Marius Niculae
Encyclopedia
Marius Constantin Niculae (born 16 May 1981 in Bucharest
) is a Romania
n footballer who plays for FC Dinamo Bucureşti as a centre forward.
A Romanian international
since the age of 19, he participated at Euro 2008.
debut at age 15 (5–2 home win against Farul Constanţa
, on 22 November 1996).
During his last two years with the capital
side, still not yet 20, he scored 33 league goals combined, and was an essential offensive unit as the club won the double in the 1999–2000 season (Dinamo also had two other runner-up league positions and won another domestic cup in his spell with the team).
giants Sporting Clube de Portugal on a four-year contract, where he failed to settle during his four-season spell, barred by then-in form Mário Jardel
, the 2003 signing of his compatriot
Liédson
and injuries.
His best output happened in his debut season, as the Lions won the double, with the player contributing with seven goals in 16 matches in the league. However, on 22 December 2001, in a game against Vitória de Setúbal
, after a dangerous challenge by Ico, he suffered a career-threatening knee
injury. After a long recovery, Niculae was able to return to pre-season matches, only to break a toe in practice on 10 December 2002, this injury too leading to a long recovery with a series of relapses. By the time the player was once again fully fit, he struggled to regain his previous form.
As Sporting reached the UEFA Cup final
on its home ground
, the player contributed with three games and one goal, in the 4–1 home win against Newcastle United
in the quarterfinals (4–2 on aggregate).
in Belgium
and 1. FSV Mainz 05
in Germany
- only six Bundesliga
games for the latter - Niculae moved, on a two-year contract, to Scottish Premier League
's Inverness Caledonian Thistle
, following a brief trial in July 2007. His first application for a work permit
was rejected, but Inverness appealed and asked fans to sign a petition to have the player's permit granted. After his appeal, Niculae was granted a work permit and became eligible. He was awarded the Clydesdale Bank
Player of the Month award for his performances in the season in December.
Niculae became very popular with the fans, and was booked during a 3–0 home victory over Kilmarnock
, after leaving the pitch to celebrate with the fans in the stand after scoring the final goal. After the resignation of chairman Alan Savage, it became clear Inverness could not afford Niculae's wages, and the club accepted an offer of €
500,000 from Dinamo Bucharest, in the summer of 2008. Niculae left Inverness with a record of 10 goals in 38 games in all competitions.
top division.
since 2 February 2000 - aged 18 years and 9 months - in a friendly 2–0 win with Latvia
, Niculae was part of the nation's squad in UEFA Euro 2008, appearing in two group stage matches.
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
) is a Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n footballer who plays for FC Dinamo Bucureşti as a centre forward.
A Romanian international
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
since the age of 19, he participated at Euro 2008.
Dinamo Bucharest
Niculae startd his professional career with Dinamo Bucureşti, making his Liga ILiga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
debut at age 15 (5–2 home win against Farul Constanţa
FC Farul Constanta
FC Farul Constanţa is a professional football club from Constanţa, Romania. Established in 1949, Farul is currently competing in Liga II ,after being relegated at the end of Liga I 2008-09. The club has yet to win a Romanian title...
, on 22 November 1996).
During his last two years with the capital
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
side, still not yet 20, he scored 33 league goals combined, and was an essential offensive unit as the club won the double in the 1999–2000 season (Dinamo also had two other runner-up league positions and won another domestic cup in his spell with the team).
Sporting
In 2001, Niculae joined PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
giants Sporting Clube de Portugal on a four-year contract, where he failed to settle during his four-season spell, barred by then-in form Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel de Almeida Ribeiro is a former Brazilian professional footballer.Jardel was most noted for his positioning on the field and "being at the right place, at the right time"...
, the 2003 signing of his compatriot
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Liédson
Liédson
Liédson da Silva Muniz , simply Liédson, is a Brazilian-born Portuguese footballer who plays for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista as a striker....
and injuries.
His best output happened in his debut season, as the Lions won the double, with the player contributing with seven goals in 16 matches in the league. However, on 22 December 2001, in a game against Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
, after a dangerous challenge by Ico, he suffered a career-threatening knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury. After a long recovery, Niculae was able to return to pre-season matches, only to break a toe in practice on 10 December 2002, this injury too leading to a long recovery with a series of relapses. By the time the player was once again fully fit, he struggled to regain his previous form.
As Sporting reached the UEFA Cup final
2005 UEFA Cup Final
The 2005 UEFA Cup Final was between Sporting CP of Portugal and CSKA Moscow of Russia. The match took at place at Sporting's home, Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, on 18 May 2005. CSKA Moscow won their first UEFA Cup and became the first Russian club to win a major European championship.-Match details:...
on its home ground
Estádio José Alvalade
Estádio José Alvalade is a football stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, home of Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the country's biggest clubs. It is the center of a complex called Alvalade XXI , designed by Portuguese architect...
, the player contributed with three games and one goal, in the 4–1 home win against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in the quarterfinals (4–2 on aggregate).
Scotland
After unassuming spells with Standard de LiègeStandard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and 1. FSV Mainz 05
1. FSV Mainz 05
1. Fußball- und Sportverein Mainz 05 e. V., usually shortened to 1. FSV Mainz 05, Mainz 05, or simply Mainz, is a 1905 founded German association football club based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition to the football section the 1. FSV Mainz 05 has a handball and table tennis department...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- only six Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
games for the latter - Niculae moved, on a two-year contract, to Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
's Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
, following a brief trial in July 2007. His first application for a work permit
Work permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
was rejected, but Inverness appealed and asked fans to sign a petition to have the player's permit granted. After his appeal, Niculae was granted a work permit and became eligible. He was awarded the Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
Player of the Month award for his performances in the season in December.
Niculae became very popular with the fans, and was booked during a 3–0 home victory over Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
, after leaving the pitch to celebrate with the fans in the stand after scoring the final goal. After the resignation of chairman Alan Savage, it became clear Inverness could not afford Niculae's wages, and the club accepted an offer of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
500,000 from Dinamo Bucharest, in the summer of 2008. Niculae left Inverness with a record of 10 goals in 38 games in all competitions.
Return home
Niculae started his second spell at Dinamo with 12 goals in his first season, but could not reproduce that form in the following years. In January 2011, he was loaned to Kavala F.C. in the GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
top division.
International career
A Romanian internationalRomania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
since 2 February 2000 - aged 18 years and 9 months - in a friendly 2–0 win with Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
, Niculae was part of the nation's squad in UEFA Euro 2008, appearing in two group stage matches.
International goals
-
- Scores and results table. Romania's goal tally first:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 February 2000 | Pafiako Stadium Pafiako Stadium The Pafiako Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Paphos, the stadium holds 10,000 people . It has a full size running track around the outside of its football and rugby playing field and is used for many athletics events throughout the year. It is regarded as one of the best pitches in Cyprus and... , Paphos Paphos Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the... , Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 2 | 5 December 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956 Stade 19 Mai 1956 Stade 19 Mai 1956 is a football stadium located in Annaba, Algeria. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000. and is an all-seater. It is currently used on a regular basis by football club USM Annaba who play in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1... , Annaba Annaba Annaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 , it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria.... , Algeria Algeria Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab... |
1–0 | 2–3 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 5 December 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 2–3 | 2–3 | Friendly | |
| 4 | 8 December 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 2–0 | 3–2 | Friendly | |
| 5 | 8 December 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 3–1 | 3–2 | Friendly | |
| 6 | 2 June 2001 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest Bucharest Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... , Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification | |
| 7 | 2 June 2001 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification | |
| 8 | 15 August 2001 | Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana Ljubljana Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants... , Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... |
1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly | |
| 9 | 5 September 2001 | Népstadion Stadium Puskás Ferenc Ferenc Puskás Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Budapest, Hungary. It is situated on the Pest side of the capital between the Stadionok and the Keleti Palyaudvar metro stations. It is currently used mainly for football matches. The stadium is going to be demolished sometime in 2012 and... , Budapest Budapest Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification | |
| 10 | 10 November 2001 | Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana Ljubljana Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants... , Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... |
1–0 | 1–2 | 2002 World Cup qualification - Playoffs | |
| 11 | 8 September 2004 | Estadi Comunal d'Aixovall, Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Co-principality of Andorra, and is located high in the east Pyrenees between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital.... , Andorra Andorra Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of... |
3–0 | 5–1 | 2006 World Cup qualification 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 1 The 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 1 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised Andorra, Armenia, Czech Republic, Finland, Macedonia and Netherlands, and Romania.... |
|
| 12 | 8 September 2004 | Estadi Communal d'Aixovall, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2006 World Cup qualification | |
| 13 | 26 March 2008 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest Bucharest Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... , Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... |
3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Team
- Dinamo Bucureşti:
- Romanian League: 1999–00
- Romanian Cup: 1999–00, 2000–01
- Sporting:
- Portuguese League: 2001–02
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 2001–02 - Portuguese Supercup: 2002
- UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2004–05