Gheorghe Ciolac (10 August 1908 â 13 April 1965) was a Romanian association football striker. He was a member of Romania's squad which competed in the 1934 FIFA World Cup, but did not play in any match.
Ciolac was born on 10 August 1908 in Nagykomlós, Austria-Hungary and began playing junior-level football in 1922 at Politehnica TimiÃÂoara. In 1924 he moved to neighboring club, Banatul with whom in the 1928âÂÂ29 season he reached the semi-finals of the national league where they were defeated with 3âÂÂ0 by România Cluj.
In 1930, Ciolac joined Ripensia TimiÃÂoara, winning the title in the 1932âÂÂ33 season, coach Jenà  Konrád using him in 13 games in which he scored three goals, including one in the final against Universitatea Cluj. In the following season he helped the team win the 1934 Cupa României final, playing in both victories over "U" Cluj, scoring once. In the 1934âÂÂ35 season he won another title, coaches Josef Uridil and Rudolf Wetzer giving him 19 appearances in which he netted a personal record of 13 goals, also the team reached the Cupa României final where he played the entire match in the 6âÂÂ5 loss to CFR BucureÃÂti. Next season, Ciolac helped Ripensia win The Double, being given 21 appearances by coaches Wetzer and Konrád, scoring 11 times, and he netted a double in the 5âÂÂ1 win over Unirea Tricolor BucureÃÂti in the Cupa României final. In the following Cupa României edition, the team reached another final in which he played the full 90 minutes in the 5âÂÂ1 loss to Rapid BucureÃÂti. In the 1937âÂÂ38 season, Ripensia won another title, but coach Sepp Pojar used him in only six matches in which he scored once. Afterwards he provided an assist for ÃÂtefan Dobay's goal 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. Ciolac made his last Divizia A appearance on 15 June 1941 in Ripensia's 4âÂÂ1 away victory against Venus BucureÃÂti.
Ciolac played 24 matches and scored 13 goals for Romania, making his debut on 6 May 1928 under coach Constantin RÃÂdulescu in a 3âÂÂ1 away loss to Yugoslavia in the friendly King Alexander's Cup. In his second match, Ciolac scored a hat-trick, as they defeated Bulgaria 3âÂÂ0 in a friendly. In September 1929, he was for the first time captain of the national team, in another friendly match against Bulgaria that ended with a 3âÂÂ2 away win. He played two games and netted one goal in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Yugoslavia during the successful 1929âÂÂ31 Balkan Cup. Ciolac won his second Balkan Cup in 1933 when he netted four goals, a hat-trick in a 7âÂÂ0 win over Bulgaria and one goal in a 5âÂÂ0 victory against Yugoslavia, being the top-scorer of the competition alongside teammate ÃÂtefan Dobay.
Ciolac played in a 2âÂÂ1 home win over Yugoslavia in the successful 1934 World Cup qualifiers. Afterwards he was selected by coaches RÃÂdulescu and Josef Uridil to be part of the squad that went to the final tournament in Italy, but remained on the bench in the 2âÂÂ1 defeat to eventual finalists, Czechoslovakia in the first round.
He won his third Balkan Cup in 1936, contributing with one goal in a 4âÂÂ1 victory against Bulgaria, which was his last goal scored for the national team. Ciolac played his last match for The Tricolours on 18 April 1937, also being their captain in the 1âÂÂ1 draw against Czechoslovakia.
His Ripensia teammate, Rudolf Kotormány said about him:"I consider GhiÃÂàCiolac to be the greatest center forward our country has ever had. Ciolac was a great technician, he knew how to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He always passed the ball. Even if he had a shot lane, he would pass the ball to the one who was in the best position." Another Ripensia teammate, ÃÂtefan Dobay said:"Among the center forwards I played with, first of all I have to mention GhiÃÂàCiolac, an admirable teammate and colleague. He was ready to pass the ball to the best-placed player. Ciolac even exaggerated in his altruism. He knew how to take direct crosses very well, which, when caught from the volley, were certain death for the goalkeeper."
Ciolac died on 13 April 1965 at age 56.
Ripensia TimiÃÂoara
Romania