Viorel Smarandache


Viorel Firu Smarandache was a Romanian footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Smarandache was born on 2 July 1953 in Coșovenii de Sus, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1969 at Universitatea Craiova. He made his Divizia A debut on 20 September 1970 under coach Ștefan Coidum in "U" Craiova's 1–0 home victory against Jiul Petroșani.
In 1971 he joined Steaua București where he stayed until 1976, making a partnership in the central defense with Ștefan Sameș. Smarandache took part in the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign, playing all six games as the team reached the quarter-finals by getting past Hibernians and Barcelona, being eliminated after 1–1 on aggregate on the away goal rule by Bayern Munich. In the 1975–76 season he helped the club win The Double, being used by coach Emerich Jenei in 15 league games.
In 1976, Smarandache went to Olimpia Satu Mare in Divizia B, helping the team gain promotion to the first league at the end of the season. In the 1977–78 season, he scored a personal record of six goals, and also Olimpia reached the 1978 Cupa României final where coach Gheorghe Staicu used him the entire match in the 3–1 loss to Universitatea Craiova. On 7 October 1979, he made his last Divizia A appearance in Olimpia's 1–0 away loss to Politehnica Timișoara, totaling 188 matches with 11 goals in the competition.
In 1981, Smarandache joined Divizia B club Gloria Buzău where he played rarely in his two-season spell. In 1984 he signed with Electroputere Craiova in Divizia C, helping the side earn promotion to the second league in his first season.

International career

Between 1971 and 1976, Smarandache made several appearances for Romania's under-21 and under-23 squads.
He played one friendly game for Romania, being used the entire match by coach Gheorghe Ola in a 2–2 draw against Peru.

Death

Smarandache died on 15 December 2018 at age 65.

Honours

Steaua București
Olimpia Satu Mare
Electroputere Craiova