Carol Creiniceanu (1 February 1939 â 14 January 2012) was a Romanian footballer who played as a midfielder. He was part of Romania's team that reached the quarter-finals in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Creiniceanu was born on 1 February 1939 in Lupeni, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1959 at local club Minerul. In 1957 he started to play for the seniors, helping them gain first league promotion at the end of the 1958âÂÂ59 Divizia B season. He made his Divizia A debut on 16 August 1959 under coach Vasile LazÃÂr in Minerul's 1âÂÂ1 draw against Steagul RoÃÂu BraÃÂov.
In 1961, Creiniceanu joined Steaua BucureÃÂti where he won six Cupa României, but played in only two of the finals, which were both 2âÂÂ1 victories against rivals Dinamo BucureÃÂti. During these years, he also scored two goals in the derby against Dinamo, of which the first was in the 5âÂÂ3 defeat in the 1964 Cupa României final and the second was in a 3âÂÂ2 league loss. The team also won the 1967âÂÂ68 title under coach ÃÂtefan Kovács, but Creiniceanu did not make a single league appearance during that season. During his spell with The Military Men, Creiniceanu made his only eight appearances in European competitions. Notably, he scored two goals to help his side get past Derry City in the first round of the 1964âÂÂ65 European Cup Winners' Cup, being eliminated in the following one by Dinamo Zagreb. He also scored a goal in the 5âÂÂ3 aggregate loss to Spartak Trnava in the first round of the 1968âÂÂ69 European Cup. On 22 July 1970, he made his last Divizia A appearance in Steaua's 1âÂÂ1 draw against Bihor Oradea, totaling 207 matches with 65 goals in the competition.
Creiniceanu played one game for each of Romania's under-23 and B teams in 1959 and 1963 respectively.
Creiniceanu played three games and scored one goal for Romania, making his debut on 9 October 1963 when coach Silviu PloeÃÂteanu sent him to replace Ion Haidu in the 32nd minute of 0âÂÂ0 friendly draw against Turkey. His following match was also against Turkey, a 3âÂÂ0 victory during the 1966 World Cup qualifiers in which he scored the final goal. His last appearance for the national team was a friendly which ended 1âÂÂ1 against Yugoslavia.
Creiniceanu also played 11 games and scored three goals for Romania's Olympic team. He was chosen by coach PloeÃÂteanu to be part of the 1964 Summer Olympics squad in Tokyo where he scored two goals, one in a 3âÂÂ1 victory against Mexico and one in a 4âÂÂ2 win over Ghana, helping the team finish in fifth place.
Creiniceanu coached several clubs in the Romanian lower leagues such as Metalul BucureÃÂti, MecanicàFinàBucureÃÂti, ASA Mizil and Minerul Lupeni. He also coached Jiul PetroÃÂani during the 1990âÂÂ91 Divizia A season in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Universitatea Cluj. In the last years of his life, he worked for Minerul Lupeni's youth center.
His father, Francisc, was also a footballer who played for Minerul Lupeni.
Creiniceanu died on 14 January 2012 at age 72.
Minerul Lupeni
Steaua BucureÃÂti