Carol Haidu (also known as Karol Haydu; 3 June 1942 â April 2023) was a Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Haidu was born on 3 June 1942 in RâÃÂnov, Romania with the name of Karol Haydu, but the communist authorities made him change it to Carol Haidu, in order to "sound more Romanian". He began playing junior-level football in 1958 at Luceafarul BraÃÂov. Three years later he joined Steagul RoÃÂu BraÃÂov where he made his Divizia A debut on 1 April 1962 under coach Silviu PloeÃÂteanu in a 3âÂÂ1 away loss to Dinamo PiteÃÂti.
Haidu went to play for Steaua BucureÃÂti in 1964, a team with whom he won the 1967âÂÂ68 Divizia A title in which coach ÃÂtefan Kovács used him in 20 matches. He also helped the club win five Cupa României, but played in only three of the finals. During his time with The Military Men he also played nine games in European competitions (including one appearance in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup). He took part in the 1971âÂÂ72 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign, appearing in three matches as the team reached the quarter-finals by eliminating Hibernians and Barcelona, being eliminated after 1âÂÂ1 on aggregate on the away goal rule by Bayern Munich. Haidu's last Divizia A appearance took place on 9 December 1973, playing for Steaua in a 1âÂÂ0 away loss to SC BacÃÂu, totaling 158 matches in the competition.
Haidu played five games for Romania, making his debut on 2 May 1965 under coach Ilie Oanàin a 3âÂÂ0 home victory against Turkey in the 1966 World Cup qualifiers. His following two matches were also in the World Cup qualifiers, keeping a clean sheet in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Czechoslovakia, then conceding his only two goals while playing for the national team from Eusébio in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Portugal. His last appearance for The Tricolours took place on 22 November 1967 in a 1âÂÂ0 home win against West Germany.
After he retired from football, he had a period when he suffered from poverty, not having a place to sleep. Haidu died in April 2023 at age 80.
Steaua BucureÃÂti