Cosmin Marius Contra (; born 15 December 1975) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player. He is the current head coach of Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi.
Primarily an attacking-minded right-back, he was also deployed as a midfielder. He played in three countries his own notwithstanding, mainly Spain where he appeared for Alavés, Atlético Madrid and Getafe, amassing La Liga totals of 188 games and eight goals. A Romania international for nearly 15 years, he represented the nation in two European Championships.
As a coach, Contra won the Cupa României with Petrolul PloieÃÂti in 2013 and the Cupa Ligii with Dinamo BucureÃÂti four years later. In September 2017, he was appointed at the helm of the Romania national team.
Born in TimiÃÂoara, Contra started his professional career at local club Politehnica TimiÃÂoara, making his Divizia A debut under coach CosticàÃÂtefÃÂnescu on 27 February 1994 at age 18 in a 1âÂÂ0 win in the West derby against UTA Arad. At the end of his first season they were relegated to Divizia B, but he stayed with the side, promoting back after one year. Midway through 1995âÂÂ96, he signed for Dinamo BucureÃÂti at the request of coach Cornel Dinu. During his period with the Red Dogs he failed to win any trophy, the team's best performance during his stay being a runner-up finish in 1998âÂÂ99; he also made his debut in European competitions, appearing in four matches in the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup and two in the 1997âÂÂ98 UEFA Cup.
After three and a half campaigns with Dinamo, Contra was transferred for $800,000 to Deportivo Alavés in the Spanish La Liga. He was an important part in the Basques' runner-up run in the UEFA Cup, his performances earning him in a place in the UEFA Team of the Year.
Contra scored eight goals in all competitions during his spell at the Mendizorrotza Stadium. In December 2021, as the club celebrated its 100th birthday, he was voted its best-ever right-back by newspaper Noticias de ÃÂlava.
In the summer of 2001, Contra moved to Italian club AC Milan, but his spell there lasted only one season. On 21 October, in the Derby della Madonnina against Inter Milan and as his team trailed 1âÂÂ0, he was brought on as a 46th-minute substitute and scored once and provided one assist in the 4âÂÂ2 victory. In August 2002, he was suspended after a scuffle with Juventus's Edgar Davids.
Contra returned to Spain in September 2002, joining Atlético Madrid. He appeared very rarely in the 2003âÂÂ04 campaign, due to a serious ankle condition.
Contra signed for West Bromwich Albion on loan in August 2004, making his debut in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat at Colchester United in the second round of the Football League Cup on 21 September. His maiden Premier League appearance occurred almost two months later, when they lost 2âÂÂ1 at home against Middlesbrough.
Overall, the loan was not particularly successful, with Contra playing just six games and receiving a red card in his last match, a 0âÂÂ5 home loss to Liverpool. He then returned to his country and Liga I, at the club which brought him up as a player, Politehnica TimiÃÂoara, where he managed to be recalled to the national side due to his performances.
Contra returned to Spain in August 2005, agreeing to a season-long loan with Getafe which was subsequently made permanent (he was supposed to have arrived at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez before, but the move was blocked because the squad had too many non-EU players, and his compatriot Gheorghe Craioveanu only ceased to be considered a foreigner the same year). He was used regularly by the Madrid outskirts side, battling for a first-team slot with David Cortés.
In the 2007âÂÂ08 UEFA Cup, Contra netted in both legs of the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, which ended in a 4âÂÂ4 aggregate elimination after extra time. Earlier in the competition, he scored a penalty kick against AEK Athens, appearing in that match even though his father had died just hours before.
In late January 2010, after being ousted from the starting XI by manager MÃÂchel, Contra left Getafe and returned to his country, rejoining hometown's Politehnica TimiÃÂoara initially until June. On 26 February he made his debut in his second spell for the club, scoring from a 30-yard free kick in the last minute of the 2âÂÂ1 victory over Politehnica IaÃÂi. Two months later, at Steaua BucureÃÂti, he again found the net from two set pieces, one from a penalty (3âÂÂ3 draw); during his second stint, he played mainly as a central midfielder.
On 29 August 2010, Contra scored again from a free kick and again against Steaua, in a late 1âÂÂ1 equaliser. His contract expired the following day, and on 9 September he agreed to a new deal, being announced as new player-coach six days later. His last game as a player took place on 13 November 2010, in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw with Unirea Urziceni.
Contra earned 73 caps for Romania and scored seven goals, making his debut on 24 April 1996 at the age of 20 when coach Anghel IordÃÂnescu brought him on in the 65th minute to replace captain Gheorghe Hagi in a friendly against Georgia which ended with a 5âÂÂ0 victory. He played three games in the Euro 2000 qualifiers, being selected by Emerich Jenei to be part of the final tournament squad, where he was used as a starter the first three matches, helping the team get past the group stage, but did not play in the 2âÂÂ0 loss to Italy in the quarter-finals, being suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the previous fixtures. He made nine appearances and netted twice in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying phase, one in a 2âÂÂ0 away victory over Georgia and one in the second leg of the play-off against Slovenia which was lost 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Contra made six appearances in the Euro 2004 qualifiers, scoring a hat-trick in the 7âÂÂ0 away rout of Luxembourg, playing six times in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He contributed six matches and two goals, one in a 3âÂÂ0 victory against Luxembourg and one in the 2âÂÂ0 defeat of Slovenia in qualification for Euro 2008, being used in the final tournament by manager Victor PiÃÂurcàin all the minutes as his side failed to progress from their group.
Contra played four games in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and, on 1 April 2009, after a match with Austria, he announced his retirement from international football; however, on 30 August 2010, the 34-year-old was recalled by manager RÃÂzvan Lucescu for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, making his last appearance in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Albania.
Contra made his TimiÃÂoara debut as a manager in September 2010, with a win against Sportul StudenÃÂesc BucureÃÂti. Even though the team never lost a game under his guidance, he was sacked after 11 matches â six wins, five draws â because of a conflict with the club's owner.
Contra returned to Spain in July 2012, being appointed at Segunda División B side Fuenlabrada. He started the campaign well and, after ten rounds, the team found themselves in a play-off position; however, after an offer from Petrolul PloieÃÂti in his homeland arrived, he asked to be released from his contract.
Contra took over at Petrolul in October 2012, replacing Mircea Rednic. In his first season he reached the final of the Cupa României, defeating CFR Cluj 1âÂÂ0; additionally, the club finished third in the domestic league, thus securing qualification for the Europa League after an 18-year-absence.
Petrolul managed to knock out VÃÂkingur Gøta in the Europa League second qualifying round and Vitesse Arnhem in the third, but were eliminated in the play-offs by Swansea City after being bested 5âÂÂ1 in Wales and winning 2âÂÂ1 at home.
On 10 March 2014, Contra returned to Getafe and the Spanish top flight after four years, replacing Luis GarcÃÂa who was fired after a long run of bad results which led the team to only a point above the relegation zone, and without a league win since November. His first match in charge came four days later, a 3âÂÂ3 home draw against Granada. They finally won a game on the penultimate day of the month, emerging victorious at Valencia 3âÂÂ1.
On 19 May 2014, Contra confirmed survival for the side after a 2âÂÂ1 away win over Rayo Vallecano.
On 18 December 2014, Contra was named as the new manager of Guangzhou R&F, replacing Sven-Göran Eriksson. He began working officially for the club on 4 January of the following year.
On 15 June 2016, Contra was appointed at Alcorcón. He was relieved of his duties on 12 October.
In February 2017, Contra became Dinamo BucureÃÂti's new coach. He led the team to their first trophy in five years by winning the Cupa Ligii but, after advances from the Romanian Football Federation, he resigned from his post on 16 September.
On 17 September 2017, following Christoph Daum's dismissal, Contra was revealed as the new manager of Romania with the objective of qualifying for Euro 2020. His first game in charge was on 5 October, a 3âÂÂ1 win in PloieÃÂti against Kazakhstan in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In November 2019, after the team could only finish in fourth place in the Euro 2020 qualifying phase behind Spain, Sweden and Norway, the Romanian Football Federation announced Contra would no longer continue on the bench.
Contra returned to Dinamo BucureÃÂti in August 2020, signing a two-year contract. He left on 3 December due to the club's financial problems.
On 29 August 2021, Contra was appointed as manager of Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. His team led the league by 16 points over Al Hilal in February but ended the season two points behind that team, who he lost to twice.
Contra was dismissed by the Jeddah-based club in early July 2022. He was replaced by Nuno EspÃÂrito Santo.
On 6 March 2023, Contra joined Damac of the same country and league. He left in December of the following year.
Remaining in the division, Contra was then in charge of Al-Kholood for two weeks. After Harburg Group took over as the new owners, he was told he would not be retained.
On 15 October 2025, Contra became head coach of Qatar Stars League side Al-Arabi; the length of the contract was not disclosed.
Politehnica TimiÃÂoara
Alavés
Getafe
Individual
Petrolul PloieÃÂti
Dinamo BucureÃÂti
Individual