Florea Voinea (born 21 April 1941) is a Romanian retired footballer who played as a striker.
Voinea was born on 21 April 1941 in Puchenii MoÃÂneni, Prahova County, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1956 at RafinÃÂria 1 PloieÃÂti and then for Petrolul PloieÃÂti. He started to play at senior level in 1959 at Divizia B club Prahova PloieÃÂti. After two seasons, Voinea returned to Petrolul, where he made his Divizia A debut on 20 August 1961 under coach Ilie Oanàin a 6âÂÂ2 away victory against CCA BucureÃÂti in which he scored a goal.
In 1961, Voinea joined Steaua BucureÃÂti where he won the 1967âÂÂ68 title, as the team's top-scorer with 13 goals in 25 matches under coach ÃÂtefan Kovács. He also won five Cupa României, scoring in all finals, including doubles in the last two, both 2âÂÂ1 victories against rivals Dinamo BucureÃÂti. He is Steaua's top-scorer in the derby against Dinamo with 13 goals in all competitions. During these years, Voinea represented The Military Men in 14 European competition matches, scoring two goals.
During Romania's communist era, transfers of Romanian footballers outside the country were rarely allowed. However, in June 1970, dictator Nicolae CeauÃÂescu visited France, where he was invited by president Georges Pompidou. Pompidou took him to Nîmes, a town where communists consistently won elections. There, CeauÃÂescu spoke with the mayor, who complained about the poor results of the local football team, Nîmes Olympique. Consequently, CeauÃÂescu promised to send two Romanian footballers to the club. Subsequently, some French officials were dispatched to observe the 1970 Cupa României final, which Steaua BucureÃÂti won 2âÂÂ1 against Dinamo BucureÃÂti. From this match, they selected Voinea from Steaua and Ion PârcÃÂlab from Dinamo to play for Nîmes.
Voinea made his French Division 1 debut on 19 September 1970 under coach Kader Firoud in a 2âÂÂ0 home victory against Bastia. He scored his first goals on 3 October, netting a hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ3 win over Sochaux. In the following season he scored a brace in a 5âÂÂ1 home victory against AS Monaco and a hat-trick in a 5âÂÂ1 away win over Red Star. Voinea and compatriot PârcÃÂlab finished the 1971âÂÂ72 season with each scoring 11 goals, which helped the team finish second in the championship. He made his last French Division 1 appearance on 27 May 1972 in a 4âÂÂ0 success over Saint-ÃÂtienne, totaling 50 matches with 18 goals in the competition. Voinea also played for Nîmes in two UEFA Cup matches.
After spending two years in France, Voinea came back to Romania, and had a second spell at Steaua BucureÃÂti. In 1973 he went to CSM ReÃÂiÃÂa for one season. Subsequently, he joined Politehnica TimiÃÂoara where he made his last Divizia A appearance on 25 May 1975 in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Steagul RoÃÂu BraÃÂov, totaling 251 matches with 117 goals in the competition and 40 goals scored in the Cupa României. Voinea ended his career in 1976, after playing one season in Divizia B for UM TimiÃÂoara.
Voinea was a member of Romania's under-18 national team which won the 1962 European Championship under coaches Nicolae Dumitrescu and Gheorghe Ola. He was the nation's top-scorer in the tournament with four goals, including one in the 4âÂÂ1 victory against Yugoslavia in the final. Between 1962 and 1965, he made several appearances for Romania's under-23 and B sides. He also played for the Olympic team in a 2âÂÂ1 victory against Denmark in the 1964 Summer Olympics qualifiers.
Voinea played one friendly game for Romania, appearing on 29 October 1967 under coach Constantin TeaÃÂcàin a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Poland.
For winning the 1962 European Under-18 Championship, Voinea was decorated by President of Romania, Traian BÃÂsescu on 25 March 2008, with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" â (The Medal of "Sportive Merit") Class III.
Steaua BucureÃÂti
Nîmes
Romania U18