with Nesu went out of stock (the income to be given to his family).
In the next home match, against rivals AZ Alkmaar, the fans revealed a huge banner on the pitch and every player from both teams wore a T-Shirt with Nesu's face and Romanian flag imprinted on it and chanted his name for extended periods of time. Picture Encouraged by a 27.000 crowd, FC Utrecht won the game 5-1, in a impressive manner and every goal was dedicated to Nesu.
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
) is a former 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...
player, who played most of his career for Steaua București. He also played for FC Utrecht. His career came to an end when he suffered a bad neck injury.
Steaua București
He signed his first professional contract in 2001 with Steaua București. Steaua paid for Mihai $ 6.000.Neșu made his debut on 21 April 2002 in a game against Petrolul Ploiesti
Petrolul Ploiesti
Fotbal Club Petrolul Ploiești is a Romanian professional football club based in Ploiești, Prahova County, currently playing in the Liga I.-History:...
which ended 1–1. In the first two seasons he did not play too much, only 13 games, and his best performance was the vice-champion title in 2002–2003
Divizia A 2002-03
The 2002/03 season of the Divizia A began in August 2002 and ended in May 2003. Rapid Bucureşti became champions on 24 May 2003.-League table:||rowspan=6|-Positions by round:-Results:...
.
They succeeded the same performance in the next season when Mihai played more, 13 games. In the season 2004–2005
Divizia A 2004-05
The 2004-05 season of the Divizia A began in July 2004 and ended in June 2005. Steaua Bucureşti became champions on 11 June 2005.-Promoted:These teams were promoted from the Divizia B at the start of the season:* Politehnica Iaşi...
he won his first champion title with Steaua and he succeeded to score his first goal in Divizia A, although he played only 7 games. In the next year he played in 19 games and Steaua won for the second consecutive year the title of champion team.
After Ogararu
George Ogararu
Gheorghe Ogăraru, , is a Romanian footballer currently playing for FC Sion. His position on the pitch is right defender.-Steaua Bucureşti:...
's transfer to Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, Mihai Nesu won a place in the first "eleven" and now was a basic player for the team.
In the European Cups he played in 20 games but did not score any game. He debuted in the season 2003–2004 in 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...
when played 3 games2.
After only one European game in 2004–2005 he had in the next season very good results and Nesu played in all four games for the qualifiers in 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...
. After this he played in UEFA Cup and succeeded to defeat teams like Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, Heerenveen, Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
and Rapid București, but they were eliminated in the semi-final by Middlesbrough.
In the season 2006–2007
Liga I 2006-07
The 2006-07 season of the Romanian Liga I began on July 28, 2006 and ended on May 23, 2007.-Clubs:Eighteen teams played in the Liga I 2006-07...
Steaua with Mihai as a titular player eliminated Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
and succeeded after 10 years to qualify in UEFA Champions League groups in a group with Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
and Dynamo Kiev.
As of 23 August 2008 Neșu played 87 games in Liga I 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...
, scoring once. All the games were played under Steaua București's badge.
FC Utrecht
Neșu completed a transfer deal with FC Utrecht which saw him move to the club on 27 August 2008. He replaced Erik PietersErik Pieters
Erik Pieters is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch national team as a left back. He made his professional debut for FC Utrecht before moving to PSV after two seasons in the first team.-Youth:...
who left for PSV in the summer. He played well, but on 10 May 2011 he suffered a bad injury during a training session with his team. Mihai Nesu, collided heavily with a team mate during Tuesday's training.
He broke his cervical vertebrae. The doctors said that it may take days, weeks or even several months before it becomes clear if he will ever recover.
International career
He also won four caps for Romania, his first in 2005, against Ivory Coast.Titles
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2001 |  Steaua București |
Divizia A |
| 2000–2001 | Steaua București |
Supercupa României |
| 2004–2005 | Steaua București |
Divizia A |
| 2005–2006 | Steaua București |
Divizia A |
| 2005–2006 | Steaua București |
Supercupa României |
Personal life
Neșu is the son of a famous RomaniaRomania
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 soccer
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...
referee. His nephew, Nikos Barboudis
Nikos Barboudis
Nikolaos Barboudis is a Romanian-born Greek football player who plays as a right back for Panthrakikos in the Beta Ethniki on loan from AEK Athens F.C.. His uncle, Mihai Neşu, is also a football player, currently playing for FC Utrecht in Eredivisie.-References:...
, is also a football player.
He married Maria Laura Gherman in June 2006.
Accident
Neșu was involved in a freak training-ground accident on 10 May 2011 when team-mate Alje SchutAlje Schut
Alje Schut is a football defender from the Netherlands, who is playing for FC Utrecht since the 1999–2000 season in the Dutch highest league, Eredivisie....
landed on top of him as they challenged for the ball in a practice match. Neșu broke a cervical vertebra in his neck and was left without any feeling in his body from the neck down and fighting for breath. After a 5 hour surgery and 4 days of unconsciousness he started to speak and recognize people around him but he still couldn't feel his arms and legs. He risks to remain paralyzed for the rest of his life.
During this time, his teammates were in shock, especially Alje Schut
Alje Schut
Alje Schut is a football defender from the Netherlands, who is playing for FC Utrecht since the 1999–2000 season in the Dutch highest league, Eredivisie....
who was deeply affected by the accident and couldn't even train anymore.
Meanwhile, the FC Utrecht fans showed extraordinary support for their player, sending hundreds of mails and postcards with emotional messages. Also scarves and T-shirts with Nesu went out of stock (the income to be given to his family).
In the next home match, against rivals AZ Alkmaar, the fans revealed a huge banner on the pitch and every player from both teams wore a T-Shirt with Nesu's face and Romanian flag imprinted on it and chanted his name for extended periods of time. Picture Encouraged by a 27.000 crowd, FC Utrecht won the game 5-1, in a impressive manner and every goal was dedicated to Nesu.
External links
- Mihai Neșu at Voetbal InternationalVoetbal InternationalVoetbal International is a Dutch football magazine, which has been publishing since 1965. It is the oldest Dutch football magazine that is still running....
- Mihai Neșu career stats at RomaniansSoccer.ro
- ESPN Profile