Alexandru Gergely

Alexandru Gergely (sometimes: Ghergheli; Hungarian: Sándor Gergely) (16 September 1951 – 25 March 2018) was a Romanian professional footballer and manager of Hungarian ethnicity. He grew up at Unirea Cristuru Secuiesc, then playing at senior level for Steagul Roșu Brașov and FC Bihor Oradea. After retirement, Gergely managed in the youth centers of FC Bihor Oradea and Liberty Salonta, being well known for discovering footballers such as: Claudiu Keșerü, Sebastian Achim, Cristian Cigan or Sergiu Homei, among others.

Alexandru Gergely
Gergely Sándor
Alexandru Gergely at FC Bihor
Personal information
Date of birth (1951-09-16)16 September 1951
Place of birth Cristuru Secuiesc, Romania
Date of death 25 March 2018(2018-03-25) (aged 66)
Place of death Oradea, Romania
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder / Forward
Youth career
1964–1969 Unirea Cristuru Secuiesc
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1975 Steagul Roșu Brașov 142 (34)
1975–1980 Bihor Oradea 126 (45)
Total 268 (79)
Teams managed
1980–2002 Bihor Oradea (youth)
2002–2003 FC Oradea (assistant)
2003 Petrom Abram
2004–2005 FC Oradea (youth)
2005–2007 Liberty Salonta (youth)
2006–2007 Liberty Salonta (assistant)
2007–2008 Bihor II Oradea (assistant)
2008–2011 Bihor Oradea (youth)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 June 2020

Club career

Gergely grew up in Unirea Cristuru Secuiesc Football Academy and was trained at the Romanian national youth squads by famous coaches such as Gheorghe Ola or Cornel Drăgușin.[1]

He made his debut at senior level for Steagul Roșu Brașov in 1970, also making its first appearance in the top-flight. After six years spent at the "yellow and blacks", in which he played in 142 matches and scored 34 goals, Gergely moved to FC Bihor Oradea, where he played until its retirement.[2][3] At FC Bihor Oradea, "Gobe" (as he was nicknamed) was a member of the 1970s golden team, together with other two footballers from Brașov, Mircea Albu and Nicolae Florescu. He played in 126 matches for the "red and blues", scoring 45 goals.[4]

Alexandru Gergely played in 268 Divizia A matches and scored 79 goals.[1]

Manager career

After retirement, Gergely was for years one of the coaches that activated in the FC Bihor Oradea Youth Academy, where he discovered players such as Claudiu Keșerü, Sebastian Achim or Cristian Cigan, among many others. For a short period, during the 2000s, he was also a coach in the Liberty Salonta Academy, in that period promoting other future top-flight players, among them, Sergiu Homei.[5]

"Gobe" was also the assistant manager of FC Bihor Oradea and Liberty Salonta senior squads and the manager of 4th tier side Petrom Abram.[6][7][8]

Later years and death

In 2011, Gergely suffered the amputation of his right leg, the one with which he was making waves as a footballer. After this unfortunate medical event, he ended his career as a football manager. His beloved club, FC Bihor, made some efforts to help him financially in the following years, despite the fact that the club itself was in insolvency.[9] After years of suffering, on 25 March 2018, the former star player and long-term manager of FC Bihor and talented youngster of Steagul Roșu Brașov, passed away, at only 66 years old.[1][5][10][11]

References
  1. Încă o tragedie în fotbalul românesc: a murit antrenorul care l-a descoperit pe Claudiu Keșeru (Another tragedy in Romanian football: the coach who discovered Claudiu Keșeru died). gsp.ro (in Romanian)
  2. Apariţii Liga 1 (Liga 1 apps). lastegaru.net (in Romanian)
  3. Golgeteri Liga 1 (Liga 1 goalscorers). lastegaru.net (in Romanian)
  4. Din Centru spre Nord-Vest (From Center to North-West). lastegaru.net (in Romanian)
  5. Doliu în fotbal! A murit antrenorul Alexandru Gergely (Mourning in football! Coach Alexandru Gergely died). gsp.ro (in Romanian)
  6. Aproape de împlinirea unui vis vechi de 12 ani FC Oradea va juca barajul de promovare în Divizia A FC Baia Mare - FC Oradea 0-2 (0-1) (Near the fulfillment of a 12 year old dream FC Oradea will play the promotion play-off to Divizia A FC Baia Mare - FC Oradea 0-2 (0-1)). crisana.ro (in Romanian)
  7. Internaţionalii şi-au făcut datoria: Petrom Abram - FC Tileagd 3-3(0-2) (The internationals have done their job: Petrom Abram - FC Tileagd 3-3 (0-2)). crisana.ro (in Romanian)
  8. Lotus Felix - Liberty Salonta 1-1 (1-1) (Lotus Felix - Liberty Salonta 1-1 (1-1)). crisana.ro (in Romanian)
  9. Fotbal pentru o cauză nobilă Orădenii au jucat pentru „Gobe” (Football for a noble cause. The people of Oradea played for "Gobe"). liga2.prosport.ro (in Romanian)
  10. Alexandru Gergely a murit! Fostul jucător de la FC Bihor și antrenor care l-a lansat pe Keșeru era grav bolnav de câțiva ani (Alexandru Gergely is dead! The former FC Bihor player and coach who promoted Keșeru was seriously ill for several years). libertatea.ro (in Romanian)
  11. Doliu în fotbal! Antrenorul care l-a descoperit pe Keşeru a decedat. Gergely a jucat pentru FC Bihor (Mourning in football! The coach who discovered Keşeru died. Gergely played for FC Bihor). fanatik.ro (in Romanian)
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