Romulus Buia
Encyclopedia
Romulus Buia is a Romania
n former football
player, currently the manager of FC Maramureş Universitar Baia Mare
. He was nicknamed "Figo from Berceni" by the fans of Rocar Bucharest which played the home games on a field in the Berceni Neighborhood in Bucharest, because of the similarities with the Portuguese football star Luís Figo
.
Buia made his professional debut at the age of 18, playing for Minerul Cavnic
in the Romanian Divizia B, before joining FC Baia Mare
at the age of 19, a club also from Divizia B.
In 1991, at the age of 21, he made international debut against United States in a friendly game. He also played for Romania national football team
in 1992, this time against Mexico.
FC Barcelona
paid a close attention to him during the 1991-92 season. In the summer of 1992, Johan Cruijff, the Catalan side coach, invited him to train with the team but in the end the transfer did not materialised.
Buia started the 1992-93 at FC Baia Mare
but was then transferred to Germinal Ekeren (3550) of Belgium during the season. He played in Belgium for two years, before being loaned back to Romania, this time at Universitatea Craiova
, therefore making his debut in Romanian top league, Divizia A. In 1995 he returned to Ekeren
but after at half season he terminated his contract and returned in Romania, signing a contract with Sportul Studenţesc
of Bucharest
, before joining again Universitatea Craiova
for two seasons.
In 1998 his contract with Universitatea Craiova terminated and he failed to find another one with a top team, and therefored played for Progresul Şomcuta Mare, a team from the Romanian fourth division.
In 2000 he returned to Divizia A after signing a contract with Rocar Bucharest. After only a year he joined Dinamo Bucharest but left the team at the end of 2001 to play for Gloria Bistriţa
.
In 2002 he was signed by FCU Politehnica Timişoara, where he stayed until 2005, before being sacked by the new Timişoara coach, Cosmin Olăroiu
and subsequently joining Pandurii Târgu Jiu.
In the season 2005-06 he played at Minerul Valea Copcii in Liga III
before signing for AS Covaci in Romanian Liga IV
.
After retiring from professional football, Romulus Buia became a businessman specialising in retail.
Now he is a player coach for Liga IV
club FC Chişoda.
Romulus Buia's profile on romaniansoccer.ro
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 former 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 the manager of FC Maramureş Universitar Baia Mare
FC Maramureş Universitar Baia Mare
FC Maramureş Universitar Baia Mare is a Romanian football team from Baia Mare, Maramureş County, founded in 2010.-History:The club was founded in 2010 to continue the football tradition in Baia Mare after the dissolution of FC Baia Mare....
. He was nicknamed "Figo from Berceni" by the fans of Rocar Bucharest which played the home games on a field in the Berceni Neighborhood in Bucharest, because of the similarities with the Portuguese football star Luís Figo
Luís Figo
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, OIH, is a Portuguese former international footballer. He played as a midfielder for Sporting CP, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Internazionale, during a career which spanned over a period of 20 years. He retired from football on 31 May 2009...
.
Buia made his professional debut at the age of 18, playing for Minerul Cavnic
Cavnic
Cavnic is a former mining town situated in the valley of the same name, east of Baia Mare, in Maramureş County, northern Romania. The town covers , at altitudes ranging from 500 to 1050 meters above sea level.- History :...
in the Romanian Divizia B, before joining FC Baia Mare
FC Baia Mare
FC Baia Mare was a Romanian football club, based in Baia Mare, Maramureș, northern Romania. In the 2009–10 season, they played in the Liga II . The team played at Dealul Florilor Stadium , which hosted big names of European football such as Real Madrid, Dinamo Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest in the...
at the age of 19, a club also from Divizia B.
In 1991, at the age of 21, he made international debut against United States in a friendly game. He also played for Romania national football team
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...
in 1992, this time against Mexico.
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....
paid a close attention to him during the 1991-92 season. In the summer of 1992, Johan Cruijff, the Catalan side coach, invited him to train with the team but in the end the transfer did not materialised.
Buia started the 1992-93 at FC Baia Mare
FC Baia Mare
FC Baia Mare was a Romanian football club, based in Baia Mare, Maramureș, northern Romania. In the 2009–10 season, they played in the Liga II . The team played at Dealul Florilor Stadium , which hosted big names of European football such as Real Madrid, Dinamo Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest in the...
but was then transferred to Germinal Ekeren (3550) of Belgium during the season. He played in Belgium for two years, before being loaned back to Romania, this time at 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...
, therefore making his debut in Romanian top league, Divizia A. In 1995 he returned to Ekeren
Ekeren
Ekeren is a northern district of the municipality of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The suburb celebrated its 850th birthday in 2005; the name of the town was first mentioned in 1155, as "Hecerna"....
but after at half season he terminated his contract and returned in Romania, signing a contract with Sportul Studenţesc
Sportul Studentesc
Sportul Studenţesc is a Romanian football club that was established in 1916 . The Bucharest club has won the Balkans Cup once and its best result in the Romanian league is a 2nd place in 1986...
of 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....
, before joining again 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...
for two seasons.
In 1998 his contract with Universitatea Craiova terminated and he failed to find another one with a top team, and therefored played for Progresul Şomcuta Mare, a team from the Romanian fourth division.
In 2000 he returned to Divizia A after signing a contract with Rocar Bucharest. After only a year he joined Dinamo Bucharest but left the team at the end of 2001 to play for Gloria Bistriţa
Gloria Bistrita
Gloria Bistriţa is a Romanian professional football club from Bistriţa, Bistriţa-Năsăud County.-History:The club was founded on July 6, 1922 and among the founding staff members there were: Simion Sbârcea as the club's president, Teofil Moldovan as the club's secretary, Ion Bota, Dumitru Hara,...
.
In 2002 he was signed by FCU Politehnica Timişoara, where he stayed until 2005, before being sacked by the new Timişoara coach, Cosmin Olăroiu
Cosmin Olaroiu
Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu is a former Romanian football player and football manager.-Club career:As a player, Olăroiu's best-known clubs he played for are Universitatea Craiova and Naţional Bucureşti. However, he also played with success in K-League for Suwon Samsung Bluewings and helped the team to...
and subsequently joining Pandurii Târgu Jiu.
In the season 2005-06 he played at Minerul Valea Copcii in Liga III
Liga III
Liga III is the third level of the Romanian football league system. Its name was changed from Divizia C into Liga III before the start of the 2006-07 season.-Relegation:...
before signing for AS Covaci in Romanian Liga IV
Liga IV
Liga IV is the fourth level of the Romanian football league system. Its name was changed from Divizia D into Liga IV before the start of play for the 2006-07 season.- Current format :...
.
After retiring from professional football, Romulus Buia became a businessman specialising in retail.
Now he is a player coach for Liga IV
Liga IV
Liga IV is the fourth level of the Romanian football league system. Its name was changed from Divizia D into Liga IV before the start of play for the 2006-07 season.- Current format :...
club FC Chişoda.
Romulus Buia's profile on romaniansoccer.ro