Anton Munteanu (3 July 1932 â 22 May 2007) was a Romanian footballer.
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 Dumitru, both of them being known for their dribbling abilities and spectacular play. He grew up in DÃÂmÃÂroaia and began playing junior-level football at the local club, afterwards joining Laromet BucureÃÂti, before moving to CCA Cluj where he spent only two weeks. Then he joined Gloria BistriÃÂa, 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 10 April 1955, playing for CCA BucureÃÂti under coach Ilie Savu in a 9âÂÂ1 away victory against Avântul Reghin in which he scored a goal. In 1956 he went to play for Petrolul PloieÃÂti where he spent seven seasons. 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 4âÂÂ3 victory in which he and his brother were appreciated for their play, they were nicknamed "The Brazilians". He helped the club win the 1962âÂÂ63 Cupa României under coach Ilie OanÃÂ, scoring a goal in the 6âÂÂ1 victory in the final against Siderurgistul GalaÃÂi. Munteanu made his last Divizia A appearance playing for The Yellow Wolves on 1 November 1964 in a 1âÂÂ0 away loss to Steaua BucureÃÂti, totaling 119 matches and 36 goals in the competition. He also accumulated 14 matches with five goals in the Cupa României and nine games with one goal in European competitions (including six appearances and one goal in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup).
Munteanu made one appearance for Romania on 10 September 1986, starting under coach Gheorghe Popescu and playing until the 80th minute of a 2âÂÂ0 friendly loss to Bulgaria, when he was replaced by Alexandru Ene.
Munteanu died on 22 May 2007 at age 73.
CCA BucureÃÂti
Petrolul PloieÃÂti