Dumitru Pavlovici (26 April 1912 â 28 September 1993) was a Romanian football goalkeeper who played for Romania in the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
Pavlovici, nicknamed Pantera neagrÃÂ (), was born on 26 April 1912 in TimiÃÂoara, Romania, growing up and starting to play football as a child in the Mehala neighborhood. He started playing organized football as a forward at local club Dacia. He first played as a goalkeeper while he was still at Dacia in a game against AMEF.
In 1933, Pavlovici joined Ripensia TimiÃÂoara, where he had to compete to be first-choice goalkeeper with Vilmos Zombori, who was six years older than him. In his first season spent at the club, he won the Cupa României, but did not play in the final as Zombori was preferred. In the 1934âÂÂ35 season he won the title, coaches Josef Uridil and Rudolf Wetzer using him in 15 matches. Next season, Pavlovici helped Ripensia win The Double, being given 14 appearances by coaches Wetzer and Jenà  Konrád, and he played in the 5âÂÂ1 win over Unirea Tricolor BucureÃÂti in the Cupa României final. In the 1937âÂÂ38 season, Pavlovici played 19 games under the guidance of coach Sepp Pojar, helping Ripensia win another title. Afterwards he kept a clean sheet in Ripensia's 3âÂÂ0 win over AC Milan in the first leg of the first round of the 1938 Mitropa Cup, helping the team get past the Italians.
In 1941, Pavlovici signed with CFR Turnu Severin, winning the 1942âÂÂ43 Cupa României, keeping a clean sheet in the 4âÂÂ0 win over Sportul StudenÃÂesc BucureÃÂti in the final, which helped the club win its first trophy. Subsequently, in 1946, Pavlovici went to CFR TimiÃÂoara for the last five years of his career. The highlights of this period were a runner-up position in the 1947âÂÂ48 season and reaching the 1948 Cupa României final which was lost with 3âÂÂ2 to ITA Arad where he did not play, because Aurel Boroàwas preferred.
Pavlovici played 18 games for Romania, making his debut on 17 May 1936 under coach Constantin RÃÂdulescu in a 5âÂÂ2 win over Greece in the 1936 Balkan Cup. In the same competition, he also appeared in the 4âÂÂ1 victory against Bulgaria as the team won the cup. He was selected by coaches SÃÂvulescu and RÃÂdulescu to be part of the squad that participated in the 1938 World Cup. He played in the first game against Cuba which ended in a 3âÂÂ3 draw, but his teammate Robert Sadowski played in the replay that ended with a surprising 2âÂÂ1 loss. Pavlovici captained the national team in his last two appearances in 1942 which were friendlies, a 1âÂÂ0 loss to Slovakia and a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Croatia.
Pavlovici died on 28 September 1993 at age 81.
Ripensia TimiÃÂoara
CFR Turnu Severin
Romania