Cristian Bălgrădean
Cristian Emanuel Bălgrădean (Romanian pronunciation: [kristiˈan bəlgrəˈde̯an]; born 21 March 1988) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Liga I club CFR Cluj as a goalkeeper.
.jpg.webp) Bălgrădean with CFR Cluj in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cristian Emanuel Bălgrădean | ||
| Date of birth | 21 March 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Sânnicolau Mare, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | CFR Cluj | ||
| Number | 34 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2001 | Școala de Fotbal Helmuth Duckadam | ||
| 2001–2006 | Atletico Arad | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2007 | Minerul Lupeni | 16 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | FC Brașov | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Liberty Salonta | 17 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | UTA Arad | 27 | (0) |
| 2010–2014 | Dinamo București | 90 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Unirea Urziceni (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Universitatea Craiova | 50 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Concordia Chiajna | 68 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | FCSB | 64 | (0) |
| 2020– | CFR Cluj | 44 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2008 | Romania U19 | 5 | (0) |
| 2011–2021 | Romania | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 August 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 June 2016 | |||
Since making his debut in the first division in 2010, Bălgrădean has amassed over 200 matches in the competition for Dinamo București, Universitatea Craiova, FCSB, and CFR Cluj, among others. With the former team, he won the Cupa României and the Supercupa României in 2012, and with the latter the Liga I and the Supercupa României in 2021.
Bălgrădean registered his full debut for the Romania national team in November 2011, in a 3–1 friendly victory over Greece.
Club career
Bălgrădean started his career as a youngster at Helmuth Duckadam football school in Arad.[1] After the school was disbanded, he joined the junior groups of Atletico Arad. In 2005, he signed his first professional contract with Minerul Lupeni. His evolution was impressive, and he was bought by FC Brașov.[2] In 2008, he was transferred permanently by Liberty Salonta.[3] From the Bihor team, Bălgrădean was called to the Romania U-21 team.[4] In 2009, he returns home to Arad, being bought by Gloria Arad,[5] and then loaned to UTA Arad.
In June 2010 he signed a contract for five seasons with Dinamo București.[6] He failed to gain a position in the first squad and was loaned for a season at Unirea Urziceni.[7] In the Winter break, Bălgrădean was called back to Dinamo by Ioan Andone who decided to give him a chance in the first 11 after an injury of Emilian Dolha. He kept his position after Andone was replaced with Liviu Ciobotariu in July 2011.
Following the arrival of Dario Bonetti as head-coach, Bălgrădean initially lost his place in the first team when the Italian manager chose Kristijan Naumovski as first goalkeeper. After a while, the two players were used alternately because they both became eligible for their national teams and for a possible future transfer.[8]
In July 2014, Bălgrădean was released by Dinamo.[9]
On 26 August, he signed a contract with the newly promoted in Liga I, Universitatea Craiova.[10]
On 19 February 2018, he agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal with FCSB.[11]
International career
Bălgrădean became a senior Romania international on 15 November 2011, when he played the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 friendly win against Greece.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 10 November 2022[12]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Minerul Lupeni | 2006–07 | Liga II | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 16 | 0 | ||||
| FC Brașov | 2007–08 | Liga II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Liberty Salonta | 2008–09 | Liga II | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 17 | 0 | ||||
| UTA Arad | 2009–10 | Liga II | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 27 | 0 | ||||
| Unirea Urziceni | 2010–11 | Liga I | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Dinamo București | 2010–11 | Liga I | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | – | 37 | 0 | |||||
| 2012–13 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | 30 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 90 | 0 | 13 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 110 | 0 | |||
| Universitatea Craiova | 2014–15 | Liga I | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 29 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 50 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 52 | 0 | |||
| Concordia Chiajna | 2015–16 | Liga I | 15 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 0 | ||||
| 2016–17 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 38 | 0 | |||||
| 2017–18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 68 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 74 | 0 | |||
| FCSB | 2017–18 | Liga I | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | – | 39 | 0 | |||||
| 2019–20 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | – | 23 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 64 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 7 | 0 | – | – | 73 | 0 | |||
| CFR Cluj | 2020–21 | Liga I | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | 0 | – | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 21 | 0 | |||||
| 2022–23 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 383 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 443 | 0 | |||
References
- Bogdan Savin, Marius Pitaru (2011). "Voinţa i-a mărit salariul lui "Pufi"" (in Romanian). Adevărul. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- Loredana Juglea (2009). "Bălgrădean e viitorul portar al Naționalei" (in Romanian). liga2.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- Teodor Biris (2008). "Bălgrădean s-a transferat la CF Liberty" (in Romanian). bihon.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- Glasul Aradului (2009). "Cristian Balgradean, la tineret!" (in Romanian). roportal.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- observator.info (2009). "Gloria Arad l-a readus pe Bălgrădean de la Liberty" (in Romanian). sportlocal.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- D.S. (2010). "Bălgrădean a semnat cu Dinamo" (in Romanian). aradpn.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- I.G. (2010). "Vezi ultimele mutari de la Dinamo" (in Romanian). ziare.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- Eduard Apostol, Cătălin Gheorghiu (2012). "Rotaţie pentru export » Naumovski şi Bălgrădean schimbă cu rîndul mănuşile pentru un transfer din iarnă" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- Adrian Ţone (2014). "Anghelache: Am reziliat contractele cu Rus şi Bălgrădean" (in Romanian). Mediafax. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- CS Universitatea Craiova (2014). "Bălgrădean a semnat cu Universitatea" (in Romanian). csuc.ro. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- "OFICIAL Bălgrădean e jucătorul lui FCSB și a uitat complet trecutul dinamovist! Prima reacție a portarului: "Asta e Steaua!"" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- Cristian Bălgrădean at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- "Cristian Bălgrădean". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- "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.
External links
- Cristian Bălgrădean at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- Cristian Bălgrădean at National-Football-Teams.com
- Cristian Bălgrădean – UEFA competition record (archive)