Cătălin Cursaru

Romanian footballer

Cătălin Cursaru
Personal information
Full name Cătălin Marcel Cursaru
Date of birth (1978-03-29) 29 March 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth Ploieşti, Romania
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Astra Ploieşti
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Astra Ploieşti
1999 → Chimia Brazi (loan)
2000–2005 FCM Bacău 130 (49)
2005–2006 SC Vaslui 11 (0)
2006–2008 Progresul București 40 (5)
2008 Aerostar Bacău 8 (2)
2009 Tricolorul Breaza 7 (0)
Total 196 (56)
International career‡
2002 Romania B[1] 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 October 2009
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 January 2002

Cătălin Marcel Cursaru (born 29 March 1978) is a retired Romanian footballer.

Over the course of seven Liga I seasons, Cursaru amassed totals of 167 games and 51 goals.

Club career

Born in Ploieşti, Prahova, Cursaru came through the youth ranks of local Astra Ploieşti, going on to finish his sporting formation with the Divizia C team Chimia Brazi. After one season in Divizia C, he made his Divizia A debut in 2000–01, against Steaua on 7 August 2000 (scoring twice in the process).

FCM Bacău

On 26 January 2000, he signed for FCM Bacău, but he played no matches, because he was a dispute subject between Bacău and his former club Astra.[2] The striker was eligible to play, starting August 2000, and soon after he scored his first two goals in his Liga I debut.[2] He finished his first top flight season with 15 goals.

In his second season, he partnered Cristian Ciocoiu, and he netted 17 goals (competition best) but his reference point, was when he scored a scissor kick against Dinamo, and his goal was selected "Play of the Day" by CNN.[3] At the end of the season, media reported that German side Hertha Berlin offered $1,800,000, but Sechelariu asked $300,000 more, and the negotiations collapsed.[4] To not be criticised by Cursaru, Sechelariu raised his player's wage up to $10,000 per month.[4] However, after the transfer failure, the player never regained his form and confidence.[2] In the next three years, he produced only 17 goals, in 75 matches. In 2003, he impressed in a trial for the Norwegian side SK Brann, but once again, Sechelariu's demands, made the transaction collapsing.[5]

In total, Cursaru scored 49 goals in the shirt of FCM Bacău in five seasons, leaving the club in July 2005 after he refused to extend his contract.[6]

Rest of career

Cursaru signed a two-year contract with Divizia A side SC Vaslui on 11 October 2005,[7] but he ultimately failed to impress,[8] scoring none during the season, in which Vaslui eventually remained in the top flight. He released his contract in late April.[9] Following the unsuccessful spell in Vaslui, in June 2006 he signed with FC Naţional.[10] He played for a year and a half for the "Bankers", but ultimately he was released following his low goal-per-match rate. Following two unsuccessful attempts to revive himself in the lower divisions, for Aerostar Bacău[11] and Tricolorul Breaza,[12] and without any offer for almost a year, he officially retired in mid-2011 from professional football.[13]

Club statistics

Club Season League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bacău 2000–01 26 15 2 1 28 16
2001–02 29 17 2 2 31 19
2002–03 25 6 3 0 28 6
2003–04 27 7 1 0 28 7
2004–05 23 4 2 0 25 4
Total 130 49 10 3 140 52
Vaslui 2005–06 11 0 1 0 12 0
Total 11 0 1 0 12 0
Progresul 2006–07 26 2 1 1 27 3
2007–08 14 3 1 0 15 3
Total 40 5 2 1 42 6
Aerostar 2008–09 8 2 0 0 8 2
Total 8 2 0 0 8 2
Breaza 2009–10 7 0 1 0 8 0
Total 7 0 1 0 8 0
Career total 196 56 14 4 210 60

Statistics accurate as of match played 15 October 2009

Honours

Individual

  • Topscorer of Romanian First League: 2002.

References

  1. ^ "Cătălin Cursaru". 11v11.com. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Marire si decadere" (in Romanian). Desteptarea. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Tun de 1.8 milioane de dolari ratat" (in Romanian). Cancan. 2 May 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Oficialii Hethei erau dispusi sa dea 1.800.000$ pe Cursaru" (in Romanian). Prosport. 6 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Cheta pentru Cursaru" (in Romanian). 9AM. 16 September 2005.
  6. ^ "Ca la Calugareni" (in Romanian). 9AM. 9 May 2005.
  7. ^ "Cursaru joaca la Timișoara" (in Romanian). Evenimentul. 6 October 2005.
  8. ^ "Cursaru e gras" (in Romanian). News Pad. 13 November 2005. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Cursaru a parasit Vasluiul" (in Romanian). Evenimentul. 13 April 2006.
  10. ^ "RoMercato vara 2006" (in Romanian). Onlinesport. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Inca o aventura ratata" (in Romanian). Ziarul Prahova. 7 November 2008.
  12. ^ "Cursaru dat afara de la Breaza" (in Romanian). Liga 2. 15 October 2009.
  13. ^ "De la "Play of the Day" la "End of Play"" (in Romanian). Liga 2. 3 January 2011.

External links

  • Cătălin Cursaru at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
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Liga I top scorers