Dumitru Munteanu


Dumitru Munteanu was a Romanian footballer.

Club career

Munteanu was born on 3 July 1932 in Bucharest, Romania, and spent his entire career from junior to senior level playing alongside his twin brother Anton, both of them being known for their dribbling abilities and spectacular play. He grew up in Dămăroaia and began playing junior-level football at the local club, afterwards joining Laromet București, before moving to CCA Cluj where he spent only two weeks. Then he joined Gloria Bistrița, a team he helped reach in 1954 a promotion play-off to Divizia B which was eventually lost. Munteanu made his Divizia A debut on 6 May 1955, playing for CCA București under coach Ilie Savu in a 1–0 loss against Flamura Roșie Arad, this being his only league appearance for the team.
In 1956 he went to play for Petrolul Ploiești where he spent nine seasons. Munteanu helped the club win two Divizia A titles in the 1957–58 and 1965–66 seasons. In the first season, he was used by coach Ilie Oană in 11 matches in which he scored three goals and in the second, coach Constantin Cernăianu gave him three appearances. In 1958, he and his brother were banned for life from playing football because they were considered "rebels" and "bourgeois elements" by the Communist regime, but after one year they were allowed to play again. In 1961, after Petrolul played a friendly against Brazilian team Grêmio Porto Alegre that ended with a 4–3 victory in which he and his brother were appreciated for their play, they were nicknamed "The Brazilians". Munteanu also helped The Yellow Wolves win the 1962–63 Cupa României, being used by coach Oană the entire match in the 6–1 victory in the final against Siderurgistul Galați. He made his last Divizia A appearance playing for them on 8 May 1966 in a 2–1 home victory against CSMS Iași, totaling 136 matches and 19 goals in the competition. He also accumulated 19 matches with six goals in the Cupa României and 11 games in European competitions.

International career

Munteanu made one appearance for Romania on 14 October 1962 when coach Constantin Teașcă sent him in the 25th minute to replace Ion Nunweiller in a 3–2 friendly loss to East Germany.

Death

Munteanu died on 19 June 2020 at age 87.

Honours

CCA București
Petrolul Ploiești