Alexandru Chipciu

Alexandru Mihăiță Chipciu (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru kipˈt͡ʃi.u];[1] born 18 May 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Liga I club Universitatea Cluj, which he captains. A versatile player, he is mainly deployed as a winger or an attacking midfielder, but has also been used as a false 9 or a wing-back on occasion.[2][3]

Alexandru Chipciu
Chipciu with Anderlecht in 2016
Personal information
Full name Alexandru Mihăiță Chipciu
Date of birth (1989-05-18) 18 May 1989
Place of birth Brăila, Romania
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Universitatea Cluj
Number 27
Youth career
2001–2004 Dacia Unirea Brăila
2004–2006 Sporting Pitești
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 FC Brașov 76 (13)
2008 → Forex Brașov (loan) 6 (0)
2008–2009 → CF Brăila (loan) 18 (4)
2011–2016 Steaua București 116 (24)
2016–2020 Anderlecht 49 (5)
2018–2019 → Sparta Prague (loan) 27 (1)
2020–2022 CFR Cluj 62 (5)
2022– Universitatea Cluj 46 (4)
International career‡
2006 Romania U17 2 (1)
2008 Romania U19 2 (0)
2011–2019 Romania 46 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2019

After starting his senior career with FC Brașov, Chipciu moved to Steaua București in the winter of 2011[4] and won seven domestic trophies during his spell in the capital. In 2016, he transferred abroad for the first time to join Anderlecht; he helped to a national title in his first season in Belgium, but later fell out of favor and was sent on loan to Sparta Prague. At the start of 2020, Chipciu returned to his native country with defending champions CFR Cluj.

Chipciu is a Romanian international and has played for the country's under-17 and under-19 teams before making his senior debut in 2011.[5] He was a member of the squad that participated at the UEFA Euro 2016.[6]

Club career

Early career

Chipciu started his career at hometown club Dacia Unirea Brăila in 2001, aged 13. From 2004 to 2006, he played youth football for Sporting Pitești.[7][8]

FC Brașov

At the age of 18, Chipciu made his senior squad breakthrough at FC Brașov, scoring four goals in his first year with the club. However, he received less playing time as the team aimed promotion to the first division. For the first half of the 2008–09 campaign he was loaned out to Liga II side Forex Brașov,[9] and in the second part he rejoined his former youth club Brăila in Liga III to accumulate more experience.[10]

Upon his return to FC Brașov, now promoted to the Liga I, Chipciu again got few opportunities to play constantly. He however had appreciated performances in the 2010–11 season,[11] being one of the best players of the team and attracting the attention of Bucharest rivals Steaua and Dinamo.[12] He eventually chose to stay at Brașov, signing a new contract that would have kept him at the club until 2015.[13] Chipciu had a great start to the 2011–12 season, scoring two important goals in the opening three games.

Steaua București
Chipciu playing against Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Europa League group stage, 2 October 2014.

On 21 December 2011, Steaua București announced that they reached an agreement with FC Brașov for the transfer of Chipciu. He penned a five-year contract,[4] while press reported the transfer fee to be an initial €1.2 million plus 25% interest from a future sale.[14]

Chipciu netted his first goal for the club in a 1–1 away draw at Pandurii Târgu Jiu on 31 March 2012,[15] and his second came just one week later against Sportul Studențesc after an impressive build-up play (4–1 win, at Stadionul Steaua).[16] On 7 May, he was sent off after receiving a red card in a match against Concordia Chiajna.[17] During late 2012, Chipciu aided Steaua in qualifying from the UEFA Europa League group stage, where they played against VfB Stuttgart, Molde and Copenhagen.[18] The following year, Steaua defeated Dutch club Ajax on penalty shoot-outs in the round of 32, before losing the next round to Chelsea after 3–2 on aggregate.[19]

On 10 May 2013, in one of the last league fixtures of the season, Chipciu suffered an injury in a derby with Dinamo București and was subsequently sidelined for five months with a fractured tibia.[20] Two weeks later, he received a winners medal after Steaua's Liga I conquest, being his first major honour. He earned six more trophies during his next three years with the Roș-albaștrii—two more league championships, one Cupa României, one Supercupa României and two Cupa Ligii.

Anderlecht

On 18 July 2016, Chipciu traveled to Belgium to undergo a medical at Anderlecht.[21] One day later, the club officially announced the signing of a four-year contract.[22] Anderlecht paid €3 million for the transfer, with bonus clauses potentially rising the fee to €3.5 million.[23][24]

On 7 August 2016, Chipciu scored his first goal in a 5–1 Belgian Pro League defeat of Kortrijk.[25] After falling down the pecking order, Chipciu was sent on loan to Sparta Prague on 3 July 2018.[26] During his one-year stint, he made 27 Czech First League appearances and netted once.

CFR Cluj

Chipciu returned to his native country on 18 January 2020, after agreeing to sign for CFR Cluj as a free agent.[27] He played nine games without scoring in the remainder of the season, as CFR won its third-consecutive national title.

Universitatea Cluj

On 25 June 2022, Chipciu joined CFR's city rivals Universitatea Cluj on a one-year deal.[28]

International career
Chipciu lining up before a 1–2 loss to Algeria on 4 June 2014, in which he scored Romania's equaliser.

On 29 March 2006, Chipciu made his debut for Romania under-17 in a match with Serbia. He also represented the country at under-19 level. Chipciu gained his first cap for the full side in 2011, playing as a starter against San Marino.[5] On 15 November that year, he scored his first senior international goal in a friendly match in Austria with Greece. On 17 May 2016, Chipciu was picked by manager Anghel Iordănescu for his preliminary 28-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad and eventually made it to the final list.[6]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 October 2023[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Forex Brașov (loan) 2008–09 6000———60
CF Brăila (loan) 2008–09 18400———184
FC Brașov 2006–07 15400———154
2007–08 10011———111
2009–10 2100———21
2010–11 31351———364
2011–12 18520———205
Total 761382———8415
Steaua București 2011–12 142——00—142
2012–13 27610—142—428
2013–14 22641—30—297
2014–15 263414110211458
2015–16 27741116010399
Total 11624133523342116934
Anderlecht 2016–17 32520—14100486
2017–18 17010—2010210
Total 49530—16110696
Sparta Prague (loan) 2018–19 27120—2000311
CFR Cluj 2019–20 9000—000090
2020–21 30210—6010382
2021–22 23310—5110304
Total 62520—11120776
Universitatea Cluj 2022–23 34151———392
2023–24 12311———134
Total 46462———526
Career total 40056347526265150672

International
As of match played 19 November 2019[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 201121
201240
201321
201481
201530
201671
201760
201891
201951
Total466
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Chipciu goal.
List of international goals scored by Alexandru Chipciu
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 November 2011Stadion Schnabelholz, Altach, Austria2 Greece3–13–1Friendly
2 22 March 2013Ferenc Puskás, Budapest, Hungary7 Hungary2–22–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 4 June 2014Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland11 Algeria1–11–2Friendly
4 8 October 2016Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia24 Armenia5–05–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 11 October 2018LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania39 Lithuania1–02–12018–19 UEFA Nations League C
6 10 June 2019National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta45 Malta3–04–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

FC Brașov

Steaua București[29]

Anderlecht[29]

CFR Cluj[29]

Universitatea Cluj[29]

References
  1. "How to pronounce EURO players' names correctly". UEFA.com. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016.
  2. "Dilema falsului număr "9". De ce nu poate Steaua continua cu succes aplicarea sistemului folosit contra Chiajnei. Comparaţie cu Barcelona" [The difficulties of a false 9. Why FCSB can't continue using the system applied against Chiajna. Comparison with Barcelona] (in Romanian). ProSport. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  3. "Reacția lui Chipciu când a auzit că va fi folosit fundaș dreapta la Sparta: "E bine că e Stanciu pe partea mea" + Cum l-a impresionat pe antrenor" [Chipciu's reaction when he heard he would be used as a right-back at Sparta: "Is good that Stanciu is on my side" + Hoe he impressed the coach]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 10 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. "Chipciu a semnat cu Steaua". Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  5. Chipciu, titular cu San Marino Archived 21 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Romania Euro 2016 squad". The Daily Telegraph. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. Chipciu
  8. Alexandru Mihăiţă CHIPCIU
  9. Vezi ce jucator din Liga I a refuzat Steaua pentru FC Brasov
  10. "Alexandru Chipciu si Marius Lupu au fost cistigurile echipei brailene in finalul turului". Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  11. "Tupeu de puşti » Braşoveanul Chipciu e una dintre marile revelaţii ale turului de campionat". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 2 December 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  12. A fost dorit de Steaua şi Dinamo, dar rămîne fidel Braşovului » Chipciu şi-a prelungit contractul pînă în 2015
  13. "A fost dorit de Steaua şi Dinamo, dar rămîne fidel Braşovului / Chipciu şi-a prelungit contractul pînă în 2015". Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  14. "Transferul lui Chipciu la Anderlecht reaprinde speranţa la FC Braşov. Oficialii echipei caută antrenor şi jucători" [Chipciu's transfer to Anderlecht reignites hope at FC Brașov. The officials of the team are searching for a coach and players]. ProSport (in Romanian). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  15. Steaua loses title hopes
  16. Chipciu superb goal against Sprotul
  17. Chicpiu only 1 match day suspension
  18. "Ce adversari poate întîlni Steaua". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 6 December 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  19. "Au trecut testul Champions League". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 16 March 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  20. "Chipciu are fractură de tibie". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  21. "Chipciu is in Anderlecht, ander doelwit kiest voor Zenit". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  22. "Alexandru Chipciu voor 4 seizoenen bij RSCA!". R.S.C. Anderlecht (in Dutch). 19 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  23. "Alexandru Chipciu signe à Anderlecht". France Football (in French). 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  24. "Detaliile afacerii "Chipciu". Ce sumă primeşte, de fapt, Steaua şi ce număr va purta fotbalistul la Anderlecht" [The details of the "Chipciu" deal. What sum FCSB actually receives and the jersey number which the player will wear at Anderlecht]. DigiSport (in Romanian). 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  25. "Alexandru Chipciu a marcat primul gol pentru Anderlecht. A avut nevoie de 4 meciuri" [Alexandru Chipciu scored his first goal for Anderlecht. He needed 4 matches]. DigiSport (in Romanian). 7 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  26. "Hotovo! Ve Spartě bude hostovat Rumun Chipciu, přišel si pro titul". Sport.cz (in Czech). 3 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  27. "Bine ai venit, Alexandru Chipciu!" [Welcome, Alexandru Chipciu!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  28. "Transfer de top înainte de cantonament. Alex Chipciu vine la "U"" [Top transfer before the training camp. Alex Chipciu joins "U"] (in Romanian). FC Universitatea Cluj. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  29. Alexandru Chipciu at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  30. "Alexandru Chipciu". European Football. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  31. "FOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj a câștigat Supercupa României!" [PHOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
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