Victor Pițurcă

Victor Pițurcă (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈviktor piˈt͡surkə]; born 8 May 1956) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player.

Victor Pițurcă

Pițurcă in June 2018.
Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-05-08) 8 May 1956 (age 68)
Place of birth	Orodel, Romania
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1964–1974	Universitatea Craiova
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1974–1977	Universitatea Craiova	8	(0)
1974–1975	→ Dinamo Slatina (loan)
1977–1979	Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1979–1983	Olt Scornicești	118	(28)
1983–1989	Steaua București	175	(137)
1989–1990	Lens	28	(4)
Total		329	(169)
International career
1985–1987	Romania	13	(6)
Managerial career
1991–1992	Steaua București (assistant)
1992	Steaua București
1994–1995	FC Universitatea Craiova
1996–1998	Romania U21
1998–1999	Romania
2000–2002	Steaua București
2002–2004	Steaua București
2004–2009	Romania
2010	Steaua București
2010	FC Universitatea Craiova
2011–2014	Romania
2014–2015	Al-Ittihad
2015–2016	Al-Ittihad
2019–2020	Universitatea Craiova
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Victor Pițurcă was born on 8 May 1956 in Orodel, Dolj County, Romania, starting to play football in 1964 at the youth center of Universitatea Craiova, being loaned in 1974 for one year to Dinamo Slatina in Divizia B, where he started his senior career.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} When he returned to "U" Craiova, coach Constantin Cernăianu gave him Divizia A debut on 19 November 1975 in a 4–0 home win over Argeș Pitești.^[1][2] However during his two seasons spent at Craiova, he played rarely, so he went to play again in Divizia B, this time at Pandurii Târgu Jiu under coach Constantin Oțet for whom in his first season from the total of 37 goals scored by the team, Pițurcă scored over half but the team relegated to Divizia C.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} In the 1978–79 Divizia C season, Pițurcă scored 46 goals of the team's total of 98, helping it promote back to Divizia B after one year.^[5][6][7] In 1979 he went back to Divizia A football, when he went to play for Olt Scornicești, making regular appearances during his four-years spell.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

In July 1983 he was wanted by Steaua București where Constantin Cernăianu was coaching, but his coach from Scornicești, Florin Halagian tried to keep him there, eventually at the insistence of Emerich Jenei the transfer to Steaua was fulfilled.^[2][3][8] In his first season, he did not win any trophies, but afterwards he helped the team conquer five league titles in a row, starting with The Double from the 1984–85 season when Pițurcă was the second top-goalscorer of the league, having only one goal behind Sportul Studențesc's Gheorghe Hagi, as he scored 19 goals scored in the 32 matches coaches Halagian and Jenei used him, also scoring the decisive goal of the 2–1 victory from the Cupa României final over his former team, Universitatea Craiova.^{[1][2][4][9][10][11][12][13]} In the following season, he was again the league's second top-goalscorer, this time with two goals behind Hagi, having scored 29 in the 34 appearances given to him by Jenei who also used him in all the nine games from the historical European Cup campaign in which Pițurcă was the team's top-goalscorer, netting five times in all the home matches, one against each of Vejle, Budapest Honvéd and Kuusysi Lahti and a brace in the 3–0 win from the semifinals with Anderlecht, then playing as a starter until the 111th minute of extra time when he was replaced with Marin Radu in the eventual 2–0 victory after the penalty shoot-out from the final against Barcelona.^{[1][2][4][5][9][10][11][12][14]} He started the 1986–87 season by playing all the minutes in the 1–0 win over Dynamo Kyiv from the European Super Cup and in the loss from the Intercontinental Cup with the same score in front of River Plate, by the end of it helping Steaua win another Double, coaches Jenei and Anghel Iordănescu giving him 31 league appearances in which he scored 22 goals, being surpassed only by Dinamo București's controversial European Golden Shoe winner, Rodion Cămătaru who scored double, also appearing the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 victory from the Cupa României final over Dinamo.^{[1][2][4][5][10][11][12][15]} In the next season, Pițurcă was used by Iordănescu in 33 league games in which he scored 34 goals, being the top-goalscorer of the championship and European Bronze Boot as only Tanju Çolak (39) and John Eriksen (36) scored more and he made another continental performance with the team as they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup where they lost in favor of Benfica, Pițurcă contributing with one goal scored against Rangers in the 8 matches played.^{[1][2][4][5][10][11][12][16]} In his last season spent with The Military Men, the team won another Double, Iordănescu using him in 22 league matches, managing to score 23 goals, also appearing the whole game in another 1–0 victory in the Cupa României final over rivals Dinamo and made another European performance by playing 7 games in the European Cup campaign, including all the minutes from the 4–0 loss in front of AC Milan from the final, scoring one goal in the semi-finals against Galatasaray when goalkeeper Zoran Simović kicked the ball in the back of his head and it went in the goalpost but the referee wrongfully cancelled the goal.^{[1][2][4][11][12][17]} His last Divizia A game took place on 17 June 1989 in Steaua's 4–1 home win over Flacăra Moreni with him scoring a goal, having a total of 301 appearances with 65 goals in the competition and a total of 29 matches and 6 goals in European competitions.^[1][2][4][5]

After he won the European Cup in 1986, Pițurcă had an offer to play for Anderlecht but was not allowed to go there by the communist regime, however in 1989 with the help of Valentin Ceaușescu, he and teammate Tudorel Stoica were allowed to transfer at Lens in French Division 2 where after one season, Pițurcă ended his playing career.^{[1][2][3][4][5][18]}

On 25 March 2008, he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu for the winning of the 1985–86 European Cup with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class II.^[19]

International career

Victor Pițurcă played 13 games and scored 6 goals at international level for Romania, making his debut on 27 March 1985 under coach Mircea Lucescu in a friendly which ended 0–0 with Poland.^[20][21] After making two appearances at the 1986 World Cup qualifiers, he scored his first two goals for the national team in a 3–1 win over Norway in a friendly game.^[20] He scored another brace in a 4–2 friendly victory with Israel and made five appearances at the Euro 1988 qualifiers where he scored two goals in two victories with Albania and Spain, also making his last appearance for Romania on 18 November 1987 in a 0–0 with Austria.^[20]

International stats

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[20]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Romania	1985	3	0
	1986	4	4
	1987	6	2
Total		13	6

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first. "Score" column indicates the score after each Victor Pițurcă goal.^[20]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	4 June 1986	Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania	Norway	1–0	3–1	Friendly
2				2–0
3	8 October 1986	Ramat Gan Stadium, Israel	Israel	1–0	4–2	Friendly
4				4–1
5	25 March 1987	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania	Albania	1–0	5–1	Euro 1988 qualifiers
6	29 April 1987	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania	Spain	1–0	3–1	Euro 1988 qualifiers

Managerial career

Victor Pițurcă's first coaching experience was working as an assistant of Emerich Jenei at Steaua București, shortly afterwards becoming the team's head coach in March 1992, winning on his debut with 3–0 in front of rivals Rapid București, finishing the season on the second place and winning the Cupa României after the victory at the penalty shoot-out in the final against Politehnica Timișoara.^{[2][3][4][5][22]} His following coaching spell began in 1994 at Universitatea Craiova with whom he finished second in the championship at the end of the 1994–95 season.^{[2][3][4][5][23][24]}

In 1996, he was named coach of Romania's under-21 side, leading the team to its first qualification to a European Championship in 1998, which ended up being hosted by Romania.^{[2][3][4][5][23][25][26][27]} The qualification was succeeded after the team won the group 8 of the qualifiers with 8 victories out of 8 matches against Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Lithuania and Macedonia.^[25] At the final tournament which was composed of 8 teams, they were eliminated by Netherlands with 2–0 in the quarter-finals, also losing the games for the 5th-8th places and for the 7th place in front of Germany, respectively Russia.^[25][26][27] However from the 20-players squad that took part at that tournament, only five did not get to play for Romania's senior team throughout their career.^[25]

In 1998, following the success with the under-21 side, Pițurcă was appointed as Romania's seniors manager, making his debut on 17 August in a friendly which ended 0–0 with Norway.^{[2][3][4][22][23][28][29]} He qualified the team to the Euro 2000, as he won the qualification group with seven victories and three draws in front of Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.^{[2][3][4][5][28][23][30]} However, despite this performance, Pițurcă was sacked in late 1999, not having the chance to take the squad to the final tournament, the reason was an argument he had with Romania's best players, Gheorghe Hagi, Gheorghe Popescu and Dan Petrescu.^{[2][3][4][5][23][29][31]}

At the beginning of the year 2000, he returns at Steaua, finishing the championship on the 3rd position, but managed to win the following one and also the 2001 Supercupa României with a 2–1 victory against Dinamo București.^{[2][4][5][23][32]} He resigned in June 2002 after an argument with the club's chairman, Gigi Becali but they reconciled and Pițurcă came back in October the same year.^[2] He finished the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons on the second place, also guiding the team in the 2003–04 UEFA Cup season when The Red and Blues eliminated in the first two rounds Neman Grodno and Southampton, obtaining a 1–1 in the first leg of the following round with Liverpool, losing the away leg with 1–0, thus the campaign ending.^[2][4][33] In July 2004, Pițurcă resigned after another argument with Becali who fired player Romeo Pădureț without his approval.^[34]

In December 2004 he was appointed manager of Romania for the second time, in a moment when the qualification to the 2006 World Cup was pretty much compromised, being unable to qualify even do he obtained good results in the qualifiers as a 2–0 home win over Czech Republic.^{[2][3][4][5][23][28][35]} He won the Euro 2008 qualifying group G in front of Netherlands against whom he obtained a historical first ever victory with 1–0 on the Farul stadium.^{[2][3][4][5][23][28][29][36]} This performance helped him earn the 2007 Gazeta Sporturilor Romania Coach of the Year award.^[37] At the Euro 2008 final tournament, Romania was drawn in the "Group of Death" where they obtained two points in their first two games against the finalists of the previous World Cup, 0–0 with France and 1–1 against Italy, but losing 0–2 to the Netherlands, finishing the group on the third place, thus being eliminated from the competition and being very criticized by the press for the defensive style imposed on the team, especially in the last match.^{[2][4][23][28][31][29][38]} After Euro 2008, Romania showed an increasingly poor form at the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, as in the first two games Romania lost 0–3 against Lithuania at home and four days later secured a difficult 1–0 victory against the Faroe Islands.^{[2][5][23][28]} After a 2–2 with France, he lost the next two games with Serbia and Austria.^[28] Considering these results, the Romanian Football Federation released Victor Pițurcă in April 2009, appointing Răzvan Lucescu instead.^{[2][5][23][28]}

In 2010, he had two short spells as manager at Steaua and Universitatea Craiova, leaving from both clubs after conflicts with the owners.^[2][4][23]

Victor Pițurcă as manager of Romania in 2014

On 14 June 2011, he returned for a third spell in charge of the Romania national team when the chances for qualifying at the Euro 2012 were very low, his objective being to create a team which would qualify for the Euro 2016.^[2][39] He was close to qualify at the 2014 World Cup, finishing the qualification group on the second place behind Netherlands but above Turkey, Hungary, Estonia and Andorra, thus reaching the play-off where they lost 4–2 with Greece.^[2][28] He started with two victories against Greece and Finland and a draw with Hungary at the Euro 2016 qualifiers, then leaving the team to go in Saudi Arabia, but Romania still managed to qualify at the final tournament by using many of the young players that Pițurcă promoted in the last years.^[2][28][40] Victor Pițurcă has a total of 96 games from his three spells at the national team consisting of 53 victories, 23 draws and 20 losses.^[2][28]

On 16 October 2014, he signed a two-year deal with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.^[2][4][41] In January 2015, he was heavily criticized for excluding Al-Ittihad's top stars Mohammed Noor and Hamad Al-Montashari due to disobeying training procedure.^[42] He was dismissed by the club in June 2015 because the club's officials were unsatisfied that the team finished the season on the fourth place.^[4][43] He was replaced by László Bölöni but came back at the club in December the same year only to leave again in July 2016.^[2][4][44]

On 22 August 2019, he signed a contract with Universitatea Craiova, resigning in January 2020, being unsatisfied that the club's officials did not want to transfer the players he wanted.^{[3][4][45][46]} Victor Pițurcă has a total of 204 matches as a manager in the Romanian top-division, Liga I, consisting of 116 victories, 43 draws and 45 losses.^[45][47]

Controversy

In 1981, Victor Pițurcă and other people were arrested in Târgu Jiu for playing barbut which is a dice game that was illegal during the communist regime.^{[2][3][7][48][49][50]} He was sentenced to six months in prison but eventually got released after about two as his club Olt Scornicești insisted for the re-trial.^{[2][3][7][48][49][50][51][52][53]}

In May 2008, Gigi Becali, the owner of Steaua, had promised €1.7 million to the footballers of Universitatea Cluj so that they would not succumb to CFR Cluj, sending one of his men with the money in Cluj-Napoca where he ended up detained by the National Anticorruption Directorate.^{[3][51][52][53][54][55][56]} A few days later, Becali claimed the money was to buy a land and presented a sales-purchase contract that he claimed was signed on April 15, one of the signatures being of Pițurcă.^{[51][52][54][57]} In 2013, Pițurcă received a one-year suspended sentence in the case, being found guilty of perjury in favor of Becali.^{[3][51][52][53][54][55][58]}

Personal life

At Steaua București and Universitatea Craiova he coached his son, Alexandru who was a striker.^[59][60][61] Victor Pițurcă is the cousin of Eugen Neagoe who was also a footballer and a coach.^[62][63] Another one of his cousins, Florin Pițurcă was a footballer who played for Drobeta-Turnu Severin in Divizia C, dying in December 1978 at age 20, shortly after playing a game.^[64]

Victor Pițurcă was nicknamed Satana ("Satan") by the press, something he called "remarkable".^[2][45][65]

Honours

Player

Pandurii Târgu Jiu

• Divizia C: 1978–79^[7]

Steaua București

• Divizia A: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89^[1]
• Cupa României: 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89^[1]
• European Cup: 1985–86, runner-up: 1988–89^[1]
• European Supercup: 1986^[1]
• Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 1986^[66]

Individual

• Divizia A top scorer: 1987–88^[1]
• European Bronze Boot: 1987–88^[1][67]

Coach

Steaua București

• Divizia A: 2000–01^[1]
• Cupa României: 1991–92^[1]
• Supercupa României: 2001^[1]

Individual

• Gazeta Sporturilor Romania Coach of the Year: 2007^[37]

Managerial statistics

As of 22 December 2019

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Steaua București		8 March 1992	21 June 1992	23	14	5	4	060.87
FC Universitatea Craiova		29 August 1994	30 June 1995	37	23	4	10	062.16
Romania U21		1 June 1996	31 May 1998	10	8	0	2	080.00
Romania		1 June 1998	1 December 1999	21	11	8	2	052.38
Steaua București		7 July 2000	7 June 2002	75	39	17	19	052.00
Steaua București		27 October 2002	3 June 2004	61	32	21	8	052.46
Romania		10 December 2004	9 April 2009	46	27	7	12	058.70
Steaua București		20 June 2010	6 August 2010	3	2	1	0	066.67
FC Universitatea Craiova		26 August 2010	14 January 2011	16	7	3	6	043.75
Romania		14 June 2011	16 October 2014	35	17	10	8	048.57
Al-Ittihad		17 October 2014	12 July 2015	23	12	4	7	052.17
Al-Ittihad		15 December 2015	10 July 2016	26	14	5	7	053.85
Universitatea Craiova		1 September 2019	4 January 2020	16	8	3	5	050.00
Total				392	214	88	90	054.59

References

1. Victor Pițurcă at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
2. "Pițurcă: 62 de ani între înger, la Steaua, și Satana, la… general! Video" [Pițurcă: 62 years between the angel, at Steaua, and Satan, in... general! Video] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
3. "Victor Pițurcă" (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
4. "O PERSONALITATE PE ZI: Victor Pițurcă, fost fotbalist şi antrenor al echipei naţionale a României" [A PERSONALITY PER DAY: Victor Pițurcă, former footballer and coach of the Romanian national team] (in Romanian). Agerpres.ro. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
5. "Victor Pițurcă, la Craiova" [Victor Pițurcă, at Craiova] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
6. "Victor Pițurcă, luat de la Pandurii pe o plasă de bani" [Victor Pițurcă, taken from Pandurii for a net of a money] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
7. "Legătura strânsă pe care Victor Pițurcă o are cu municipiul Târgu Jiu" [The close connection that Victor Pițurcă has with the municipality of Târgu Jiu] (in Romanian). Gorjonline.ro. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
8. "Victor Pițurcă se implică într-o dilemă istorică:"Ienei a făcut Steaua '86!" + mesaj clar pentru Becali:"Ține 4-5 ani jucătorii"" [Victor Pițurcă gets involved in a historical dilemma: "Ienei made Steaua '86!" + clear message for Becali: "Players last 4-5 years"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
9. "CRAIOVA - VIITORUL. Victor Pițurcă, doi ani în spatele lui Gică Hagi! Cum au arătat duelurile pentru titul de golgeter dintre cei doi" [CRAIOVA - THE FUTURE. Victor Pițurcă, two years behind Gică Hagi! How the duels for the top scorer title between the two looked] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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    "35 de ani de la Supercupa Europei cucerită de Steaua în fața lui Dinamo Kiev. Legendele steliste, cu gândul la situația din Ucraina:"E dureros!"" [35 years since the European Supercup won by Steaua against Dinamo Kyiv. Star legends, thinking about the situation in Ukraine:"It's painful!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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    "Meciul DE AUR al generatiei de la Sevilla! Cum a ratat Steaua finala SUPREMA cu Real Madrid. Gica Popescu a ucis visul" [The GOLDEN match of the generation from Sevilla! How Steaua missed the SUPREMA final with Real Madrid. Gica Popescu killed the dream] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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    "Gol cu ceafa marcat de Victor Pițurcă în meciul Galatasaray - Steaua" [Goal with the back of the head scored by Victor Pițurcă in the match Galatasaray - Steaua] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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18. "Victor Pițurcă a dezvăluit ce mare echipă l-a ofertat după ce a câștigat CCE cu Steaua. "Aveau echipă incredibilă!"" [Victor Pițurcă revealed what great team offered him after winning the CCE with Steaua. "They had an incredible team!"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Cele trei transferuri pe care Steaua le-a făcut cu ajutorul lui Valentin Ceaușescu: "El le-a aprobat!". Cum a ratat Victor Pițurcă plecarea la Anderlecht pe bani foarte mulți" [The three transfers that Steaua made with the help of Valentin Ceaușescu: "He approved them!". How Victor Pițurcă missed going to Anderlecht for a lot of money] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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21. "Romania 0-0 Poland". European Football. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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23. "Victor Pițurcă revine la națională după două eșecuri ca antrenor al unor echipe de club" [Victor Pițurcă returns to the national team after two failures as a coach of some club teams] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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30. "#Dordesport Euro 2000: Franța, Campioană mondială și europeană. Ultimul turneu jucat de Hagi" [#Dordesport Euro 2000: France, World and European Champions. The last tournament played by Hagi] (in Romanian). Eurosport.ro. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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33. "70 de ani de Steaua, oricare ar fi ea. Drumul alunecos de la glorie europeană la procese și incertitudine" [70 years of Steaua, whichever it is. The slippery road from European glory to lawsuits and uncertainty] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
34. "Paduret:"Ma onoreaza daca Piturca a plecat pentru mine"" [Paduret:"I would be honored if Piturca left for me"] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 31 July 2004. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Romeo Pădureț:"Gigi voia să scape de Pițurcă. De-aia m-a dat afară pe mine"" [Romeo Pădureț:"Gigi wanted to get rid of Pițurcă. That's why he kicked me out"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
35. "Romania-Cehia 2-0 (1-0)" [Romania-Czech Republic 2-0 (1-0)] (in Romanian). Romanialibera.ro. 5 September 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
36. "România învinge Olanda cu scorul de 1-0 și rămâne liderul grupei G" [Romania defeats the Netherlands with a score of 1-0 and remains the leader of group G] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Romania - Olanda 1-0. Victoria unei generatii!" [Romania - Netherlands 1-0. Victory of a generation!] (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
37. "Piturca socheaza inainte de EURO 2008" [Piturca shocks before EURO 2008] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
38. "EURO 2008: "Haiducii" lui Pițurcă n-au supravieţuit în "Grupa Morții"" [EURO 2008: Pițurcă's "Hajduks" did not survive in the "Group of Death"] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
39. "Piți taie în carne vie! Cei 3 jucători care nu vor mai fi chemați la națională și ce SURPRIZE pregătește noul selecționer" [Piți cuts into living flesh! The 3 players who will no longer be called up to the national team and what SURPRISE the new coach is preparing] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Pițurcă revine cu planuri mari:"Să nu credeți că nu voi încerca să calific naționala și la EURO 2012"" [Pițurcă returns with big plans:"Don't think that I won't try to qualify the national team for EURO 2012"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Pițurcă va pleca de la națională indiferent de soarta calificării. Are deja o ofertă pe masă" [Pițurcă will leave the national team regardless of the fate of the qualification. He already has an offer on the table] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
40. "Cei 8 MAGNIFICI care ne duc la Euro 2016: "Matel, Chiriches, Torje, Pintilii, Grozav si mai sunt!" Ce spune Mircea Sandu despre reconstructia echipei nationale" [The 8 MAGNIFICENTS who will take us to Euro 2016: "Matel, Chiriches, Torje, Pintilii, Grozav and there are more!" What Mircea Sandu says about the reconstruction of the national team] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Povestea ultimei calificări a României la un turneu final. Cum a fost drumul tricolorilor spre EURO 2016" [The story of Romania's last qualification to a final tournament. How was the tricolors' road to EURO 2016] (in Romanian). Eurosport.ro. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
41. "Pițurcă and Romania part ways for third time". UEFA. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
42. "SCANDAL la Al Ittihad! Pițurcă a dat afară două legende ale clubului" [SCANDAL at Al Ittihad! Pițurcă fired two legends of the club] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
43. "L-au demis! Presa arabă anunţă că Victor Piţurcă a fost dat afară de la Al Ittihad. Cine i-ar putea lua locul" [They fired him! The Arab press announces that Victor Piţurcă was fired from Al Ittihad. Who could take his place] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
44. "Arabii insistă. "Victor Pițurcă revine la Al Ittihad. A pus condiții speciale pentru a își recupera datoria de peste un milion euro"" [The Arabs insist. "Victor Pițurcă returns to Al Ittihad. He set special conditions to recover his debt of over one million euros"] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Pițurcă și-a reziliat contractul cu Al Ittihad, dar nu este lăsat să plece din Arabia Saudită" [Pițurcă terminated his contract with Al Ittihad, but is not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
45. "Victor Pițurcă, după plecarea din Bănie:"Eu nu stau ca să mă bată Gigi Becali!"" [Victor Pițurcă, after leaving Bănie:"I don't stay to be beaten by Gigi Becali!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
46. Victor Vrînceanu (4 January 2020). "Bombă! Victor Pițurcă a demisionat de la Universitatea Craiova". ProSport.
47. "Top 60 antrenori" [Top 60 coaches] (in Romanian). RomanianSoccer.ro. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
48. "Câți bani avea Victor Pițurcă la el când a fost arestat pentru că juca barbut. S-a descoperit şi că fostul selecționer ținea acasă, sub calorifer, o mică avere" [How much money did Victor Pițurcă have on him when he was arrested for playing the game of barbut? It was also discovered that the former selector kept a small fortune at home, under the radiator] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
49. "Victor Pițurcă, arestat și dus la pușcărie după ce a fost judecat și condamnat în regim de urgență. Povestea uitată a fostului selecționer al României" [Victor Pițurcă, arrested and taken to prison after being tried and sentenced in emergency mode. The forgotten story of the former Romanian coach] (in Romanian). Playsport.ro. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
50. "Victor Pițurcă dezvăluie cum a făcut două luni de pușcărie: "Nu vă dau niciun ban! Condamnați-mă!" + cine i-a spus primul "Satana"" [Victor Pițurcă reveals how he spent two months in prison: "I won't give you any money! Condemn me!" + who called him "Satan" first] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
51. "Victor Pițurcă, un an de închisoare cu suspendare în "Dosarul Valiza"" [Victor Pițurcă, a year in prison with suspension in the "Suitcase Case"] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
52. "Victor Pițurcă a fost condamnat în dosarul "Valiza" și a făcut închisoare înainte de 1989" [Victor Pițurcă was convicted in "The Suitcase" case and spent time in prison before 1989] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
53. "De ce a fost trimis după gratii Victor Pițurcă înainte de 1989" [Why was Victor Pițurcă sent behind bars before 1989] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
54. "Gigi Becali, condamnat definitiv la trei ani de închisoare cu executare în dosarul "Valiza"" [Gigi Becali, definitively sentenced to three years in prison with execution in the "Suitcase" file] (in Romanian). Zf.ro. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
55. "Citește istoria completă a "Cazului Valiza"" [Read the full story of "The Suitcase Case"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
56. "Teia Sponte şi Gigel Coman reținuți la Cluj!" [Teia Sponte and Gigel Coman detained in Cluj!] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
57. "Cum a ajuns Pițurcă să fie condamnat în Dosarul Valiza. Dialogul dintre selecționer și Gigi Becali" [How Pițurcă came to be convicted in the Suitcase Case. The dialogue between the coach and Gigi Becali] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
58. "Ziua valiZa in fotbalul romanesc! Judecatorii au decis: Becali, CONDAMNAT la 3 ani de inchisoare cu executare! Piturca, un an cu suspendare!" [ValiZa day in Romanian football! The judges decided: Becali, SENTENCED to 3 years in prison with execution! Piturca, a year with suspension!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Gigi Becali a primit trei ani cu executare în Dosarul Valiza. Steaua riscă să fie exclusă din Europa" [Gigi Becali received three years with enforcement in the Suitcase Case. The star risks being excluded from Europe] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
59. "Alexandru Piţurcă: "Nu mă compar cu tata!"" [Alexandru Piţurcă: „I can't compare myself with my father!“] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
60. "Alexandru Piţurcă, program separat de pregătire: "Tata e dur cu mine"" [Alexandru Piţurcă, separate training schedule: "My father is ruff with me"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
61. "SPECIAL Situaţie de gradul I în Liga 1. Ce a realizat Silviu Lung jr. prin câştigarea titlului cu Astra. De la fraţii Vâlcov, la fraţii Costea şi familia Piţurcă" [SPECIAL First grade situation in Liga 1. What Silviu Lung jr. accomplished by winning the title with Astra. From the brothers Vâlcov to the brothers Costea and the Piţurcă family] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
62. "Vărul lui Piţurcă este antrenor la Sepsi" [Piţurcă's cousin is coach at Sepsi] (in Romanian). monitorulexpres.ro. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
63. "Neagoe, înlocuit de vărul Piţurcă?" [Neagoe, replaced by his cousin Piţurcă?] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
64. "Conspiración Piturca" [The Piturca Conspiracy] (in Spanish). Vavel.com. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Tragedia care a născut multe semne de întrebare. Controversatul deces al vărului lui Victor Pițurcă" [The tragedy that gave birth to many question marks. The controversial death of Victor Pițurcă's cousin] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
    "Misterul din jurul morții fotbalistului Florin Pițurcă de la FC Drobeta. Dramă în familia selecționerului Victor Pițurcă" [The mystery surrounding the death of footballer Florin Pițurcă from FC Drobeta. Drama in the family of the selector Victor Pițurcă] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
65. "Piturca este mandru de porecla Satana! Vezi de unde vine" [Piturca is proud of his "Satan" nickname! See where it came from]. March 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
66. "River Plate 1:0 Steaua București". WorldFootball. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
67. Arotaritei, Sorin; Di Maggio, Roberto; Stokkermans, Karel (16 August 2016). "Golden Boot ("Soulier d'Or") Awards". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 September 2016.

External links

• Victor Pițurcă at National-Football-Teams.com
• Victor Pițurcă at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
• Victor Pițurcă manager profile at Steaua București (in Romanian)
• Victor Pițurcă manager profile at EU-Football.info
• Victor Pițurcă management career statistics at Soccerbase
• Victor Pițurcă coach profile at National-Football-Teams.com
• Victor Pițurcă coach profile at Soccerway