Dan Ion Potocianu (born 5 March 1974) is a former Romanian professional footballer who played as a defender.
Potocianu was born on 5 March 1974 in ReÃÂiÃÂa, Romania. He began playing football in 1990 at Divizia B club CSM ReÃÂiÃÂa. In the 1991âÂÂ92 season, the team earned promotion to the first league. Subsequently, he made his Divizia A debut on 16 August 1992 under coach Ion CopÃÂceanu in a 3âÂÂ2 home win over Inter Sibiu.
In 1993, Potocianu went to NaÃÂional BucureÃÂti. He played four games in the 1996âÂÂ97 UEFA Cup edition, eliminating Partizan Belgrade and Chornomorets Odesa in the first rounds, the campaign ending after a 3âÂÂ1 aggregate loss to Club Brugge. During his four-season spell with The Bankers, he helped the team finish twice runner-up in the league. The team also reached the 1997 Cupa României final, but coach Florin Halagian did not use him in the 4âÂÂ2 loss to Steaua BucureÃÂti.
Subsequently, Potocianu joined Servette, making his Nationalliga A debut on 5 July 1997 under coach Gérard Castella in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against St. Gallen. The team finished in second place at the end of the season. In the first half of the 1998âÂÂ99 season, he played 10 matches and scored once. Afterwards he went to Basel for the second half, but Servette won the title without him. At Basel, Potocianu played his first match under coach Guy Mathez in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat to Servette. During his short period with the club, Potocianu played 10 league games for Basel without scoring a goal. He returned to Servette for the 1999âÂÂ2000 season, totaling 64 matches with two goals in the Swiss league.
Potocianu came back to NaÃÂional, where in the 2001âÂÂ02 season he helped the team earn a runner-up position in the league. An injury forced him to retire in 2002 at the age of 28. He has a total of 186 matches with seven goals in Divizia A and eight matches in European competitions.
From 1990 to 1995, Potocianu was consistently featured for Romania's under-18 and under-21 sides.
He made one appearance for Romania, when on 6 September 1997, coach Anghel IordÃÂnescu sent him in the 46th minute to replace Anton Doboàin a 8âÂÂ1 away win against Liechtenstein in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
After ending his career, Potocianu coached teams such as FCM ReÃÂiÃÂa and CFR TimiÃÂoara in the Romanian lower leagues. He also coached juniors at ReÃÂiÃÂa.
CSM ReÃÂiÃÂa
NaÃÂional BucureÃÂti
Servette