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Nicolae Dobrin

Nicolae Dobrin
Dobrin with Argeș Pitești in the 1970s
Personal information
Date of birth (1947-08-26)26 August 1947
Place of birth Pitești, Romania
Date of death 26 October 2007(2007-10-26) (aged 60)
Place of death Pitești, Romania
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1959–1962 Dinamo Pitești
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1981 Argeș Pitești 390 (106)
1981–1982 FCM Târgoviște[b] 13 (5)
1982–1983 Argeș Pitești 5 (0)
1985–1986 CS Botoșani
Total 408 (111)
International career
1966–1980 Romania[a] 48 (6)
Managerial career
1982–1985 Argeș Pitești
1985–1986 CS Botoșani
1992 Argeș Pitești
1995 Argeș Pitești
1998–1999 Argeș Pitești
Medal record
Argeș Pitești
Winner Romanian League 1971
Winner Romanian League 1979
Runner-up Romanian Cup 1965
Runner-up Romanian League 1968
Runner-up Romanian League 1978
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nicolae Dobrin (Romanian pronunciation: [nikoˈla.e doˈbrin]; 26 August 1947 – 26 October 2007) was a Romanian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and a manager.

Nicknamed Gâscanul ("The Gander") or Prințul din Trivale ("The Prince of Trivale"), he is considered one of Romania's greatest footballers. Renowned for his dribbling ability, Dobrin received the Romanian Footballer of the Year award on three occasions, in 1966, 1967, and 1971, and a stadium in his native Pitești named after him.

Club career

[edit]

"The player I loved and for whom I will hold a special esteem is Gicu Dobrin. Thanks to him I became a respected coach, thanks to him I and FC Argeș were champions. He was a phenomenal player"

–Florin Halagian, former Argeș Pitești manager[4]

Dobrin, nicknamed Gâscanul ("The Gander") or Prințul din Trivale ("The Prince of Trivale") was born on 26 August 1947 in Pitești, Argeș County, Romania and he is considered one of Romania's greatest footballers.[3][5][6] He began playing football as a child with his friends on a field they nicknamed "Maracana", located close to the Argeș river.[5][6][7] One day in 1959 some players from Dinamo Pitești came to play with them, and Dobrin's team won 12–2, with him scoring six goals.[5][6][7] After the game, Leonte Ianovschi, a coach at the youth center of Dinamo Pitești told him to come to the club's training sessions.[5] Dobrin played for the first time in a Divizia A match when he was still 14 years old, on 1 July 1962, coach Ștefan Vasile using him in a match between Știința Cluj and Dinamo Pitești that ended with a 5–1 loss, thus holding the record of the youngest debutant in the competition.[8][9]

Dobrin, aged 18 (pictured front row, fourth from right) with Dinamo Pitești in 1965.

Dobrin played for his local club Argeș Pitești for most of his professional career, his first performance occurred when the team reached the 1965 Cupa României final, where coach Virgil Mărdărescu used him as a starter in the eventual 2–1 loss to Știința Cluj.[6][10] Afterwards, under the guidance of coach Florin Halagian he won two Divizia A titles.[11][12] For the 1971–72 title, he formed a successful trio in the offence with Constantin Radu and Radu Jercan, being the team's top-scorer with 15 goals netted in 23 matches.[11][12] During the winning of the 1978–79 title, he formed another successful attacking trio, this time with Marin Radu and Doru Nicolae, Dobrin contributing with nine goals scored in 22 matches.[3][8][12][13] Dobrin was decisive in the final game of the season against Dinamo București in which he netted the final goal of the 4–3 victory, his performance being appreciated by journalist Ioan Chirilă who gave him a grade 10 in the Sportul newspaper.[3][8][13][14]

Dobrin played 25 games and scored eight goals in European competitions (including 12 games and two goals in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup).[3] He appeared in six games in the 1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, as in the first two rounds Dinamo Pitești eliminated Sevilla and Toulouse, Dobrin scoring once against the latter, being defeated in the third round with 1–0 on aggregate by Dinamo Zagreb who eventually won the competition.[3][15][16][17] In the winter of 1966, because the French people were impressed that they defeated Toulouse, Dinamo Pitești was invited to participate at the friendly tournament organized in Marseille called Tele-magazine International Cup.[15] There, two emissaries of Inter Milan made an offer of $250,000 to Dinamo Pitești to transfer the 19-year old Dobrin at Helenio Herrera's team, but Dinamo's officials did not want to negotiate, being fearful of possible consequences they would face from Romania's communist regime.[15]

Dobrin with FC Argeș

In the first round of the 1972–73 European Cup, he helped Argeș Pitești get past Aris Bonnevoie by scoring three goals.[18] In the following round they won a home game with 2–1 against Real Madrid in which Dobrin opened the score but lost the second leg with 3–1.[18] However, this was enough for Real Madrid's president Santiago Bernabéu to want him at the club, making a potential record breaking offer of $2 million and a nocturne installation for the 1 Mai stadium in Pitești.[6][15][19][20][21] Because of the communist regime in Romania in that period, Bernabéu had to hold talks with dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu himself, but could not persuade him, because Dobrin was regarded as a "national treasure" and such values could not be "estranged", especially not playing in a team from the country of Francisco Franco's fascist dictatorship.[19][20] It is said that this was the biggest regret of Dobrin's life, although he did eventually end up playing in Francisco Gento's testimonial, in the famous "blanco" shirt of Real Madrid.[19][20][22] On this occasion Santiago Bernabéu made a last unsuccessful attempt to keep the Romanian player in Madrid.[19][20][23]

In the 1978–79 UEFA Cup, Argeș defeated Valencia in the home game with 2–1, Dobrin opening the score from an indirect free kick.[13][16][24] According to his former teammate Andrei Speriatu, after the game, Mario Kempes, who had just won the World Cup with Argentina as the top-scorer and best player of the tournament, went to Dobrin and told him:"You are a great player!".[13][16][24] However, Argeș lost the second leg with 5–2.[13][16][24] His last four appearances in European competitions were in the 1979–80 European Cup as they eliminated AEK Athens in the first round, being eliminated in the following one by title holders and eventual winners, Nottingham Forest.[3][25]

Dobrin (left) pictured with Ilie Balaci

In 1981, he went to play for FCM Târgoviște in Divizia B, scoring 17 goals in his first season which helped them gain promotion to Divizia A, where in the following season he played 13 games and scored five goals.[3][6][26] In 1982 he returned to Argeș Pitești as a player-coach, making his last appearance as a player on 14 June 1983 in a 2–0 victory against Bihor Oradea.[3][6] In the 1985–86 Divizia B season, Dobrin came out of retirement, being a player-coach at CS Botoșani.[3][6][27][28] Throughout his career, Dobrin played 409 Divizia A matches in which he scored 111 goals and he was the Romanian Footballer of the Year in 1966, 1967 and 1971.[3][6][4]

In 2003, the Local Council of Pitești decided to rename Argeș Pitești's stadium into Stadionul Nicolae Dobrin in his honor.[29] In 2008, a statue of him was displayed within the stadium.[30]

International career

[edit]
Dobrin with Romania

Dobrin played 47 games and scored six goals for Romania, making his debut on 1 June 1966 under coach Ilie Oană in a friendly that ended with a 1–0 loss to West Germany played at Südweststadion in Ludwigshafen.[1][31] He made a good impression in the game, showing his dribbling abilities in front of West Germany's experienced midfielder Horst Szymaniak and after the game, World Cup winner Fritz Walter went into Romania's locker room to tell Dobrin: "Boy, if you're good and drink a lot of milk, you're going to be a great player!".[6][13][15] The press from West Germany also praised Dobrin, the newspaper 5 Uhr Blatt wrote the next day: "Game coordinator Dobrin has impressed with his demonstrated high class" and Die Rheinpfalz wrote: "Of special class is Dobrin, who for his age proves an impressive maturity and a brilliant technique".[6][13][15]

Dobrin played four games and scored two goals against Italy and Switzerland in the Euro 1968 qualifiers.[1] Afterwards, he appeared in three games in which he scored one goal in a 1–0 victory against Portugal in the successful 1970 World Cup qualifiers.[1][32] He was selected by coach Angelo Niculescu to be part of Romania's 1970 World Cup squad but did not play in any match.[6][32] The reasons for Niculescu's decision not to play him remain unclear, but his absence is considered one of the most controversial moments in Romanian football history.[6][32][33] He played six matches and scored two goals in the 1972 Euro qualifiers, managing to reach the quarter-finals where Romania was defeated by Hungary who advanced to the final tournament.[1] He went on to play three games in which he scored one goal in the 1974 World Cup qualifiers, three appearances in the Euro 1976 qualifiers, one appearance in the Euro 1980 qualifiers and two in the 1977–80 Balkan Cup.[1] Dobrin made his last appearance for the national team on 2 April 1980 in a friendly which ended in a 2–2 draw against East Germany.[1]

International goals

[edit]
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dobrin goal.[1]
List of international goals scored by Nicolae Dobrin
# Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 November 1966 Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy 5  Italy 1–0 1–3 Euro 1968 qualifiers
2 24 May 1967 Hardturm, Zürich, Switzerland 11   Switzerland 1–7 1–7 Euro 1968 qualifiers
3 12 October 1969 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 18  Portugal 1–0 1–0 1970 World Cup qualifiers
4 14 November 1971 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 27  Czechoslovakia 2–1 2–1 1972 Euro qualifiers
5 14 May 1972 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 29  Hungary 1–1 2–2 1972 Euro quarter-finals
6 29 October 1972 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 33  Albania 1–0 2–0 1974 World Cup qualifiers

Managerial career

[edit]

Dobrin started his managerial career in the 1982–83 Divizia A season as a player-coach at Argeș Pitești.[6] He coached Argeș Pitești on several occasions, managing the club in a total of 138 Divizia A matches.[6] His only coaching experience outside of Argeș Pitești was in the 1985–86 Divizia B season, when he served as a player-coach at CS Botoșani.[6][27][28] Dobrin also worked as a technical director for a short while at ARO Muscelul Câmpulung alongside head coach Ion Oblemenco at the end of the 1994–95 Divizia C season.[34] They helped the team get promoted to the second league after winning a promotion play-off against ICIM Brașov.[34]

Style of play

[edit]

Dobrin's style of play was praised by journalist Ion Cupen as follows:"Dobrin amazed with his perfect technique, refinement, tactical sense, sharp shot, altruism and fair play. He dribbled bewilderingly, looking up, as if to sense another, wider horizon, only within his reach. He launched his teammates on paths known only to him, always unguarded by the opponent. Charm, color, effectiveness. And a continuous disregard for prejudices, crumpling the sullen regulations of sports life with a smile on his lips."[35]

Writer Fănuș Neagu described metaphorically the impact his playing style had on the fans:"The moment we see him near the ball, hungry for the game, roses grow in our palms, because he is the bullfighter spoiled by fate and luck, and we are his love paid for with bull blood."[35]

Death

[edit]

Dobrin started smoking when he was around 8–9 years old and this habit caused him lung cancer.[5][36][37] He died on 26 October 2007 in the intensive care unit of the County Hospital in Pitești after multiple organ failure.[36][37] On 29 October 2007, his funeral ceremony, held at St. George's Cathedral and at St. George's Military Cemetery, was attended by more than 5,000 people.[38]

Honours

[edit]

Argeș Pitești

FCM Târgoviște

Individual

Notes

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  1. ^ Including one appearance for Romania's Olympic team.[1][2]
  2. ^ The statistics for the 1980–81 Divizia B season are unavailable.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Nicolae Dobrin". European Football. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. ^ Nicolae Dobrin at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Nicolae Dobrin at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  4. ^ a b "14 ani fără Dobrin. Amintirile unui fost coleg: "Dezarma orice apărare, de departe cel mai mare fotbalist român!" + Cum a ratat transferul la Craiova" [14 years without Dobrin. The memories of a former colleague: "He used to disarm any defense, by far the greatest Romanian footballer!" + How he missed the transfer to Craiova] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "5 lucruri vorbesc despre Nicolae Dobrin" [5 things about Nicolae Dobrin] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Legendele fotbalului:"Prinţul din Trivale"" [Football legends:"Prince of Trivale"] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Amintiri cu Nicolae Dobrin de pe Maracana din Ştrand (I)" [Memories with Nicolae Dobrin from the Maracana from the Ştrand (I)] (in Romanian). Jurnaluldearges.ro. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Armeanu' și Gâscanu' fac echipă în Liga Cerului. Povești-eveniment marca FANATIK despre relaţia Halagian-Dobrin" [Armeanu 'and Gâscanu' are a team in the League of Heaven. FANATIK brand event-story about the Halagian-Dobrin relationship] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Fotbalistul din Liga 1 care l-a vrăjit pe Gică Hagi:"Rar găsești ca el!"" [The football player from Liga 1 who enchanted Gică Hagi: "You rarely find players like him!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
    "Enes Sali, marele pariu al lui Gică Hagi - Povestea puștiului care a trecut pe la Academia Barcelonei și care a debutat în Liga 1 la 15 ani" [Enes Sali, the great bet of Gică Hagi - The story of the kid who went to the Barcelona Academy and who made his debut in Liga 1 at the age of 15] (in Romanian). Sport.hotnews.ro. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Romanian Cup – Season 1964–1965". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Halagian: "Datorită lui Dobrin am ajuns mare antrenor"" [Halagian: "Thanks to Dobrin I became a great coach"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Momentele de magie. "Fluieră finalul sau le mai dau un gol!"" [Moments of magic. "Whistle the end or I'll give them another goal!"] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Povestea celui mai frumos meci din istoria campionatului României. Cum a învins FC Argeş pe Dinamo la Bucureşti acum 40 de ani" [The story of the most beautiful match in the history of the Romanian championship. How FC Argeş defeated Dinamo in Bucharest 40 years ago] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
    "VIDEO Amintiri de la "thriller-ul" Dinamo - FC Argeș din 1979: "Jocurile erau făcute pentru ei. Se uitau la Dobrin ca la un extraterestru!"" [VIDEO Memories from the "thriller" Dinamo - FC Argeș from 1979:"The arrangements were made for them. They looked at Dobrin like at an alien!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "RETRO GSP. 54 de ani de la debutul lui Dobrin în națională. Și de când Interul lui Herrera a oferit 250.000 $ în schimbul "Gâscanului"" [RETRO GSP. 54 years since Dobrin's debut in the national team. And since Herrera's Inter offered $ 250,000 in exchange for the "Gander"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d "Singura echipă românească de fotbal care a învins trei mari cluburi din Spania. Marele Dobrin a fost cheia succeselor" [The only Romanian football team that has defeated three major clubs in Spain. The great Dobrin was the key to success] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Singura echipă românească ce a eliminat Sevilla în cupele europene. Povestea unei duble istorice jucate în urmă cu 50 de ani" [The only Romanian team that eliminated Sevilla in European cups. The story of a historic double played 50 years ago] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
    "Nicolae Dobrin. Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1966/1967". WorldFootball. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Nicolae Dobrin. Champions League 1972/1973". WorldFootball. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d "Dobrin făcea azi 70 de ani! Cum a picat mutarea la Real" [Dobrin would have been 70 years old today! How the move to Real failed] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  20. ^ a b c d "Nicolae Dobrin, la un pas să ajungă la Real Madrid! Spaniolii anunţau iminentul transfer în 1973" [Nicolae Dobrin, one step away from reaching Real Madrid! The Spaniards announced the imminent transfer in 1973] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Dobrin rumano del Arges Pitesti, puede ser jugador del Real Madrid la proxima temporada". ABC.es (in Spanish). 10 June 1973. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
    "History of the world transfer record". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Los mejores del mundo se visten de blanco en la despedida de Gento". Elmundo.es (in Spanish). 15 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  23. ^ "Comuniştii au blocat transferurile românilor" [The communists stopped the transfers of the Romanian players] (in Romanian). Adevărul. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  24. ^ a b c "40 de ani de la ziua în care Mario Kempes s-a înclinat în fața lui Nicolae Dobrin. FC Argeș - Valencia, punct de referință în fotbalul românesc" [40 years since the day Mario Kempes bowed to Nicolae Dobrin. FC Argeș - Valencia, reference point in Romanian football] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
    "Ziua în care Kempes s-a înclinat în fața lui Dobrin" [The day Kempes bowed to Dobrin] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  25. ^ "43 de ani de la meciul dintre FC Argeș și Nottingham Forest" [43 years since the match between FC Argeș and Nottingham Forest] (in Romanian). Jurnaluldearges.ro. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
    "24 octombrie 1979: Argeșul a dat piept cu Nottingham Forest, campioana Europei" [October 24, 1979: Argeș played against Nottingham Forest, the European champions] (in Romanian). Romaniansoccer.ro. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
    "FC Argeș – Nottingham Forest 1-2 (Cupa Campionilor Europeni, 7 noiembrie 1979)" [FC Arges – Nottingham Forest 1-2 (European Champions Cup, November 7, 1979)] (in Romanian). Tikitaka.ro. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
    "Nicolae Dobrin. Champions League 1979/1980". WorldFootball. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Exilul lui Dobrin" [Dobrin's exile] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
    "Patru decenii de când "Prințul din Trivale" a devenit "Voievodul Târgoviștei"" [Four decades since the "Prince of Trivale" became the "Voivode of Târgoviște"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Legendele Botoșaniului: anul lui Dobrin și portarul Ion Bordeanu, zis Pripon" [The legends of Botoșani: the year of Dobrin and the goalkeeper Ion Bordeanu, known as Pripon] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  28. ^ a b ""Gâscan" de Botoșani! Cum i-a impresionat Nicolae Dobrin pe moldoveni: "Tremuram când a intrat în vestiar"" ["Goose" from Botoșani! How Nicolae Dobrin impressed the Moldovans: "I was shaking when he entered the locker room"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Stadionul pe care a jucat marele Dobrin va fi demolat şi înlocuit cu cel mai modern stadion din România" [The stadium where the great Dobrin played will be demolished and replaced with the most modern stadium in Romania.] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Dobrin are statuie" [Dobrin has a statue] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
    "Statuie pentru Dobrin" [Statuie for Dobrin] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  31. ^ "West Germany 1-0 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  32. ^ a b c "România la CM 1970. Enigma Dobrin" [România la WC 1970. The Dobrin enigma] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Angelo Niculescu dezvăluie de ce n-a jucat Dobrin în Mexic" [Angelo Niculescu reveals why Dobrin did not play in Mexico] (in Romanian). Historia.ro. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
    "Istoria participărilor României la Campionatul Mondial de fotbal" [History of Romania's participation in the World Cup] (in Romanian). Evenimentulistoric.ro. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Oblemenco și Dobrin au reușit împreună o promovare" [Oblemenco and Dobrin managed a promotion together] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Dobrin ar fi împlinit 75 de ani! 3 episoade neștiute: de ce voia să zboare pe „coada" avionului, de ce milițianul i-a cerut câțiva litri de benzină și de ce n-a fost încântat de țuica de Botoșani" [Dobrin would have turned 75! 3 unknown episodes: why he wanted to fly on the "tail" of the plane, why the militiaman asked him for a few liters of gasoline and why he wasn't thrilled with the Botoșani brandy] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  36. ^ a b "Nicolae Dobrin a incetat din viata!" [Nicolae Dobrin passed away] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  37. ^ a b "A murit Nicolae Dobrin" [Nicolae Dobrin died] (in Romanian). Romanialibera.ro. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Adio, Dobrine, tara toata plange dupa tine!" [Goodbye, Dobrin, the whole country is crying for you!] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
    "Dobrin, aplaudat de 5.000 de oameni la groapă" [Dobrin, applauded by 5,000 people at the grave] (in Romanian). Monitorulsv.ro. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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