Constantin Zamfir (15 May 1951 â 3 November 2025) was a Romanian footballer who played as a midfielder.
Zamfir, nicknamed Papucul ZburÃÂtor (The Flying Shoe), was born on 15 May 1951 in BucÃÂani, Romania. In 1969, he began playing football at Divizia C club Petrolul Videle. Afterwards he went to play for VoinÃÂa Ilia and Dacia OrÃÂÃÂtie, before returning to Videle in 1972. Subsequently, in 1973, he joined Petrolul PloieÃÂti where he made his Divizia A debut on 12 August 1973 under coach Gheorghe Dumitrescu in a 2âÂÂ1 away loss to CFR Cluj. The team was relegated at the end of his first season, but Zamfir stayed with the club for one more year.
In 1975, he joined Steaua BucureÃÂti which sent eight players to Petrolul in exchange for his transfer, including Florian Dumitrescu and Nicolae Pantea. In the summer of that year, the club participated in a tournament in Spain where they played against Sevilla, Espanyol Barcelona, Cádiz and Granada. Zamfir made a good impression and was nicknamed by the Spanish press as "The New Gento". Sevilla also made an offer of 2 million pesetas for him, but he was denied the transfer. On 2 November 1975, he netted a goal in a 3âÂÂ3 draw against rivals Dinamo BucureÃÂti. He finished his first season at Steaua by winning The Double, being used by coach Emerich Jenei in 32 league games in which he scored eight goals, and played the entire match in the 2âÂÂ1 win over CSU GalaÃÂi in the Cupa României final. He reached another Cupa României final in 1977, where Jenei used him the full 90 minutes in the eventual 2âÂÂ1 loss to Universitatea Craiova. In the 1977âÂÂ78 season, Zamfir scored three goals in the 24 league games Jenei used him, helping the club win another title. The team reached the 1979 Cupa României final under coach Gheorghe Constantin, Zamfir playing the entire match in the 3âÂÂ0 win over Sportul StudenÃÂesc BucureÃÂti. In his five-season spell with The Military Men he also played eight matches in European competitions, most notably getting past Young Boys with an 8âÂÂ2 aggregate win in the first round of the 1979âÂÂ80 European Cup Winners' Cup.
In the middle of the 1979âÂÂ80 season, Zamfir left Steaua to join Divizia B club Progresul BucureÃÂti, helping them earn promotion to Divizia A at the end of the season. For the following season he went to play in the first league for FCM GalaÃÂi which was relegated at the end of the season. Subsequently, he returned to Progresul for the 1981âÂÂ82 Divizia A season, but suffered another relegation at the end of it. He made his last Divizia A appearance on 9 June 1982 in Progresul's 3âÂÂ1 home loss to Olt ScorniceÃÂti, totaling 157 matches with 30 goals in the competition. Zamfir ended his career after playing several years in the Romanian lower leagues for teams such as Metalurgistul Cugir, Dacia PiteÃÂti, Chimia Turnu MÃÂgurele, Urbis BucureÃÂti, Laromet BucureÃÂti, Inter Vaslui and Petrolul Roata de Jos. At the latter, he worked as a player-coach.
Between 1975 and 1979, Zamfir made several appearances for Romania's under-21, under-23, B and Olympic teams. Notably, he scored a goal for the Olympic side in a 5âÂÂ1 victory against the Netherlands during the 1976 Summer Olympics qualifiers.
Zamfir played 11 games for Romania, making his debut on 16 November 1975 under coach Valentin StÃÂnescu in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Spain in the Euro 1976 qualifiers. Afterwards he made three appearances during the 1978 World Cup qualifiers, including two victories against Spain and Yugoslavia. He also played three matches during the 1977âÂÂ80 Balkan Cup, including his last match for the national team which took place on 31 May 1978 in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Bulgaria.
Zamfir was a player-coach at Petrolul Roata de Jos in the Romanian lower leagues. Afterwards he coached juniors for clubs such as Concordia Chiajna.
Emerich Jenei, his coach from Steaua BucureÃÂti, said about him: "I have coached few footballers in my career who had as many qualities as Zamfir." Zamfir was one of Ilie Dumitrescu's childhood idols, who described his style of play as: "He had very good speed, he was explosive, and in one-on-one duels he was very good. He excelled at speed dribbling. (...) He was a great talent. He was a classic winger. The style that Giggs had. He had speed, he crossed very well."
Zamfir died on 3 November 2025, at the age of 74.
Steaua BucureÃÂti
Progresul BucureÃÂti