CÃÂtÃÂlin George Hîldan (3 February 1976 â 5 October 2000) was a Romanian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Hîldan was born on 3 February 1976 in BrÃÂneÃÂti, Ilfov, Romania. He first came into contact with sports at the age of eight at the rugby club Olimpia together with his older brother Cristian. Two years later, in the summer of 1986, he joined football club Dinamo BucureÃÂti where he worked with coach IonuàChirilÃÂ, playing alongside Florentin Petre, Mihai Tararache and others. His first senior match for Dinamo was on 2 October 1994 when coach Ion Moldovan sent him in the 39th minute to replace Sulejman Demollari in a Divizia A derby against Steaua BucureÃÂti that ended with a 2âÂÂ0 loss. After a couple of months he was loaned to OÃÂelul TârgoviÃÂte in the third league, where Hîldan helped the team win promotion to the second division and then to the first.
He was recalled to Dinamo by coach Cornel Dinu. In a couple of years he became the team's captain. In the 1999âÂÂ2000 season, under the guidance of Dinu, Hîldan played 29 league games in which he scored one goal, helping Dinamo win the title. That was the first championship earned by the club in nine years, and was mathematically won after a 3âÂÂ2 victory against Steaua. In the same season, he scored the second goal of the 2âÂÂ0 victory in the Cupa României final against Universitatea Craiova. On 1 October 2000, Hîldan made his last Divizia A appearance in a 3âÂÂ2 home loss to Petrolul PloieÃÂti, totaling 138 matches with six goals in Divizia A and 11 matches in European competitions.
Hîldan was part of Romania's under-21 side that managed a first-ever qualification to a European Championship in 1998, which Romania subsequently hosted. In the final tournament that was composed of eight teams, coach Victor PiÃÂurcàused him in all three games which were losses to Netherlands, Germany and Russia, as they finished in last place.
Hîldan played eight friendly games and scored one goal for Romania, making his debut on 3 March 1999 when coach PiÃÂurcàintroduced him in the 85th minute to replace Gheorghe Popescu in a 2âÂÂ0 victory against Estonia. He scored his only goal for the national team in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Georgia. He played his last game on 3 June 2000 in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Greece. Hîldan was selected by coach Emerich Jenei to be part of Romania's squad in the Euro 2000 final tournament, but did not play in any games there.
Hîldan died on 5 October 2000, while playing in a friendly match between Dinamo and ÃÂantierul Naval OlteniÃÂa, after having a stroke in the 74th minute of the game and fell to the ground. Before his death he was nicknamed "The only captain" by Dinamo's fans, a nickname that became more popular after his death. His number, 11, was retired by Dinamo in his honor and a statue of him was displayed within the Dinamo Stadium. The north stand of the stadium is named "Peluza CÃÂtÃÂlin Hîldan" (CÃÂtÃÂlin Hîldan Stand), in his honor, and the Stadionul CÃÂtÃÂlin Hîldan from his native BrÃÂneÃÂti is also named after him. In 2006, he was posthumously named one of the 100 Greatest Romanians in a nationwide poll. A book about him was written by Ioan Chilom, titled Unicul cÃÂpitan. CÃÂtÃÂlin Hîldan, câine pânàla moarte (The only captain. CÃÂtÃÂlin Hîldan, dog until death).
OÃÂelul TârgoviÃÂte
Dinamo BucureÃÂti