Florin Prunea

Florin Prunea

Prunea with Romania in 1994
Personal information
Date of birth	(1968-08-08) 8 August 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Bucharest, Romania
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1977–1985	Dinamo București
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1998	Dinamo București	165	(0)
1988–1990	→ Universitatea Cluj (loan)	56	(0)
1990–1992	→ Universitatea Craiova (loan)	48	(0)
1998	Universitatea Cluj	7	(0)
1998–1999	Erzurumspor	11	(0)
1999	Astra Ploiești	1	(0)
1999–2000	Universitatea Craiova	24	(0)
2000	Litex Lovech	8	(0)
2001–2002	Dinamo București	22	(0)
2002–2003	FCM Bacău	27	(0)
2003	FC Brașov	14	(0)
2004	FCM Bacău	15	(0)
2004–2005	Skoda Xanthi	2	(0)
2005–2006	Național București	4	(0)
Total		404	(0)
International career
1990–2001	Romania	41	(0)
Managerial career
2010–2011	Dinamo București (sporting director)
2011–2012	Astra Ploiești (president)
2012–2017	Politehnica Iași (president)
2019–2020	Dinamo București (president)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Florin Prunea (born 8 August 1968) is a former Romanian profesional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Florin Prunea was born on 8 August 1968 in București, Romania and he started playing football at junior level in 1977 when he went to play for Steaua București but he was rejected, shortly afterwards going at rival, Dinamo București where coach Fane Stănculescu used him as a striker in his first three years, then he worked with Gheorghe Timar who started using him as a goalkeeper and in the later years of his youth career he was coached by Iosif Varga, also during his youth years he was teammate with future national team competitor, Bogdan Stelea. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} He made his Divizia A debut on 31 May 1986 under coach Mircea Lucescu in a 5–0 loss in front of Sportul Studențesc București, however he made only a few appearances in the first three seasons as his childhood idol, Dumitru Moraru was still the first choice goalkeeper of The Red Dogs so he and other players were sent to Universitatea Cluj in exchange for Ioan Sabău. ^{[1] [2] [3] [6] [7] [8]} After two seasons spent at "U" Cluj in which he was a first choice goalkeeper, he went to play for Universitatea Craiova where in his first season he helped the club win The Double, being used by coach Sorin Cârțu in 32 Divizia A matches who also used him in the 2–1 victory from the Cupa României final in front of FC Bacău. ^{[1] [2] [9] [10] [11] [12]} In 1992, Prunea returned at Dinamo, where he lived his most steady period, remaining with the team for six seasons but without winning any trophies. ^[1] In the following years he switched many teams, first going for a second spell at "U" Cluj, then he had his first experience abroad by playing for Turkish Süper Lig side, Erzurumspor, afterwards he returned to Romania and played just one game in the 1999–2000 season for Astra Ploiești as he played for Universitatea Craiova for the rest of the season and had his second spell abroad, this time in Bulgaria at Litex Lovech where he was teammate with fellow Romanian, Valeriu Răchită, also being in the center of a controversy where he was accused of match fixing after a game against Levski Sofia. ^{[1] [13] [14] [15] [16]} He returned for a third spell at Dinamo in the middle of the 2001–02 season by the end of which he helped the team win the 2000–01 Cupa României, being used by coach Cornel Dinu in the 4–2 victory from the final against Rocar București and in the following season he helped the team win the title but he made only 6 appearances, being the team's second choice goalkeeper behind Bogdan Lobonț. ^{[1] [9] [17]} In the last years of his career, Prunea had two spells at FCM Bacău which were interfered by a period spent at FC Brașov, he had his third and final spell abroad at Super League Greece team, Skoda Xanthi where he was teammate with compatriot Stelian Carabaș and ended his career at Național București where he made his last Divizia A appearance on 5 November 2005 in a 3–2 loss against Oțelul Galați, gaining a total of 383 appearances in the competition and he also has a total of 17 appearances in European competitions (including 3 appearances in the Intertoto Cup). ^{[1] [18]}

International career

Florin Prunea played 41 games in which he conceded 26 goals at international level for Romania, making his debut on 5 December 1990 under coach Mircea Rădulescu in a 6–0 victory against San Marino at the Euro 1992 qualifiers in which he made a total of 3 appearances. ^{[1] [3] [19] [20]} He made three appearances at the successful 1994 World Cup qualifiers, being part of the "Golden Generation" that reached the quarter-finals of the final tournament, being used by coach Anghel Iordănescu in only one game from the group stage in which he kept a clean sheet in the 1–0 victory in front of the USA, as in the first two Bogdan Stelea was preferred, but Prunea played from the eight-finals onwards, rather badly when he conceded an easy goal from Balbo in the 75th minute of the eventual 3–2 victory due to splendid performances by Dumitrescu and Hagi in front of Argentina but another mistake in the quarter-final game against Sweden would not go by unpunished, where after a goal by Brolin in the 78th minute and double goals by Răducioiu in the 88th and 101st minute, the outcome seemed to be Romanian victory yet again when with five minutes to the final whistle, Prunea did not jump in time at a 40 meters cross and gave giant striker Kennet Andersson the chance to level the score to 2–2 so the game went on to penalties where Sweden won 5–4 after Petrescu and Belodedici could not defeat Thomas Ravelli. ^{[19] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]} He played one game at the successful Euro 1996 qualifiers, also being used by Iordănescu in a 2–1 loss against Spain as Romania did not pass the group stage of the final tournament. ^[19] He played two games at the successful 1998 World Cup qualifiers and was selected by Iordănescu to be part of the squad that went at the final tournament, however he did not made any appearances there. ^[19] In his final years, Florin Prunea was selected by coach Emerich Jenei to be part of the squad that went at the Euro 2000 final tournament without playing and on 25 April 2001 he made his last appearance for the national team in a friendly which ended 0–0 in front of Slovakia. ^[19]

For representing his country during 1990–2000 at the World and European Cups final tournaments, Prunea was decorated by President of Romania Traian Băsescu on 25 March 2008 with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III. ^[32]

International stats

Appearances and goals by national team and year ^[19]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Romania	1990	2	0
	1991	6	0
	1992	0	0
	1993	8	0
	1994	10	0
	1995	2	0
	1996	6	0
	1997	1	0
	1998	1	0
	1999	0	0
	2000	3	0
	2001	2	0
Total		41	0

Honours

Dinamo București

• Divizia A: 2001–02 ^[1]
• Cupa României: 1985–86, 2000–01 ^[1]
• Supercupa României runner-up: 2001

Universitatea Craiova

• Divizia A: 1990–91 ^[1]
• Cupa României: 1990–91 ^[1]

Universitatea Cluj

• Cupa Ligii runner-up: 1998 ^[1]

Național București

• Cupa României runner-up: 2005–06

References

1. Florin Prunea at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
2. "INTERVIU EVENIMENT din Marbella, cu Florin Prunea: "La ce talent am avut, dacă munceam cum a făcut-o Stelea, nu mai apăra el un minut în fața mea!" (Partea I)" [EVENT INTERVIEW from Marbella, with Florin Prunea: "What a talent I had, if I worked as Stelea did, he wouldn't defend for a minute in front of me!" (Part I)] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
3. "Prieteni și mari rivali: dialog amuzant în direct între Stelea și Prunea "S-a întors spre noi și, bum!, a leșinat" + cariera ratată de strungar și dormitul pe bănci, în Ștefan cel Mare" [Friends and great rivals: funny dialogue live between Stelea and Prunea "He turned towards us and, boom!, he fainted" + the missed career as a turner and sleeping on benches, in Stephen the Great] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
4. "Ziua care i-a schimbat cariera lui Florin Prunea: "M-am dus la Steaua și mi-au zis: Băi băiatule, du-te și apucă-te tu de altceva!. Plângeam de rușine"" [The day that changed Florin Prunea's career: "I went to Steaua and they told me: Hey boy, go and do something else! I was crying with shame"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
5. "Povestea boemilor din fotbalul românesc. "Flencea" şi cu Varga erau "academicieni profesori doctori în ştiinţe alcoolice"" [The story of the bohemians in Romanian football. "Flencea" and Varga were "academic doctoral professors in alcoholic sciences"] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
6. "Show în "Groapă"! Întîlnirile dintre Dinamo şi Sportul au fost mai mereu meciuri - spectacol!" [Show in the "Pit"! The meetings between Dinamo and Sportul were always show-matches!] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
7. "Sabău: "Munceam să nu scap mâncarea"" [Sabău: "I was working not to drop the food"] (in Romanian). Zcj.ro. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
8. "Cum au fost create marile echipe ale anilor '80?. Episodul 3: Dinamo - Show cu doar 14 "câini". Dar de rasă" [How were the great teams of the '80s created? Episode 3: Dinamo - Show with only 14 "dogs". But dogs of race] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
9. "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
10. "Romanian Cup – Season 1990–1991". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
11. "Universitatea Cluj 1988–89 season" (in Romanian). 4everucluj.ro.
12. "Universitatea Cluj 1989–90 season" (in Romanian). 4everucluj.ro.
13. "Litex Lovech Squad 2000/2001". WorldFootball. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
14. "Un roman, "teparul secolului" in Bulgaria" [A Romanian, is the "con man of the century" in Bulgaria] (in Romanian). Ziare.com. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
15. "Florin Prunea, "ţeparul secolului" în Bulgaria" [Florin Prunea, "the con man of the century" in Bulgaria] (in Romanian). Click.ro. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
16. "Florin Prunea, acuzat de blat" [Florin Prunea, accused of match fixing] (in Romanian). A1.ro. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
17. "Romanian Cup – Season 2000–2001". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
18. "Xanthi FC Squad 2004/2005". WorldFootball. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
19. "Florin Prunea". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
20. "Romania 6-0 San Marino". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
21. "Argentina 2-3 Romania". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
22. "Romania 2-2 Sweden". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
23. ""Ei sunt jucătorii din Generația de Aur care nu driblau". Dezvăluirea făcută de Ilie Dumitrescu" ["They are the players of the Golden Generation who did not dribble." The disclosure made by Ilie Dumitrescu] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
24. "Confesiunile unui portar de legendă: Bogdan Stelea: "N-am fost ușă de biserică!"" [The confessions of a legendary goalkeeper: Bogdan Stelea: "I wasn't a church doorman!"] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
25. "Cum au fost create marile echipe ale anilor '80?. Episodul 3: Dinamo - Show cu doar 14 "câini". Dar de rasă" [How were the great teams of the '80s created? Episode 3: Dinamo - Show with only 14 "dogs". But dogs of race] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
26. "Superb! The Guardian: România - Argentina 3-2, cel mai tare meci din istoria Cupei Mondiale!" [Superb! The Guardian: Romania - Argentina 3-2, the biggest match in the history of the World Cup!] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
27. "Florin Prunea a rememorat, după 28 de ani, gafa din meciul cu Suedia, de la CM 1994: "Îmi venea să fac o groapă"" [Florin Prunea recalled, after 28 years, the mistake in the match with Sweden, from the WC 1994: "I felt like digging myself a hole"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
28. "Florin Prunea, dezvăluire după 27 de ani de la coșmarul cu Suedia: "Nea Puiu, eu nu ies. Uite ce-i aici, mă omoară ăștia!"" [Florin Prunea, revelation after 27 years since the nightmare with Sweden: "Nea Puiu, I'm not going out. Look what's here, they're killing me!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
29. "Îl mai țineți minte pe nesuferitul Ravelli? După 25 de ani, ce fac acum jucătorii României și Suediei care s-au duelat în "sfertul" CM 1994" [Do you remember the insufferable Ravelli? After 25 years, what are the players of Romania and Sweden doing now who fought in the "quarters" of the 1994 WC] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
30. "Anghel Iordănescu recunoaște după 25 de ani marea eroare de la meciul cu Suedia: "Am greșit! Trebuia să-l schimb pe Prunea cu Stelea la penalty-uri"" [Anghel Iordănescu admits after 25 years the big mistake from the match with Sweden: "I was wrong! I should have replaced Prunea with Stelea in the penalties"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
31. "Florin Prunea reacționează după criticile lui Răducioiu: "E vina mea. Și eu îl iubesc"" [Florin Prunea reacts to Răducioiu's criticism: "It's my fault. I love him too"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
32. "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF). Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

External links

• Florin Prunea at WorldFootball.net