Adrian Pigulea (born 12 May 1968) is a Romanian former football striker.
Pigulea was born on 12 May 1968 in Strehaia, Romania and began playing junior-level football at local club ArmÃÂtura. He started to play senior football in 1987 at Divizia B club ElectromureàTârgu-MureÃÂ. In 1988 he joined Universitatea Craiova where on 4 September he made his Divizia A debut under coach Gheorghe Constantin in a 5âÂÂ0 away loss to ArgeàPiteÃÂti. Pigulea helped the club win The Double in the 1990âÂÂ91 season under the guidance of coach Sorin CârÃÂu in which he contributed with 12 goals scored in 31 league appearances, being the team's second top-scorer, with one goal behind Gheorghe Ciurea. He also played as a starter until the 87th minute when he was replaced with Gheorghe Craioveanu in the 2âÂÂ1 win over FC BacÃÂu in the Cupa României final.
In 1992, Pigulea played one season in the Cypriot First Division for Aris Limassol, his only experience outside Romania. Afterwards he returned for two seasons at "U" Craiova, in both of which the team finished second in the league, also reaching the 1994 Cupa României final where he did not play in the 2âÂÂ1 loss to Gloria BistriÃÂa. In 1995 he joined NaÃÂional BucureÃÂti where in the first two seasons he was again runner-up in the league. They also reached the 1997 Cupa României final where coach Florin Halagian used Pigulea in the first half, replacing him with CÃÂtÃÂlin LiÃÂàfor the second in the eventual 4âÂÂ2 loss to Steaua BucureÃÂti. Under Halagian, he also represented The Bankers in all six games in the 1996âÂÂ97 UEFA Cup edition, eliminating Partizan Belgrade and Chornomorets Odesa in the first rounds, the campaign ending after a 3âÂÂ1 aggregate loss to Club Brugge. Across his career, Pigulea made a total of 27 appearances with seven goals scored in European competitions (including six games with three goals in the Intertoto Cup), managing to score a hat-trick for NaÃÂional against Cwmbran Town in a 7âÂÂ0 win in the 1997âÂÂ98 Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round. The 2000âÂÂ01 season spent with NaÃÂional was the last of Pigulea's career, totaling 257 Divizia A matches with 40 goals.
Pigulea played a single match for Romania on 28 August 1991 when coach Mircea RÃÂdulescu sent him in the 60th minute to replace Ion Timofte in a friendly against USA which ended with a 2âÂÂ0 loss.
Pigulea married Clara, the daughter of former Universitatea Craiova striker Ion Oblemenco.
Universitatea Craiova
NaÃÂional BucureÃÂti