Daniel Clitnovici (born 8 July 1982) is an Australian/American soccer coach and former professional soccer player. Clitnovici currently is the head coach of division one Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders Women's Soccer program.[2] He was the former head coach of Atlantic City FC, the Colorado Rapids Women, Colorado Pride Women and the assistant coach of the Western New York Flash of the National Women's Soccer League; the 2010 W-League champions, 2011 Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) Champions, the 2012 Women's Premier Soccer League Elite Champions, and the 2013 and 2016 National Women's Soccer League season champions.[3]

Daniel Clitnovici
Personal information
Full name Daniel Clitnovici
Date of birth (1982-07-08) 8 July 1982 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Surfers Paradise, Australia[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Gold Coast Knights 87 (12)
2002–2003 CS Universitatea Craiova 1 (0)
2003–2004 Barnsley FC 11 (0)
2004 Gold Coast United 26 (5)
2005–2006 CS Universitatea Craiova 9 (1)
2007–2008 Apollon Smyrnis 32 (9)
2008 Elche CF / Elche Ilicitano 28 (0)
Total 194 (27)
Managerial career
2008–2011 Colorado Force (W-League) – Assistant coach
2011–2014 Colorado Rapids (USL Super 20) – Head coach
2011–2014 Colorado Rapids Women (W-League) – Head coach
2014–2015 Colorado Pride (W-League) – Head coach
2015–2016 Western New York Flash (NWSL) – Assistant coach
2016–2017 Ohio State University – Assistant coach
2017–2022 Villanova University – Associate head coach
2022 Atlantic City FC (NPSL) – Head coach
2022-24 Ursinus College – Head coach
2024- Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders – Head coach
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Coaching career

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Clitnovici was the previous head coach of Colorado Rapids Women[4] and Colorado Pride[5] both of which played in the USL W-League. He was named USL W-League Coach of the year in 2014[6] after leading w-league expansion side Colorado Pride to a Western Conference Championship final. While at Colorado Pride Clitnovici established a defense that did not concede a single goal on its home field and produced a fast-flowing attacking style of play that entertained W-League fans league wide. Clitnovici's direction and guidance to players at the Pride were very influential, as several of his players from his 2014 squad have gone on to play professionally in the US and abroad.[7][8][9]

In 2012 in addition to coaching the Colorado Rapids Women, Daniel Clitnovici was the head coach of the Colorado Rapids U20 Ladies team which went on to win a United Soccer League Under 20 National Championship hosted at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The Colorado Rapids defeated DC United 1–0.[10]

Clitnovici previously managed and directed the Western New York Flash Youth Academy in the role of academy executive director of coaching. Clitnovici was hired by the Ohio State Women's Soccer program in 2016 as an assistant head coach[11] In February 2017 it was announced by Villanova University Wildcats that Clitnovici would be joining their women's soccer program.[12] His coaching education includes: US Soccer Federation "A" License, UEFA "A" License, NSCAA Advanced National License, NSCAA Advanced National GK License, NSCAA Director of Coaching License[13]

Playing career

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As a player Daniel Clitnovici played with Romanian Liga I Champions CS Universitatea Craiova,[14] Apollon Smyrni F.C. in Greece, Gold Coast United FC in Australia, as well as several other clubs in both England, Spain and Australia[15][16][17][18]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Daniel Clitnovici". WorldFootball.net.
  2. ^ "Clitnovici Named Head Women's Soccer Coach". goislanders.com/sports/womens-soccer/coaches. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Flash add assistant coach". wnyflash.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Q&A with Rapids Head Coach". coloradorapids.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  5. ^ "W-League adds Colorado Pride". soccernation.com.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  6. ^ "W-League award winners". wleaguesoccer.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Rodriguez, Weber, Eckerstrom selected in NWSL draft". centredaily.com. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  8. ^ "SydneyFC Roster". sydneyfc.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  9. ^ "NWSLnews". nwsl.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Rapids women clinch super20 title". coloradorapids.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.Archived 2018-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ ""/> <meta property="og:description" content="". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  12. ^ "McLain adds Experience with New Assistant Coach Daniel Clitnovici". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Bio Daniel Clitnovici".
  14. ^ "UCraiovaSquad 2006–7". universitateacraiova.ro. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  15. ^ "FC Universitatea Craiova Squad 2002/2003". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Australia Player Database". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  17. ^ "WNYFlash Staff". wnyflash.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  18. ^ "Football Databse". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
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