Adrian Stoicov (12 November 1967 â 15 March 2017) was a Romanian footballer who played as a left-back.
Stoicov, nicknamed "Bulgarul" (The Bulgarian), was born on 12 November 1967 in Deta, Romania and began playing junior-level football at ÃÂS TimiÃÂoara before moving to Politehnica TimiÃÂoara. He started his senior career in 1986 at Divizia C club Obilici Sânmartinu-Sârbesc.
In 1987, Stoicov returned to Politehnica, making his Divizia A debut on 29 November under coach Ion Ionescu in a 1âÂÂ0 home win over Universitatea Cluj. At the end of his first season, Politehnica was relegated, but he stayed with the club, helping it get promoted back after one year. Subsequently, in the 1990âÂÂ91 UEFA Cup coach Constantin RÃÂdulescu used him in four matches, as in the first round they got past Atlético Madrid with 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate, being eliminated in the next round by Sporting Lisbon. He helped the club reach the 1992 Cupa României final, coach Ion Ionescu using him the entire match in the loss at the penalty shoot-out to Steaua BucureÃÂti, Stoicov missing one of Politehnica's spot kicks. He then participated in the 1992âÂÂ93 UEFA Cup edition where in the first round they faced Real Madrid, obtaining a 1âÂÂ1 draw at TimiÃÂoara and losing with 4âÂÂ0 at Santiago Bernabéu.
Stoicov left Politehnica to join Progresul BucureÃÂti for the 1993âÂÂ94 season. He then returned to Politehnica for the 1994âÂÂ95 Divizia B season, helping them gain promotion to the first league. He began the next season in Divizia B, playing one game for CFR TimiÃÂoara. Afterwards, he moved to the first league to play for Politehnica, which was relegated once again at the end of the 1996âÂÂ97 season. After one more season spent in Divizia B with The White-Purples, Stoicov went to third league team UM TimiÃÂoara for the first half of the 1998âÂÂ99 season. He joined Inter Sibiu for the second half, UM managing to gain promotion to the second league without him. He continued to play at Divizia B level at Sibiu and Cetate Deva until he ended his career in 2001. Stoicov has a total of 217 appearances with three goals scored in Divizia A.
Stoicov played two games in 1992 for Romania's B squad, a victory against China and a loss to Poland.
After he ended his playing career, Stoicov worked as an assistant and youth coach.
He died on 15 March 2017 at age 49 in TimiÃÂoara after suffering from lung cancer.
Politehnica TimiÃÂoara
UM TimiÃÂoara