Bogdan Stelea

Bogdan Gheorghe Stelea (Romanian pronunciation: [boɡˈdan ˈstele̯a]; born 5 December 1967) is a Romanian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current coach.

Having played professionally into his 40's, he played for all three major Liga I clubs in his country's capital, and also spent a vast part of his career in Spain, mainly with Salamanca.

Stelea played nearly 100 times for Romania, and represented the nation in three World Cups and two European Championships.

Club career

Born in Bucharest, Stelea started playing football at hometown's FC Dinamo București, being the club's undisputed starter by 1988. In 1991–92 he still appeared in 11 Liga I games as the capital side won the national championship, but signed late in 1991 with RCD Mallorca for $650.000. After two La Liga seasons in Spain, with relegation in his first, as last, he joined Belgium's Standard Liège but, unsettled, quickly returned home with FC Rapid București.

After one season in Turkey with Samsunspor, Stelea returned again to his country and joined FC Steaua București, the defending champions. In his two-year spell the club renewed its domestic supremacy and participated in the UEFA Champions League, with the player contributing significantly. During this period he also had a successful trial with Sunderland, but could not negotiate a deal.^[1]

In 1997 Stelea was transferred to UD Salamanca, where he lived his most steady period, remaining with the team seven years, only puncutated by a small loan spell with Rapid. He appeared in 191 overall games for the former during his tenure whilst competing mainly in the second division, but spent his first two seasons in the top flight.

After a second spell with Dinamo, Stelea started 2005–06 with Greek side Akratitos FC. Unsettled again, he returned to Romania with FC Oțelul Galați, but did not feature in any matches because of a serious injury. The following campaign he moved to FC Unirea Urziceni at the recommendation of new coach and former national teammate Dan Petrescu, where he eventually became first-choice; in 2007–08, at the age of 40, he was still one of the best goalkeepers in the country.

Stelea finally ended his long career at the end of the 2008–09 season, helping modest FC Brașov to a comfortable ninth place in the top division.

In 2012, Stelea became head coach of FC Astra Ploiești.^[2] On 10 August, however, after a home draw against CS Turnu Severin, he was sacked from his post.^[3]

In June 2014, Stelea accepted an offer from former national teammate Gheorghe Hagi to coach his club FC Viitorul Constanța.^[4] After eleven games in charge in which the team collected 13 points, he resigned.

International career

Stelea made his debut for the Romanian national team in 1988 against Israel, and represented his country at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 1996 and Euro 2000, totalling 12 matches in final stages.

He gained 91 capped, the last against Slovakia in 2005.^[5] Four years later he rejoined the national side as assistant coach and, in 2013, was named manager of the under-21s.

Statistics

^[6]

Club

International

^[7]

Honours

Dinamo București

• Liga I: 1989–90, 1991–92
• Cupa României: 1989–90, 2004–05

Steaua București

• Liga I: 1995–96, 1996–97
• Cupa României: 1995–96, 1996–97
• Supercupa României: 1995

Rapid București

• Cupa României: 2001–02

References

External links

• RomanianSoccer profile and stats
• Bogdan Stelea profile at BDFutbol
• Bogdan Stelea at National-Football-Teams.com
• Bogdan Stelea – FIFA competition record

Romania squads
Romania squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Lung (c) 2 Rednic 3 Klein 4 Andone 5 Rotariu 6 G. Popescu 7 Lăcătuș 8 Sabău 9 Cămătaru 10 Hagi 11 Lupu 12 Stelea 13 A. Popescu 14 Răducioiu 15 Mateuț 16 Timofte 17 Dumitrescu 18 Balint 19 Săndoi 20 Muzsnay 21 Lupescu 22 Liliac Coach: Jenei Romania squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Prunea 2 Petrescu 3 Prodan 4 Belodedici 5 Lupescu 6 Popescu 7 Munteanu 8 Chiriță 9 Răducioiu 10 Hagi (c) 11 Dumitrescu 12 Stelea 13 Selymes 14 Mihali 15 Panduru 16 Vlădoiu 17 Moldovan 18 Gâlcă 19 Papură 20 Stîngă 21 Ivan 22 Preda Coach: Iordănescu Romania squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Stelea 2 Petrescu 3 Prodan 4 Belodedici 5 Lupescu 6 Popescu 7 Lăcătuș 8 Sabău 9 Răducioiu 10 Hagi (c) 11 Munteanu 12 Prunea 13 Selymes 14 Gâlcă 15 Doboș 16 Mihali 17 Filipescu 18 Stîngă 19 Ilie 20 Moldovan 21 Vlădoiu 22 Tene Coach: Iordănescu Romania squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Stângaciu 2 Petrescu 3 Dulca 4 Doboș 5 Gâlcă 6 Gheorghe Popescu 7 Lăcătuș 8 Munteanu 9 Moldovan 10 Hagi (c) 11 Ilie 12 Stelea 13 Ciobotariu 14 Niculescu 15 Marinescu 16 Gabriel Popescu 17 Dumitrescu 18 Filipescu 19 Stîngă 20 Selymes 21 Craioveanu 22 Prunea Coach: Iordănescu Romania squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Lobonț 2 Petrescu 3 Ciobotariu 4 Filipescu 5 Gâlcă 6 Popescu 7 Mutu 8 Munteanu 9 Moldovan 10 Hagi (c) 11 Ilie 12 Stelea 13 Chivu 14 Petre 15 Lupescu 16 Roșu 17 Belodedici 18 Ganea 19 Lincar 20 Hîldan 21 Prunea 22 Contra Coach: Jenei