Nicolae Dică

Nicolae Constantin Dică (Romanian pronunciation: [nikoˈla.e konstanˈtin ˈdikə]; born 9 May 1980) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player.

Nicolae Dică

Dică with CFR Cluj in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Nicolae Constantin Dică
Date of birth	(1980-05-09) 9 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Pitești, Romania
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, forward
Youth career
1991–1998	Argeș Pitești
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2003	Argeș Pitești	88	(34)
1998–2000	→ Dacia Pitești (loan)	50	(19)
2004–2008	Steaua București	125	(54)
2008–2011	Catania	3	(0)
2009	→ Iraklis (loan)	13	(3)
2010	→ CFR Cluj (loan)	13	(0)
2010	→ Manisaspor (loan)	5	(0)
2011	→ Steaua București (loan)	11	(4)
2011	Mioveni	15	(1)
2012–2014	Viitorul Constanța	69	(19)
Total		392	(134)
International career
2000–2001	Romania U21	5	(0)
2003–2010	Romania	32	(9)
Managerial career
2014–2015	Steaua București (assistant)
2015	Steaua București (caretaker)
2015–2017	SCM Pitești
2017–2018	FCSB
2019	Argeș Pitești
2019–2021	Romania (assistant)
2022	FCSB
2023	Mioveni
2023	FC U Craiova
2024	Voluntari
2024	Argeş Piteşti
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Deployed as an attacking midfielder or a forward, Dică was known for his incisive passing, long balls and spectacular finishes. He played professionally in four countries, but spent most of his career in his native Romania representing Dacia Mioveni, Argeș Pitești, Steaua București, CFR Cluj and Viitorul Constanța. He was a Romanian international for seven years, and was selected for the UEFA Euro 2008.

Since his retirement as a player, Dică has had several stints as either an assistant, a caretaker or a head coach at his former club Steaua București. He also managed Argeș Pitești and was an assistant at the Romania national team.

Club career

Dacia Pitești

Dică started playing professional football when he was 18 years old at a local team Dacia Pitești.^[2]

In his first season, Dică played in 17 games and scored 5 times for Dacia. In the second, he became a first team player and had a very good season, with Dacia finishing fourth in the Romanian Divizia B. He was one of the top scorers in the league that season with 14 goals.^{[citation needed]}

Argeș Pitești

Dică was seen as an upcoming talent and the local Divizia A club, FC Argeș Pitești, signed him in 2000.^[3] He made his debut for FC Argeș Pitești in a 2–1 win against Gaz Metan Mediaș.^[4] He was soon awarded the captain's armband after the transfers of Adrian Mutu to Dinamo București and Adrian Neaga to Steaua București.

Steaua București

Romanian giants Steaua București paid €250,000 to sign him from Argeș Pitești in December 2003. He was transferred to Steaua after the recommendation of Victor Pițurcă and Mihai Stoica.^[5]

He made his debut in Europe in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup season, when Steaua eliminated previous winners Valencia, en route to the Round of 16, where they were knocked out by another Spanish side Villarreal.^[6]

In 2005 after Dică lost the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League, due to Steaua being eliminated by Rosenborg BK,^[7] he had another successful season in the UEFA Cup. The Bucharest club defeated the likes of Lens, Heereenven, Real Betis and their Romanian rivals Rapid București,^[8] on their way to the UEFA CUP semi-final, where they were eliminated by English Premier League club, Middlesbrough.^[9]

On 13 September 2006, Dică scored twice in the 4–1 away win against Dynamo Kyiv in Steaua București's opening game in the UEFA Champions League, this being his first ever appearance in said tournament.^[10] He went on to score four goals and add one assist in six games against group opponents, Dynamo Kiev, Real Madrid, and Olympique Lyonnais. After his performances in the Champions League, the daily newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor gave the Romanian Footballer of the Year 2006 award to Dică.^[11]

On 23 January 2007, he suffered a knee injury while playing in a friendly against AC Siena, and missed most of the season.^[12] On 9 May, for his birthday, Dică returned to the team and was introduced in the late stages of the 2–0 victory against Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț.^[13] This was his first official game in 2007.

Catania

On 28 June 2008, Dică moved to Catania, mainly due to the desire of his former Steaua coach, Walter Zenga. He was expected to replace midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas who moved to ACF Fiorentina,^[14] but ended up being a flop, taking part in just 93 minutes of play during his first six months with Palermo. Although it seemed almost certain that he would leave during the January transfer market, coach Walter Zenga kept him at Catania until the end of the Serie A season.

In June 2009, Iraklis signed Dică on loan from Calcio Catania.^[15] He made his competitive debut on 23 August 2009 and scored twice in a 2–1 win over Panthrakikos.

In January 2010, CFR Cluj signed the midfielder on loan from Catania until June 2010. He won the Liga I and the Romanian Cup with them, scoring his first goal in a 2–1 victory against Dinamo București in the second leg of the Cup semi-final.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2010, Manisaspor signed the midfielder on loan from Catania until June 2011. He rarely made it to the first team and then, on 14 December 2010, he agreed to cancel his contract with Manisaspor.^[16]

Later years

In January 2011, Dică signed a one-year contract with his former team, Steaua București.^[17] He made his debut for the club, on 27 February 2011, in a 1–0 win at Universitatea Craiova.^[18] On 5 April, he scored his first goal after his return to Steaua in a 5–0 home win over Unirea Urziceni. On 11 May, Dică scored the equalizer against AS Brașov, which sent Steaua through to the Romanian Cup final. On 25 May, Dică scored from a trademark free kick in a 2–1 victory over rivals Dinamo București, and won his second consecutive Romanian cup.

In May 2011, Dică joined Liga I side Dacia Mioveni. He received the number 80 jersey.^[19] On 31 October, Dică scored a goal in a 3–1 defeat to Concordia Chiajna.^[20] In January 2012, after fifteen games for the Liga I squad, he terminated his contract with Mioveni.^[21]

Later that month he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Liga II side Viitorul Constanța.^[22] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Viitorul earned promotion to the Liga I,^[23] in part due to Dică's performances, who scored six goals in the second half of the season.^[24]

International career

Dică playing against the Nigeria national team

On 11 October 2003, Dică made his debut for the Romania national team in a friendly game against Japan.^[25] He scored his first goal in August 2006, in a friendly game against Cyprus and amassed a total of 32 appearances for Romania.^[26]

Managerial career

On 15 May 2017, it was announced that Nicolae Dică will be the manager of FCSB for the 2017–18 season.^[27] He went undefeated in his first ten games in all competitions before losing to Portuguese club Sporting CP, in the 2017–18 Champions League play-off.^[28] In December 2018, after a year and a half at the helm of the club, Dică terminated his contract with FCSB by mutual consent.^[29]

On 26 July 2022, Dică returned to FCSB.^[30] On 1 November 2022, Dică terminated his contract with FCSB by mutual consent.^[31][32]

On 14 January 2023, he was presented as the new manager of his former club Mioveni.^[33] He left the team by mutual consent on 26 April 2023.^[34]

On 17 July that year, he took charge of another Liga I side FC U Craiova.^[35] After two losses in the opening games of the season, he recorded two wins, before suffering a 4–3 defeat to Petrolul Ploiești on 18 August. The following day, only 34 days into his tenure, he was dismissed from the club.^[36]

Personal life

In November 2003, Dică married Corina Zimbroianu, after the two met in 1998. He has a son, Marco Ilie, who was baptized by his former Steaua teammate, Mirel Radoi.^[37]

In March 2007, he had a difficult period in his life as his father died due to cirrhosis. Dică was under treatment at the Isokinetic clinic, in Bologna, when he heard the news.^[38] His father was the one who encouraged him to become a footballer.

Career statistics

Club

^[39][40]

Club	Division	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dacia Pitești (loan)	Divizia B	1998–99	17	5	?	?	–		17	5
	Divizia B	1999–00	33	14	?	?	–		33	14
	Total		50	19	?	?	0	0	50	19
FC Argeș	Divizia A	2000–01	19	4	1	0	–		20	4
	Divizia A	2001–02	27	11	2	1	–		29	12
	Divizia A	2002–03	28	10	5	0	–		33	10
	Divizia A	2003–04	14	8	3	2	–		17	10
	Total		88	34	11	3	0	0	99	37
Steaua București	Divizia A	2003–04	14	9	0	0	0	0	14	9
	Divizia A	2004–05	29	11	0	0	11	2	40	13
	Divizia A	2005–06	29	15	1	0	15	6	45	21
	Liga I	2006–07	23	10	0	0	10	5	33	15
	Liga I	2007–08	30	9	0	0	10	1	40	10
	Total		125	54	1	0	46	14	172	68
Catania	Serie A	2008–09	3	0	3	1	–		6	1
Iraklis Thessaloniki (loan)	Super League	2009–10	13	3	0	0	–		13	3
CFR Cluj (loan)	Liga I	2009–10	13	0	3	1	0	0	16	1
Manisaspor (loan)	Süper Lig	2010–11	5	0	2	1	–		7	1
Steaua București	Liga I	2010–11	11	4	2	2	–		13	6
Mioveni	Liga I	2011–12	15	1	0	0	–		15	1
Viitorul Constanța	Liga II	2011–12	13	6	0	0	–		13	6
	Liga I	2012–13	26	10	0	0	–		26	10
	Liga I	2013–14	30	3	1	0	–		31	3
	Total		69	19	1	0	0	0	70	19
Career total			392	134	23	8	46	14	461	156

International stats

Romania national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2003	2	0
2004	7	0
2005	3	0
2006	5	2
2007	5	4
2008	8	3
2009	0	0
2010	2	0
Total	32	9

International goals

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first. "Score" column indicates the score after the player's goal.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	16 August 2006	Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania	Cyprus	1–0	2–0	Friendly
2	6 September 2006	Qemal Stafa, Tirana, Albania	Albania	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying
3	22 August 2007	Stadionul Lia Manoliu, Bucharest, Romania	Turkey	1–0	2–0	Friendly
4	8 September 2007	Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus	Belarus	2–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying
5	21 November 2007	Stadionul Lia Manoliu, Bucharest, Romania	Albania	1–0	6–1	UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying
6	21 November 2007	Stadionul Lia Manoliu, Bucharest, Romania	Albania	6–1	6–1	UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying
7	31 May 2008	Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania	Montenegro	3–0	4–0	Friendly
8	31 May 2008	Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania	Montenegro	4–0	4–0	Friendly
9	20 August 2008	Stadionul Tineretului, Urziceni, Romania	Latvia	1–0	1–0	Friendly

Managerial statistics

As of 21 September 2024^[41][42]

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Steaua București (caretaker)	1 December 2015	3 December 2015	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
SCM Pitești	29 December 2015	31 May 2017	44	36	6	2	114	28	+86	081.82
FCSB	1 June 2017	23 December 2018	80	46	18	16	146	79	+67	057.50
Argeș Pitești	6 June 2019	7 October 2019	10	4	1	5	12	15	−3	040.00
FCSB	26 July 2022	1 November 2022	23	9	7	7	34	39	−5	039.13
Mioveni	14 January 2023	26 April 2023	15	3	4	8	11	23	−12	020.00
FC U Craiova	17 July 2023	19 August 2023	5	2	0	3	10	10	+0	040.00
Voluntari	31 January 2024	12 March 2024	7	0	3	4	3	10	−7	000.00
Argeș Pitești	4 June 2024	21 September 2024	9	4	3	2	10	6	+4	044.44
Total			194	104	43	47	340	211	+129	053.61

Honours

Player

Steaua București

• Divizia A: 2004–05, 2005–06
• Cupa României: 2010–11
• Supercupa României: 2006

CFR Cluj

• Liga I: 2009–10
• Cupa României: 2009–10

Individual

• Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2006

Manager

SCM Pitești

• Liga III: 2016–17

References

1. "Nicolae Dica – Catania – Campionato di Serie A" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
2. "Recunoştinţă pentru Dică" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
3. "Spectacol cu acorduri de fanfară în Trivale!" (in Romanian). ProSport. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
4. "Argeş Piteşti v CS Gaz Metan Mediaş". Goal. 12 July 2000. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
5. "Cum si-a luat Steaua adio de la Dica" (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
6. "Dică despre Steaua – Valencia 2005" (in Romanian). Dolce. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
7. "Totul despre Rosenborg, adversara Stelei din play-off-ul Europa League" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 7 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
8. "Mihai Stoica îi "înțeapă" pe cei de la CSA Steaua" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
9. Walker, Michael (28 April 2006). "Boro win 4–3 on aggregate". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
10. "Steaua Thrashed Dynamo Kiev in Champions League Opener". news.softpedia.com. 14 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
11. "Nicolae Dica este jucătorul anului 2006 în Ancheta Gazetei". blogsport.ro. 21 December 2006. Archived from the original on 27 April 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
12. "Dică riscă să piardă tot sezonul". realitatea.net. 20 January 2007. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
13. "Steaua Bucharest Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt". Eurosport. 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
14. "Catania Snap Up Nicolae Dica". transfermarketweb.com. 28 June 2008. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
15. "Catania gibt Dica an Iraklis ab" [Catania sell Dica to Iraklis] (in Greek). 4-4-2.com. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
16. "Nicolae Dică şi-a reziliat contractul cu turcii de la Manisaspor: "Avem jucători mai buni ca el"". prosport.ro. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
17. "Portughezii au aflat de cea mai mare problema a Stelei" [Portuguese uncover Steaua's biggest problem] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
18. "Bilasco aduce prima victorie a Stelei in 2011" [Bilasco brings Steaua's first victory in 2011] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 27 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
19. "Dică's profile on CS Mioveni's official site". csmioveni.ro. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
20. "Dica la primul gol pentru Mioveni" [Dica at his first goal for Mioveni] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
21. "Dica si-a reziliat contractul cu Mioveni" [Dica terminates his contract with Mioveni] (in Romanian). a1.ro. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
22. "Hagi l-a transferat pe Dica" [Hagi transferred Dica] (in Romanian). realitatea.net. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
23. "Viitorul in Liga I" [Viitorul in Liga I] (in Romanian). ProSport. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
24. "Dică". Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
25. "Romania – Japonia sau Mutu impotriva lui Nakata" (in Romanian). curierulnational.ro. 11 October 2003. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
26. "Nicolae Dica, l'erede di Hagi comparso a Catania" (in Italian). contra-ataque.it. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
27. "Nicolae Dică este noul antrenor al FCSB" [Nicolae Dica is the new manager of FCSB] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
28. "FCSB – Sporting 1-5" [FCSB – Sporting 1-5] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
29. "Fostul secund al lui Nicolae Dică la FCSB a semnat cu o echipă de Liga a 2-a" [Ex Nicolae Dică assistant manager signs with Liga II club] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 16 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
30. "Nicolae Dică e noul antrenor al celor de la FCSB! Tehnicianul a ajuns la baza din Berceni". digisport.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
31. "Mulțumim, Nicolae Dică!" (in Romanian). FCSB. 1 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
32. "EXCLUSIV Nicolae Dică și-a dat demisia de la FCSB" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 1 November 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
33. "Nicolae Dică a fost prezentat oficial la CS Mioveni! Fostul antrenor de la FCSB a dezvăluit obiectivul setat de oficialii clubului: "Este o mare provocare pentru mine"". prosport.ro (in Romanian). 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
34. "CONTRACTUL CU ANTRENORUL NICOLAE DICĂ A FOST REZILIAT!" (in Romanian). Mioveni. 26 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
35. "Nicolae Dică s-a întors! Anunț-șoc în SuperLigă". gsp.ro (in Romanian). 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
36. "Clubul nostru și antrenorii Nicolae Dică și George Cotigă au încheiat de comun acord contractul de colaborare" (in Romanian). FC U Craiova 1948. 19 August 2023. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
37. "Nicolae Dică, la un pas de divorţ" (in Romanian). Libertatea. 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
38. "A murit tatal lui Nicolae Dica" (in Romanian). Libertatea. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
39. "Nicolae Dică". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
40. Nicolae Marius Dică at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
41. "Nicolae Dică". us.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
42. "Profile of Nicolae Dică". FootballDatabase.eu. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.

External links

• Nicolae Dică at National-Football-Teams.com
• Nicolae Dică – UEFA competition record (archive)