Cornel Pavlovici (2 April 1943 â 8 January 2013) was a Romanian footballer who played as a striker.
Pavlovici, nicknamed Pavca, was born on 2 April 1943 in Bucharest, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1952 at Locomotiva BucureÃÂti. He began his senior career in 1960 at Metalul BucureÃÂti. Afterwards, he went to play for Recolta Carei, Dinamo Baia Mare and ASMD Satu Mare. In 1961, Pavlovici joined Jiul PetroÃÂani, making his Divizia A debut under coach Bazil Marian on 15 October 1961 in a 5âÂÂ2 away loss to Dinamo BucureÃÂti.
Subsequently, he played in the first half of the 1962âÂÂ63 season for Viitorul BucureÃÂti, moving for the second half to Steaua BucureÃÂti. In the following season, he became the top-scorer of the season alongside Constantin FrÃÂÃÂilÃÂ, netting 19 goals, including a hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ1 win over rivals Dinamo. Afterwards, Pavlovici netted two goals in the 5âÂÂ0 aggregate victory against Derry City in the first round of the 1964âÂÂ65 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1965âÂÂ66 season, he scored a brace in a 3âÂÂ3 league draw against Dinamo and won the Cupa României, but coach Ilie Savu did not use him in the 4âÂÂ0 victory against UTA Arad in the final.
In 1966, Pavlovici joined ASA Târgu Mureàin Divizia B, scoring 15 goals in his first season to help them gain first-league promotion. Two years later, he joined ArgeàPiteÃÂti where he played in a 3âÂÂ0 loss to Göztepe in the second round of the 1968âÂÂ69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In the middle of the 1968âÂÂ69 season, he went to play for Petrolul PloieÃÂti. Then Pavlovici returned to Divizia B football, signing with Progresul BucureÃÂti which he helped gain promotion to the first league. However, he remained in the second league, joining Metalul TârgoviÃÂte.
In the middle of the 1971âÂÂ72 season, Pavlovici went to Steagul RoÃÂu BraÃÂov where he made his last Divizia A appearance on 19 April 1972 in a 1âÂÂ0 home win over CriÃÂul Oradea, totaling 114 matches with 57 goals in the competition. Pavlovici ended his career after playing for Metalul Turnu Severin during the 1972âÂÂ73 Divizia B season.
From 1962 to 1964, Pavlovici made eight appearances for Romania's under-23 team.
Pavlovici played two matches for Romania, making his debut on 12 May 1963 when coach Silviu PloeÃÂteanu sent him at halftime to replace Cicerone Manolache in a 3âÂÂ2 friendly win over East Germany in which he scored a goal. His second appearance occurred about a month later in a 1âÂÂ1 friendly draw against Poland.
Pavlovici also represented Romania's Olympic team, playing four games under coach Silviu PloeÃÂteanu during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He scored six goals, including one against East Germany in a draw, goals in wins over Iran and Yugoslavia, and a hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ2 victory against Ghana, which contributed to his team's fifth-place finish in the tournament.
Sports commentator Ilie Dobre wrote a book about him titled Cornel Pavlovici sau fascinaÃÂia golului (Cornel Pavlovici or the fascination of the goal), which was released in 2004.
Pavlovici died on 8 January 2013 at age 69.
Steaua BucureÃÂti
ASA Târgu MureÃÂ
Progresul BucureÃÂti