Dănuț Lupu(born 27 February 1967) is aRomanianformerfootballmidfielderknown for hisdribblingability.[1]
 Lupu in 1994 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dănuț Lupu | ||
| Date of birth | 27 February 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Galați,Romania | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Dunărea Galați | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1987 | Dunărea Galați | ||
| 1987–1990 | Dinamo București | 90 | (17) |
| 1990–1991 | Panathinaikos | 10 | (1) |
| 1991–1993 | Korinthos | 47 | (3) |
| 1993–1994 | OFI Crete | 9 | (1) |
| 1994 | Rapid București | 2 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Brescia | 15 | (1) |
| 1995 | Rapid București | 13 | (6) |
| 1995–1997 | Dinamo București | 42 | (7) |
| 1997–2000 | Rapid București | 77 | (13) |
| 2000–2001 | Dinamo București | 4 | (1) |
| 2001 | Laminorul Roman | 1 | (0) |
| 2001 | Tzafririm Holon | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 311 | (50) | |
| International career | |||
| 1989–1998 | Romania | 14 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editDănuț Lupu was born on 27 February 1967 inGalați,Romania, starting as a child to play football andice hockeysimultaneously until the age of 14, when he decided to concentrate exclusively on his football career.[2][3][4]He started to play professional football in 1985 atDunărea Galațiin theRomanian second league.[2][5]In 1987 he was transferred atDinamo Bucureștiwhere he was wanted by coachMircea Lucescu,playing his firstDivizia Amatch on 8 March 1987 which ended with a 2–0 win againstFC Brașov.[2][5]In his first two seasons at Dinamo, the club finished runner-up in the championship but succeeded to win in the1989–90season the Divizia A title, with Lupu contributing with six goals scored in the 22 league matches that Lucescu used him, also winning the cup in which he scored one goal in the 6–4 victory from thefinalagainstSteaua București.[1][5][6]He also made some performances in European competitions, helpingThe Red Dogsreach the quarter-finals in the1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cupwhere they were eliminated on theaway goals ruleafter 1–1 on aggregate bySampdoriaand in thefollowing editionof the same competition Dinamo reached the semi-finals where they were eliminated after 2–0 on aggregate byAnderlechtwith Lupu playing seven games in the campaign.[1][5][7][8]
After the fall ofcommunismin December 1989, Lupu moved to Greece and signed withPanathinaikoswho paid Dinamo a transfer fee estimated between 1.2 to 2 million $, winning withThe Greensthe championship, although he played there only 10 league games in which he scored one goal.[5][9][10]During his time in Greece, he also had spells atKorinthosandOFI Crete,gaining a total of 66 appearances with 5 goals scored in theAlpha Ethnikicompetition.[5]With OFI he also reached the eight-finals of the1993–94 UEFA Cupedition, eliminatingAtlético Madridin the process.[5][11]
In 1994, he came back in Romania atRapid București,but after only two Divizia A games played he went to play for Lucescu's "BresciaRomena "as during around that period his fellow RomaniansGheorghe Hagi,Florin Răducioiu,Ioan SabăuandDorin Mateuțalso played for the club, making 15Serie Aappearances in which he scored one goal in a 1–0 home victory in front ofReggiana.[5][12][13][14]Then Lupu returned to play for a short while at Rapid, afterwards spending the next two seasons with Dinamo.[5]In 1997, when his former coach from Dinamo and Brescia, Mircea Lucescu became Rapid's coach, Lupu returned for a third spell and after finishing runner-up in the first season, he won the championship in the following one, contributing with five goals scored in 28 matches.[5][15][16]In 2000 he returned for a third spell at Dinamo just for a short time in which he made his last Divizia A appearance on 27 August in a 2–1 loss in front ofOțelul Galați,having a total of 228 matches with 44 goals scored in the competition.[5]Afterwards he played forLaminorul Romanin the Romanian second league and ended his career in Israel atHapoel Tzafririm.[5]
In the European Cups, Lupu played for Dinamo București, Panathinaikos, OFI and Rapid a total of 39 matches in which he scored three goals (including seven appearances in theIntertoto Cup).[5][17]
International career
editDănuț Lupu played 14 matches without scoring forRomania,making his debut on 11 October 1989 when coachEmerich Jeneisent him on the field in the 64th minute in order to replaceIoan Sabăuin a1990 World Cup qualifiersmatch which ended with a 3–0 loss againstDenmark,also appearing in the second leg which ended with a 3–1 victory.[18][19]He appeared in two games at the1990 World Cup final tournament,a 1–1 in the group stage againstArgentinaand a 0–0 (5–4, after penalty kicks) loss againstIrelandin the eight-finals.[18]Lupu played four games at the successfulEuro 1996 qualifiers,but was not part of the team's squad at thefinal tournament,making his last appearance for the national team on 18 March 1998 in a friendly which ended with a 1–0 loss againstIsrael.[18]
Style of play
editDănuț Lupu was a player known for his dribbling and passing abilities.[1]When his former coach,Mircea Lucescuwas asked "What did Lupu lack to be atHagi's level? ", Lucescu answered:" He didn't lack talent, especially since he also played hockey and had very strong legs, which enabled him to balance well on the field. I did not see him fall on the field. I remember a match at Brescia against Desailly (n.a.Marcel Desailly,ex-Milandefender andworld championwithFrance), he crushed him in a one-on-one contest. He was lacking Gică Hagi's ambition. Perhaps, if he had been more ambitious, he would have taken football more seriously. He didn't take it very seriously. He loved football, but he did not respect it. I would tell him what to do and he would understand immediately, very intelligently. I remember that cube appeared (theRubik's Cube)... no one could do it. He did it immediately. He had an extraordinary memory. He lacked that basic education. "[20]
Controversies
editDuringDinamo's stay inDundeefor a game againstDundee Unitedin the1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup,Dănuț Lupu was arrested for shoplifting, but was released after coachMircea Lucescuwent to the police station and convinced the prosecutor to not make him a criminal record.[2][21]
While playing forPanathinaikos,Lupu was arrested inAthensand spent two months and a half in jail, being accused of being the leader of a gang of Romanian thieves who had stolen cars in Greece.[22][23][24]Lupu claims he was arrested becausePanathinaikos's presidentYiorgos Vardinogianniswanted him to sign the termination of the contract and to give up insisting to receive his unpaid salaries.[22][23][24]
In 2005 he was caught at an airport fromBucureștiwith 79,000 undeclaredeurosstashed in shoe boxes; also, in the same year he was caught driving an unregistered car.[24][25][26]
In early October 2023, theBucharest Court of Appealsentenced Lupu to seven months and 10 days in jail for driving repeatedly without adriver's license,being released after six months in early April 2024.[27][28][29][30][31]
Personal life
editHis nephew,Valentin Balintis also a footballer who started his career atDinamo București.[32][33]
Honours
editDinamo București
Panathinaikos
Rapid București
References
edit- ^abcd"La 54 de ani, Dănuț Lupu, maestrul driblingurilor, mărturisește:" Doar de doi jucători treceam cu greu ""[At the age of 54, Dănuț Lupu, the master of dribbling, confesses: "Only with two players I had problems while trying to dribble them" ] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 27 February 2021.Retrieved25 August2023.
- ^abcd"Cum au fost create marile echipe ale anilor '80?. Episodul 3: Dinamo - Show cu doar 14" câini ". Dar de rasă"[How were the great teams of the '80s created? Episode 3: Dinamo - Show with only 14 "dogs". But dogs of race] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 25 March 2021.Retrieved15 February2023.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu:" Mi-a plăcut mai mult hocheiul! ". Cine este omul care l-a făcut să se ducă la fotbal"[Dănuț Lupu: "I liked hockey more!". Who is the man who made him go to football?].digisport.ro(in Romanian). 3 June 2021.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"Adevărul despre... Dănuț Lupu:" Aș fi fost un bun hocheist! ""[The truth about... Dănuț Lupu: "I would have been a good hockey player!" ].Adevărul(in Romanian). 9 December 2011.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstDănuț Lupuat RomanianSoccer.ro(in Romanian)
- ^"Romanian Cup – Season 1989–1990".romaniansoccer.ro.Retrieved3 August2022.
- ^"Dinamo, reunire cu gandul la Sampdoria"[Dinamo, reunited with the fought at Sampdoria] (in Romanian). Jurnalul.ro. 9 January 2009.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu. Cup Winners Cup 1989/1990".WorldFootball.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu, episod tulburător în penitenciar:" Nu e legendă. Am vrut să mă otrăvesc, am stat o săptămână intubat în spital! ""[Dănuț Lupu, disturbing episode in the penitentiary: "It's not a legend. I wanted to poison myself, I spent a week intubated in the hospital!" ].Gsp.ro(in Romanian). 17 December 2020.Retrieved2 July2024.
- ^"Dezvaluirile incredibile ale lui Danut Lupu de cand era in inchisoare:" Nu e legenda. Am vrut sa ma otravesc si am stat o saptamana intubat in spital! ""[Danut Lupu's incredible revelations from when he was in prison: "It's not a legend. I wanted to poison myself and I was intubated in the hospital for a week!" ].Sport.ro(in Romanian). 17 December 2020.Retrieved2 July2024.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu. UEFA Cup 1993/1994".WorldFootball.Retrieved14 September2024.
- ^"Mircea Lucescu and The Tale of The" Brescia Romena ""(in Romanian). Cultofcalcio. 31 March 2020.Retrieved10 October2024.
- ^"Brescia Romena"(in Romanian). Onromanianfootball.medium. 4 September 2021.Retrieved10 October2024.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu. Serie A 1994/1995".WorldFootball.Retrieved15 February2023.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu, mesaj tulburător despre Mircea Lucescu:" E al doilea tată al meu! În momentele cele mai grele m-a ajutat și a fost alături de mine! ""[Dănuț Lupu, disturbing message about Mircea Lucescu: "He is my second father! In the most difficult moments he helped me and stood by me!" ] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 29 July 2020.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu, dezvăluiri incredibile la ProSport Live! Așa a ajuns la Rapid:" M-a dat afară din curte de la Dinamo! Și-a luat doar 800.000 de dolari bani negri ""[Dănuț Lupu, incredible revelations at ProSport Live! This is how he got to Rapid: "He kicked me out of the yard at Dinamo! He only took $ 800,000 in black money." ] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 26 June 2021.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^Dănuț Lupuat WorldFootball.net
- ^abc"Dănuț Lupu".European Football.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"Denmark 3-0 Romania".European Football.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"Mircea Lucescu a dat verdictul. De ce Dănuț Lupu n-a ajuns la nivelul lui Gică Hagi:" L-a făcut praf pe Desailly ""[Mircea Lucescu gave the verdict. Why Dănuț Lupu did not reach the level of Gică Hagi: "He crushed Desailly" ] (in Romanian). Iamsport.ro. 13 September 2024.Retrieved28 November2024.
- ^"Dezvăluire teribilă: Lupu după gratii la Dundee! Cum l-a scos" Il Luce "din celulă"[Terrible revelation: Lupu behind bars in Dundee! How "Il Luce" got him out of the cell].fanatik.ro(in Romanian). 18 February 2019.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^ab"Atena, cosmarul lui Danut Lupu"[Athens, Danut Lupu's nightmare] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 29 November 2006.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^ab"Dănuţ Lupu despre momentul în care a fost arestat în Grecia:" Eu cu hoţii, Maradona cu drogurile! Noi eram şefii Mafiei! ""[Danut Lupu about the moment he was arrested in Greece: "Me with the thieves, Maradona with the drugs! We were the Mafia Boss es!" ] (in Romanian). Romaniatv.net. 1 March 2018.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^abc"Top 5 fotbaliști români arestați în străinătate"[Top 5 Romanian footballers arrested abroad] (in Romanian). Theplaymaker.ro. 22 December 2017.Retrieved7 November2021.
- ^"Lupu are din nou probleme cu Poliția"[Lupu has problems with the police again].Libertatea(in Romanian). 23 April 2005.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu:" Cine să facă șmecherii cu mine? ""[Dănuț Lupu: "Who can do tricks with me?" ].Evenimentul Zilei(in Romanian). 6 October 2010.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"De ce a fost condamnat definitiv Dănuț Lupu la închisoare cu executare"[Why was Dănuț Lupu definitively sentenced to prison with execution. The court's explanations] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 3 October 2023.Retrieved4 April2024.
- ^"Șoc! Dănuț Lupu, condamnat la închisoare cu executare: cât de mare e sentința primită de fostul fotbalist de la Dinamo și Rapid!"[Shock! Dănuț Lupu, sentenced to prison with execution: how big is the sentence received by the former football player from Dinamo and Rapid!] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 2 October 2023.Retrieved4 April2024.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu, condamnat definitiv la închisoare. Cât va sta închis"[Dănuț Lupu, definitively sentenced to prison. How long will it be closed?] (in Romanian). Playsport.ro. 2 October 2023.Retrieved4 April2024.
- ^"Dănuț Lupu a fost eliberat din închisoare! Incident cu o reporteră:" Mă hărtuiești! ""[Dănuț Lupu was released from prison! Incident with a reporter: "You're harassing me!" ] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 3 April 2024.Retrieved4 April2024.
- ^"Primele imagini cu Dănuț Lupu, după ce a fost eliberat din Penitenciarul Rahova:" Am făcut o greșeală, am plătit-o. Când voi lua permisul voi conduce iar ""[The first images of Dănuț Lupu, after he was released from the Rahova Penitentiary: "I made a mistake, I paid for it. When I get my license I will drive again" ] (in Romanian). Antena3.ro. 3 April 2024.Retrieved4 April2024.
- ^"Puştiul cu numele greu! Valentin Balint a învăţat fotbal de la unchiul său, Dănuţ Lupu"[The kid with a heavy name! Valentin Balint learned to play football from his uncle Danuţ Lupu] (in Romanian). prosport.ro. 30 July 2013.Retrieved7 October2017.
- ^"El e pustiul MAGIC pe care Dinamo il creste s-o DISTRUGA pe Steaua! Ce mesaj are pentru fane"[He is the MAGICAL kid that Dinamo grows to DESTROY Steaua! What message does he has for his female fans] (in Romanian). sport.ro.Retrieved7 October2017.
External links
edit- Dănuț Lupuat National-Football-Teams