Vlad Chiricheș

Vlad Iulian Chiricheș (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈvlad ˈkirikeʃ]; born 14 November 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Italian Serie A club Sassuolo, and captains the Romania national team. Primarily a central defender, he is also comfortable as a right back or a defensive midfielder.

Vlad Chiricheș
Chiricheș with Romania in 2014
Personal information
Full name Vlad Iulian Chiricheș[1]
Date of birth (1989-11-14) 14 November 1989
Place of birth Bacău, Romania
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender / Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Sassuolo
Number 21
Youth career
LPS Bacău
2004–2007 Ardealul Cluj
2007–2008 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Internațional 41 (1)
2010–2012 Pandurii Târgu Jiu 39 (0)
2012–2013 Steaua București 42 (3)
2013–2015 Tottenham Hotspur 27 (1)
2015–2020 Napoli 32 (3)
2019–2020 → Sassuolo (loan) 9 (0)
2020– Sassuolo 13 (2)
National team‡
2009–2010 Romania U21 3 (0)
2011– Romania 59 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:50, 10 January 2021 (UTC).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 October 2020

Chiricheș spent the first part of his senior career in Romania with Internațional Curtea de Argeș, Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Steaua București. He helped the latter to a Liga I title and a Supercupa României before transferring to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then-Romania record sale of €9.5 million. After two seasons, he moved to Serie A signing to Napoli. In 2020, Chiricheș was acquired by Sassuolo for €11 million.

A full international for Romania since 2011, he has earned over 50 caps and represented the country at the UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Early career

Chiricheș began his career at LPS Bacău as a midfielder, even as a striker a few years later when he moved to Ardealul Cluj playing alongside Mihai Răduț and Alexandru Maxim.[3] He then moved to Portuguese side Benfica in 2007.[4][5][6]

Internațional / Pandurii

Upon his return to Romania after 12 months spent in Portugal, Chiricheș joined lower league club Internațional Curtea de Argeș and helped them earn promotion to the top flight Liga I in 2009.[7] In 2010, shortly after Internațional was dissolved, he moved alongside many of his teammates to Pandurii Târgu Jiu.[8] Chiricheș was close to signing with Steaua București instead of Pandurii, but Victor Pițurcă, Steaua's coach at the time, did not agree with the transfer.[9]

Steaua București

After one season, Chiricheș sealed another transfer, this time to FC Steaua București for a reported sum of €700,000 and 25% left to Pandurii in case of a future transfer.[10] Steaua paid €500,000 for the remaining procents of the co-ownership in August 2013, making the total transfer sum to €1.2 million.[11]

On 25 October 2012, he scored an overhead volley from near the penalty spot in a 2–0 win against Molde in the Europa League, which put Steaua in control of Group E.[12]

Chiricheș scored from long range against Ajax on 21 February 2013, canceling out a two-goal first-leg deficit as Steaua triumphed in the penalty shoot-out to set up a Round of 16 meeting with 2012 Champions League winners, Chelsea.[13][14] He scored again, an equalising goal to make it 1–1 with a fine close-range finish on the stroke of half-time in the 3–1 second leg loss against "the Blues" at Stamford Bridge after Steaua won the first leg 1–0.[15]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 30 August 2013, English club Tottenham Hotspur paid a then-Romania record sale fee of €9.5 million for the signing of Chiricheș.[16][17]

He made his debut for Tottenham in a 4–0 League Cup victory over Aston Villa on 24 September.[18] His Premier League debut was also an away game against Aston Villa, a 2–0 win on 20 October in which he was voted Man of the Match by fans.[19] On 4 December, Chiricheș scored his first goal for the team, an equaliser from outside the penalty box in a 2–1 victory against Fulham.[20]

At the end of the January 2015 transfer window A.S. Roma offered €500,000 to take Chiricheș on a six-month loan, which was deemed too low by Spurs and rejected.[21] On 9 May, he was sent off for two bookings as Tottenham lost 3–0 to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.[22]

Napoli

On 30 July 2015, Italian team Napoli signed Chiricheș on a four-year deal for £4.5 million.[23] He made his Serie A debut for Napoli in a 1–2 home loss to Sassuolo.

On 10 September 2018, it was announced that Chiricheș had suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage requiring surgery and sidelining him for most of the season.[24]

Sassuolo

On 2 September 2019, Chiricheş joined Serie A club Sassuolo on loan with an obligation to buy for €12 million plus bonuses[25] at the end of the season.[26]

Chiricheş eventually left Napoli for Sassuolo in Summer 2020 for €11 million.[27]

International career
Chiricheș in action for Romania against Austria in 2012

Chiriches made his debut for the senior team in an UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Luxembourg on 2 September 2011.[28] On 14 August 2013, Chiricheș became the captain of Romania, in the friendly draw 1–1 over Slovakia. His competitive debut as captain was on 6 September, a 3–0 victory against Hungary, in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game.

He played his 50th match for the national team on 5 October 2017, against Kazakhstan, in a 3–1 home win, match in which he captained Romania.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 10 January 2021[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Internațional 2008–09 26110–––271
2009–10 15010–––160
Total41120000000431
Pandurii Târgu Jiu 2010–11 24000–––240
2011–12 15020–––170
Total39020000000410
Steaua București 2011–12 14020–20–180
2012–13 26100–133–394
2013–14 20––301060
Total421200018310634
Tottenham Hotspur 2013–14 171103030–241
2014–15 100311050–191
Total27141408000412
Napoli 2015–16 8120–71–172
2016–17 14210–10–162
2017–18 7010–10–90
2018–19 3000–30–60
Total323400012100484
Sassuolo (loan) 2019–20 9000–00–90
Sassuolo 2020–21 13 2 0 0 – 2 – 15 2
Total22200002000242
Career total 2038141404041026213

International
As of 8 October 2020[30]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania 201150
2012100
201380
201470
201570
201680
201790
201810
201930
202020
Total590

Honours

Steaua București

Tottenham Hotspur

Individual

References
  1. "15th UEFA European Championship: Booking List before Qualifying Round Matchday 10" (PDF). UEFA. 11 October 2015. p. 6. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. "Prima Squadra - SSC Napoli". www.sscnapoli.it. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. "Chiricheş, Maxim, Răduţ. Ce mai scoate Şcoala Ardealul" (in Romanian). ProSport. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. "Sky Sports Scout – Vlad Chiriches". Sky Sports. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  5. "Un fost jucător de la Benfica a dezvăluit de ce n-a fost păstrat Vlad Chiricheş" (in Romanian). ProSport. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  6. "I-a dus pe Chiricheş la Benfica şi pe Răduţ la Sporting! Omul care l-a descoperit pe Grozav pe când era minor aduce un nou nume în prim plan: "E foarte talentat"" (in Romanian). ProSport. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  7. "Nou promovata lui Ştefan Stoica a pornit la drum în Liga 1: FC Internaţional a început pregătirile". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 June 2009.
  8. "Ionuţ Badea a ales 15 jucători de la Inter pentru lotul Pandurilor". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 21 July 2010.
  9. "Povestea celui mai scump transfer din liga 1". Gazeta Sporturilor. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  10. "Chiricheş a semnat cu Steaua, dar vine la iarnă". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 3 August 2011.
  11. "Steaua pays 1.2 million euros for Chiriches". Gazeta Sporturilor. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  12. "Chiricheş stunner helps Steaua sink Molde". UEFA. 25 October 2012.
  13. "Latovlevici shines as Steaua beat Ajax on penalties". UEFA. 21 February 2013.
  14. "Blues edge through, Ajax outed on penalties". FIFA. 21 February 2013.
  15. "Torres on target as Chelsea sneak past Steaua". UEFA. 14 March 2013.
  16. "Tottenham agree price for Chiriches". FIFA. 25 August 2013.
  17. "Spurs announce Vlad Chiriches signing". ESPN FC. 30 August 2013.
  18. "Chiriches transfer agreed". Tottenham Hotspur FC. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  19. "Chiriches voted Man of the Match". @SpursOfficial. Twitter. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  20. Cryer, Andy. "Fulham 1–2 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  21. "Tottenham Reject Roma Loan Offer for Chirches (and Hands Him Bonus)". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  22. Johnston, Neil (9 May 2015). "Stoke 3-0 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  23. "Tottenham Hotspur Official Announcement Regarding Vlad Chiriches". Spurs Official Twitter. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  24. "Report: Napoli defender Vlad Chiriches suffered ACL damage". Calcio Mercato. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  25. "OFICIAL Vlad Chiricheș a plecat de la Napoli » Sassuolo l-a prezentat astăzi pe fundașul român". 2 September 2019.
  26. "UFFICIALE: Sassuolo, preso Chiriches. Prestito con obbligo di riscatto". Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  27. "Il Parma batte il Napoli e...riscatta tre azzurri: nelle casse del club" (in Romanian). 23 July 2020.
  28. "Torje double keeps Romania in touch". UEFA. 2 September 2011.
  29. Vlad Chiricheș at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  30. "Vlad Chiricheș". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
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