Adrian Cristea (born 30 November 1983) is a former Romanian professional footballer who played as a winger.
Cristea, nicknamed "PrinÃÂul" (The Prince), was born on 30 November 1983 in IaÃÂi, Romania. He began playing football for his hometown club, Politehnica, in the Romanian lower leagues. After helping Politehnica get promoted from Divizia B, Cristea made his Divizia A debut under coach Vasile Simionaàon 30 July 2004 in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Rapid BucureÃÂti. One week later he netted his first goal when he opened the score in the 2âÂÂ1 loss to Apulum Alba Iulia. On 3 October he scored the only goal in a victory against Steaua BucureÃÂti.
After scoring two goals in 15 matches in the first half of the 2004âÂÂ05 season, Cristea was transferred to Dinamo BucureÃÂti where he was wanted by coach Ioan Andone. By the end of the season, he won the Cupa României but Andone did not use him in the final against Farul ConstanÃÂa. Cristea started the following season by winning the Supercupa României but again without Andone playing him in the victory against Steaua BucureÃÂti. The team also reached the 2005âÂÂ06 UEFA Cup group stage where he played in three games, including a 1âÂÂ0 victory against title holders CSKA Moscow.
He helped The Red Dogs win the 2006âÂÂ07 title, scoring three goals in 28 matches under the guidance of coach Mircea Rednic. In the same season, Dinamo reached the UEFA Cup round of 32 where they were eliminated with 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate by Benfica, Cristea scoring three goals in the campaign, including one in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Beà Âiktaà  in the group stage. On 1 November 2008, he equalized with a header, following a pass from Gabriel Torje for a 1âÂÂ1 draw against rivals Steaua.
He contributed to another European performance, helping the club fulfill "The wonder from Liberec" by winning with 3âÂÂ0 the away game against Slovan Liberec, as the first leg was lost with the same score, qualifying after the penalty shoot-out to the group stage of the 2009âÂÂ10 Europa League. On 17 October 2010, he scored a penalty goal in a 2âÂÂ1 derby win over Steaua.
In December 2010, Cristea was transferred from Dinamo to Universitatea Cluj, for a total fee estimated by the Romanian press between â¬1.5 â 2 million. On 1 October 2011, he scored the first hat-trick of his career in Universitatea's 5âÂÂ2 victory against Gaz Metan MediaÃÂ. During one and a half years he netted 11 goals in 42 first-league matches for The Red Caps.
In the summer of 2012, he was transferred to Petrolul PloieÃÂti, along with 11 other players from "U" Cluj, a move that occurred when the owner of the Cluj team left the club to take control of Petrolul. In November 2012, he scored his only goal for Petrolul in a 2âÂÂ0 win against his former team, Universitatea Cluj.
His only experience abroad came in 2013, when he went to play in Belgium alongside fellow Romanian George ÃÂucudean, being loaned by Petrolul to Standard Liège. He made his Belgian Pro League debut on 10 February 2013, as coach Mircea Rednic used him the entire match in Standard's 1âÂÂ0 home loss to Mons.
On 30 July 2013, after terminating his contract with Petrolul PloieÃÂti, Cristea signed a two-year contract with Steaua BucureÃÂti. However, Cristea failed to win a place in the first team, being used by coach LaurenÃÂiu Reghecampf in only nine league matches in which he scored one goal as The Military Men won the title. He also played in both legs of the 2013âÂÂ14 Champions League play-off where the team eliminated Legia Warsaw, reaching the group stage. There he made one appearance when he was sent in the 73rd minute to replace Leandro Tatu in a 3âÂÂ0 away loss to Schalke 04. He ended his contract with Steaua in April 2014.
In September 2014, Cristea reached an agreement with Concordia Chiajna. At Chiajna he made his last Liga I appearances, totaling of 266 games with 40 goals in the competition and 34 matches with four goals in European competitions.
Cristea played nine games for Romania, making his debut on 7 February 2007 when coach Victor PiÃÂurcàintroduced him at halftime to replace Ovidiu Petre in a 2âÂÂ0 friendly victory against Moldova. He appeared in two victories against Luxembourg in the successful Euro 2008 qualifiers. Cristea was called by PiÃÂurcàin the squad for the Euro 2008 final tournament, but did not get an opportunity to play. He played in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Austria and a 5âÂÂ0 loss to Serbia in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Cristea's last appearance for the national team was in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Belarus in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
On 25 March 2008, Cristea was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian BÃÂsescu, for his performance in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, where Romania managed to qualify to the final tournament. He received Medalia "Meritul Sportiv" â ("The Sportive Merit" Medal) class III.
After he ended his football career, Cristea worked as a fashion designer, opening a luxury clothing workshop in Bucharest.
Politehnica IaÃÂi
Dinamo BucureÃÂti
Petrolul PloieÃÂti
Steaua BucureÃÂti
Concordia Chiajna