Bănel Nicoliță (born 7 January 1985) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga IV club CSO Vălenii de Munte.
 Nicoliță playing for FCSB in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 January 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Făurei, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, wing back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | CSO Vălenii de Munte | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Unirea Făurei | ||
| 1993–2001 | Dacia Unirea Brăila | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Dacia Unirea Brăila | 77 | (23) |
| 2004 | Poli AEK Timișoara | 15 | (3) |
| 2005–2011 | Steaua București | 188 | (23) |
| 2011–2014 | Saint-Étienne | 25 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | → Nantes (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Viitorul Constanța | 37 | (6) |
| 2016–2017 | Făurei | 14 | (10) |
| 2017 | ASA Târgu Mureș | 19 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Aris Limassol | 12 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Făurei | 94 | (50) |
| 2024 | CS Amara | ||
| 2024– | CSO Vălenii de Munte | ||
| Total | 498 | (118) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003 | Romania U19 | 5 | (1) |
| 2003–2005 | Romania U21 | 13 | (1) |
| 2005–2014 | Romania | 37 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016–2017 | Făurei (player/coach) | ||
| 2018–2022 | Făurei(player/coach) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editDacia Unirea Brăila and Poli AEK Timișoara
editHe made his debut in Romanian Divizia B, playing for Dacia Unirea Brăila.[1] After, he joined Poli AEK Timișoara, making his Divizia A debut at the age of 19.[2] However, he made only 15 league appearances for the club before moving to Steaua București, at the beginning of 2005, he signed a 5-year contract with Steaua.[3]
Steaua București
editShortly after joining Steaua, Nicoliță won his first Divizia A title upon his first season with the team. He is known to be a humble and hard-working player. Although not very technical, his strengths include speed and quickness. Interestingly, on the video game PES 6, his skill set as a player matched all his commonly agreed upon strengths (including being humble), but he was also graced with technical ability and was able to play very effectively as a box to box midfielder with very tidy feet.
In the spring of 2006, he scored twice in the match against Real Betis,[4] his goals opening Steaua's door to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup, and then he scored again in the quarterfinals, this time against Rapid București to help his team reach the semifinals.
On 1 November 2006, he scored an own goal against Real Madrid in a Champions League encounter.[5] Unfortunately for him and the Romanian side, this turned out to be decisive in the outcome of the match. He claimed he couldn't sleep for 48 hours after scoring it. After a game with FC Argeș, Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor named him Bănelinho.
On 27 August 2008, he has scored one goal in the match against Galatasaray, in the third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League,[6] which sent Steaua to the group stage for the third consecutive year.
Starting with the 2010–11 season, Bănel was the new captain of Steaua București ,[7] but with the arrival of new coach Ilie Dumitrescu, he soon gave his armband to Cristian Tănase.
Saint-Étienne
editOn 30 August 2011, Saint-Étienne announced on their official website that they had reached an agreement with Steaua for Nicoliță's transfer and that the player would fly to France and undergo a medical the following day.[8] Being in his last year of contract with Steaua București the transfer fee was €700.000. He signed a contract worth €400.000 per year.[9]
On 6 November he scored his first goal helping Saint-Étienne draw against second place Montpellier.[10] In a game against Sochaux Nicoliță offered the assist for teenager Zouma to give Saint-Étienne the win.[11] After only six months with the French team he became a leader scoring 3 goals and offering 3 assists after his first 11 appearances.[12] In February 2012 Nicoliță hit a rough patch, having a couple of not so convincing games, being described as monotonous.[13] In March, he was sidelined for a couple of weeks, due to ligament problems.[14] He recovered in late March 2012 and played in the games against Montpellier and Olympique Lyonnais, both 1–0 defeats.[15]
Loan to Nantes
editOn 2 September 2013, Ligue 1 club FC Nantes confirmed Nicoliță was signed on a season long loan from Saint-Étienne. He made an assist for his first match against FC Sochaux.
International career
editNicoliță won 37 caps for Romania up to date and scored one goal. He also used to be a Romanian U21 international.
On 25 March 2008, he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu for the results on Qualifying to EURO 2008 and qualification to UEFA Euro 2008 Group C with Medalia "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class II with two barret.[16][17]
He was captain for the first time in the friendly against San Marino on 11 August 2011.
Personal life
editNicoliță is an ethnic Romani,[18] one of six brothers raised by his mother in the small, impoverished town of Făurei, Nicoliță grew up determined to succeed and his speed and diligence on the field are proof of his unalloyed passion for the game.
One of his brothers, Stelian is also a professional footballer who played for CF Brăila and other teams in the lower leagues of Romania.[19][20] Bănel and Stelian played together at their hometown team CS Făurei.[21]
Nicoliță has been nicknamed Jardel after famous Brazilian player Mário Jardel.
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dacia Unirea Brăila | 2001–02 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 4 | ||
| 2002–03 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 9 | |||
| 2003–04 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 10 | |||
| Total | 77 | 23 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 77 | 23 | |||
| Poli AEK Timișoara | 2004–05 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 3 | ||
| Steaua București | 2004–05 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | |
| 2005–06 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 11 | |
| 2006–07 | 32 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 3 | |
| 2007–08 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 35 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | 33 | 5 | ||
| 2009–10 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | 40 | 5 | ||
| 2010–11 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2011–12 | 5 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 188 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 64 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 262 | 34 | |
| Saint-Étienne | 2011–12 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| 2012–13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | |||
| Total | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | |
| Nantes (loan) | 2013–14 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| Viitorul Constanța | 2014–15 | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | 15 | 2 | |||
| 2015–16 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 | ||
| Total | 37 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 42 | 6 | ||
| ASA Târgu Mureș | 2016–17 | 19 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||
| Aris Limassol | 2017–18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 390 | 61 | 13 | 1 | 66 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 476 | 73 | |
International
edit| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 37 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nicoliță goal.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 June 2007 | Arena Petrol, Celje, Slovenia |  Slovenia |
2–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying |
Honours
editPlayer
editSteaua București
Saint-Étienne
Făurei
Coach
editFăurei
References
edit- ^ "Ionel Iuga: "Banel Nicolita o sa-l vrajeasca pe Sarkozy" - Braila - Ziare.com". www.ziare.com.
- ^ "Bănel Nicoliţă, transferat la Saint-Etienne".
- ^ "FCSB – site-ul oficial al FC Steaua Bucuresti". www.steauafc.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
- ^ Nicolita brace against Betis Archived 3 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.ziare.com/articole/autogol+banel+bernabeu Nicolita autogol cu Real Madrid
- ^ aedotnavzar (28 August 2008). "STEAUA – Galatasaray 1-0 – gol Nicolita". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Nicolita named captain Archived 18 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Accord pour Nicolita et Gradel (in French)
- ^ http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/nicolita-va-avea-la-st-etienne-un-salariu-mai-mare-decit-al-lui-torje-257887.html Contract Nicolita
- ^ "Ligue 1: Bănel Nicoliţă, primul gol pentru St. Etienne. Daniel Niculae a adus victoria lui Nancy".
- ^ "VIDEO Nicoliţă lăudat iar în presa franceză: "A fost un permanent pericol pentru Sochaux"".
- ^ "VIDEO Bănel din nou erou pentru Saint Etienne! Pasă de gol şi o ratare uriaşă".
- ^ http://www.gsp.ro/international/stranieri/nicolita-a-devenit-monoton-l-equipe-i-a-dat-nota-4-301833.html Nicolita a devenit monoton
- ^ http://www.ziare.com/banel-nicolita/stiri-banel-nicolita/accidentarea-lui-nicolita-mai-grava-decat-se-credea-initial-1153776 Accidentarea lui nicolita grava
- ^ sportsillustrated.cnn.com France roundup
- ^ "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF). Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ "Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc". Administrația Prezidențială. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Wilson, Jonathan (22 February 2007). "Kevin Flynn on Eastern European football: Can Steaua overturn their 2-0 deficit against Sevilla?". The Guardian.
- ^ "INTERVIU EXCLUSIV Fratele lui Bănel îi calcă pe urme acestuia! "Am mult de muncit pentru a-l egala"" [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Bănel's brother follows his traces! "I have a lot of work to equalize him"] (in Romanian). gsp.ro. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Viorel Ion îl vrea pe fratele lui Nicoliţă!" [Viorel Ion wants Nicolita's brother!] (in Romanian). prosport.ro. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ ""Fratii dinamita". Banel Nicolita inscrie pe banda rulanta la Faurei, alaturi de fratele sau, iar echipa e lider detasat" ["The Dynamite Brothers". Banel Nicolita scores many goals at Faurei alongside his brother, and the team is the top leader] (in Romanian). sport.ro. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Bănel Nicoliță". European Football. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
External links
edit- Banel Nicolita at FC Steaua București at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 May 2011) (in Romanian)
- Bănel NICOLIȚĂ at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- Bănel Nicoliţă at Soccerway