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.

Cristian Bălgrădean
Personal information
Full name Cristian Emanuel Bălgrădean
Date of birth (1988-03-21) 21 March 1988
Place of birth Sânnicolau Mare, Romania
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 CFR Cluj
Number 34
Youth career
2001–2006 Atletico Arad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Minerul Lupeni 16 (0)
2007–2008 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 15 (0)
National team‡
2007–2008 Romania U19 5 (0)
2011– Romania 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 January 2021
‡ 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.

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]

On 1 July 2020, he left FCSB to join CFR Cluj.

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 29 February 2020[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 16000–––160
Brașov 2007–08 Liga II 3000–––30
Liberty Salonta 2008–09 Liga II 17000–––170
UTA Arad 2009–10 Liga II 27000–––270
Unirea Urziceni 2010–11 Liga I 4010–––50
Dinamo București 2010–11 Liga I 10030–––130
2011–12 30030–40–370
2012–13 24030–2010300
2013–14 26040–––300
Total 900130––60101100
Universitatea Craiova 2014–15 Liga I 27020–––290
2015–16 2300000––230
Total 50020––––––520
Concordia Chiajna 2015–16 Liga I 150–30––180
2016–17 3501020––380
2017–18 18000–––180
Total 6801050––––740
FCSB 2017–18 Liga I 10010–––110
2018–19 34000–50–390
2019–20 20010–20–230
Total 64020––70––730
Career total 339019050130103770

International
As of 20 February 2018[13]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 201110
Total10

Honours

Club

Dinamo București

Concordia Chiajna

References
  1. Bogdan Savin, Marius Pitaru (2011). "Voinţa i-a mărit salariul lui "Pufi"" (in Romanian). Adevărul. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  2. Loredana Juglea (2009). "Bălgrădean e viitorul portar al Naționalei" (in Romanian). liga2.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  3. Teodor Biris (2008). "Bălgrădean s-a transferat la CF Liberty" (in Romanian). bihon.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  4. Glasul Aradului (2009). "Cristian Balgradean, la tineret!" (in Romanian). roportal.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  5. observator.info (2009). "Gloria Arad l-a readus pe Bălgrădean de la Liberty" (in Romanian). sportlocal.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  6. D.S. (2010). "Bălgrădean a semnat cu Dinamo" (in Romanian). aradpn.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  7. I.G. (2010). "Vezi ultimele mutari de la Dinamo" (in Romanian). ziare.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  8. 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.
  9. Adrian Ţone (2014). "Anghelache: Am reziliat contractele cu Rus şi Bălgrădean" (in Romanian). Mediafax. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  10. 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.
  11. "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.
  12. Cristian Bălgrădean at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  13. "Cristian Bălgrădean". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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