Florin Oprea (2 January 1948 – 23 April 2024) was a Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.[3] He was part of "U" Craiova's team that won the 1973–74 Divizia A, which was the first trophy in the club's history.[3][4]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 January 1948[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Măceșu de Sus, Romania[2] | ||
| Date of death | 23 April 2024 (aged 76) | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper[2] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1975 | Universitatea Craiova | 102 | (0) |
| 1975–1977 | Dinamo Slatina | ||
| Total | 102 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1969–1970 | Romania U23 | 6 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editOprea was born on 2 January 1948 in Măceșu de Sus, Romania.[2] He started his senior career in 1967 at Universitatea Craiova, making his Divizia A debut on 17 December under coach Robert Cosmoc in a 4–2 home win over Rapid București.[2][5] He was close to win the title in the 1972–73 season but "U" finished on the second place on equal points with Dinamo București, losing controversially on the goal difference for which poet Adrian Păunescu nicknamed Craiova as "Campioana unei mari iubiri" (The Champion of a great love).[2][6][7][8] Eventually he helped the team win its first title in history in the following season, coach Constantin Cernăianu using him in 23 games from the campaign.[2][5][6][9] In the next season he made his debut in a European competition, playing in a 3–1 away loss in front of Åtvidaberg in the first round of the European Cup, also the team reached the Cupa României final in which however he did not play in the 2–1 loss with Rapid București.[2][6][10][11] Oprea made his last Divizia A appearance on 8 December 1974, keeping a clean sheet for Universitatea Craiova in a 6–0 win over FC Galați, having a total of 102 matches with 94 goals conceded in the competition.[2] He played two more seasons at Dinamo Slatina in Divizia B, afterwards retiring.[2][12][13]
From 1969 until 1970, Oprea made six appearances for Romania's under-23 national team.[14][15]
Personal life
editIn 2023, Oprea was named Honorary Citizen of Craiova.[5][6][15][16] In the same year he talked about his career in an interview, saying:"There were beautiful and interesting aspects, my greatest joy was when I arrived in the courtyard of Universitatea Craiova. It was a moment of joy when I was informed that I was staying in the group. I did my job, I had competition because in front of me were two experienced goalkeepers, Papuc and Vasilescu. They left, I came instead. The joys were enough, let's not forget that in almost 10 years, only three coaches have changed. Cosmoc took me, Coidum matured me and Cernăianu consecrated me. There have been good times since I made my debut, and it all culminated in winning the title in 1974".[5]
Oprea died on 23 April 2024, at the age of 76.[5]
Honours
editUniversitatea Craiova
References
edit- ^ Florin Oprea at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Florin Oprea at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- ^ a b "Legendarii Universității Craiova se revoltă: "Cei mai buni sunt împiedicați să-și dovedească valoarea pe teren". Lupta pentru titlu, văzută ca o conspirație națională de un fost jucător al "Campioanei unei mari iubiri"" [The legends of the Universitatea Craiova revolt: "The best are prevented from proving their worth on the field". The fight for the title, seen as a national conspiracy by a former player of the "Champion of a great love"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Fotbal – S-au împlinit 40 de ani de la primul titlu de campioană cucerit de Universitatea Craiova" [Football - 40 years since the first champion title won by the Universitatea of Craiova] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Tragedie în Oltenia! A murit portarul echipei care cucerea primul titlu din istoria Universității Craiova" [Tragedy in Oltenia! The goalkeeper of the team that won the first title in the history of Universitatea Craiova has died] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "A murit portarul de la primul titlu al Universității Craiova" [The goalkeeper from the first title of the Universitatea Craiova has died] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Craiova, campioana unei mari iubiri. O idee care a intrat în legendă" [Craiova, the champion of a great love. An idea that has become legendary] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Campioana unei mari iubiri! Prima echipă de legendă a Universității Craiova s-a "născut" în anii 70!" [The champion of a great love! The first legendary team of the University of Craiova was "born" in the 70s!] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Romanian Cup - Season 1974 - 1975". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Florin Oprea. Champions League 1974/1975". WorldFootball. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Doliu în sport: a murit Florin Oprea" [Mourning in sport: Florin Oprea died] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Fotbalul românesc e în doliu. Un portar al Universității Craiova a murit" [Romanian football is in mourning. A goalkeeper of the Universitatea Craiova died] (in Romanian). Realitateasportiva.net. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Florin Oprea profile". 11v11. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Doliu în Oltenia: a murit portarul cu care Universitatea Craiova a câştigat primul titlu de campioană. "Nu îl vom uita niciodată!"" [Mourning in Oltenia: the goalkeeper with whom the Universitatea Craiova won the first championship title has died. "We will never forget him!"] (in Romanian). Romaniatv.ro. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Veste tristă pentru familia Universității Craiova. Portarul "Campioanei unei mari iubiri" a murit la vârsta de 76 de ani" [Sad news for Universitatea Craiova family. The goalkeeper of the "Champion of a great love" died at the age of 76] (in Romanian). Propsort.ro. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
External links
edit- Florin Oprea at Labtof.ro