Cristian CÃÂlin Panin (born 9 June 1978) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a defender, currently team manager at Liga I club CFR Cluj.
Panin was born on 9 June 1978 in Arad, Romania. He began playing senior-level football in 1997 at local club UTA in Liga II. He helped them gain promotion to Liga I in the 2001âÂÂ02 season. Subsequently, Panin made his debut in the competition on 18 August 2002 under coach IonuàPopa in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to NaÃÂional BucureÃÂti. The Old Lady finished the season in 16th place, being relegated back to the second league. He spent one more season, then left after coach Ilie Stan wanted to bring new players to the club.
During the summer of 2004, Panin moved to newly Liga I promoted team, CFR Cluj. Under coach Dorinel Munteanu he played nine games in the 2005 Intertoto Cup campaign as CFR got past VÃÂtra, Athletic Bilbao, Saint-ÃÂtienne and à ½algiris, the team reaching the final where they were defeated 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate by Lens.
In the 2007âÂÂ08 season he helped CFR win The Double, these being the first trophies in the club's history, being used by coach Ioan Andone in 28 league matches in which he scored one goal. Andone also used him the entire match in the 2âÂÂ1 win over Unirea Urziceni in the Cupa României final. Panin then played four games in the 2008âÂÂ09 Champions League group stage with The Railway Men, including a historical 2âÂÂ1 victory at Stadio Olimpico against AS Roma. In the same season he won another Cupa României, coach Toni Conceição using him the full 90 minutes in the 3âÂÂ0 win over Politehnica TimiÃÂoara in the final.
Panin started the 2009âÂÂ10 season by winning the Supercupa României, as coach Conceição used him the whole match in the penalty shoot-out win against Unirea Urziceni. Subsequently, he helped his side eliminate FK Sarajevo in the 2009âÂÂ10 Europa League play-off, reaching the group stage where he played in all six games. Panin finished the season by winning another Double with CFR, being used by coaches Conceição and Andrea Mandorlini in 30 games. He also played the entire match in the victory at the penalty shoot-out against FC Vaslui in the Cupa României final.
He won the 2010 Supercupa României, following another penalty shoot-out victory against Unirea Urziceni in which coach Mandorlini played him for the entire match. Afterwards, he played five matches in the 2010âÂÂ11 Champions League group stage, scoring an own goal in a 3âÂÂ2 away loss to Bayern Munich. Panin's last trophy won with The White and Burgundies was the 2011âÂÂ12 title, as coaches Jorge Costa and Andone used him in 21 matches. He spent a total of nine seasons with CFR, and despite numerous players, including Swedish international Mikael Dorsin, attempting to replace him, he still remained a key player for the team. Panin made his last Liga I appearance on 26 May 2013 in a 3âÂÂ3 draw against Astra Giurgiu, totaling 217 games with five goals in the competition and 28 matches in European competitions (including nine in the Intertoto Cup).
Panin played two games for Romania, making his debut on 19 November 2008 when coach Victor PiÃÂurcàintroduced him in the 25th minute to replace George OgÃÂraru in a 2âÂÂ1 friendly victory against Georgia. His second game was a 3âÂÂ1 win over Faroe Islands in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
After retiring in 2013, Panin joined the technical staff of CFR Cluj as a team manager.
UTA Arad
CFR Cluj