Gheorghe Dungu (5 April 1929 â 15 June 2023) was a Romanian football player and manager.
Dungu was born on 5 April 1929 in Bucharest, Romania, and when he was six years old his family moved to FÃÂgÃÂraÃÂ. He started playing football at Explosivi FÃÂgÃÂraÃÂ, first as a forward. At the age of 15 or 16 in a match against Metrom BraÃÂov, the team's goalkeeper got injured and he replaced him, saving a penalty in the game, coach Andrei Sepci deciding to definitely keep him in the goalkeeper position from then on. In 1947, Dungu went to play for CFR FÃÂgÃÂraÃÂ, where he was noticed by Rapid BucureÃÂti's player Remus GhiuriÃÂan who recommended him to the team's officials. He went on a trial at Rapid and after playing three matches in which he kept a clean sheet, coach Petre Steinbach decided to keep him at the team. Dungu made his Divizia A debut for The Railwaymen on 4 March 1949 in a 3âÂÂ0 victory against Metalul ReÃÂiÃÂa. He stayed with the club until the end of his career in 1963, totaling 170 Divizia A appearances, and was described as "one of the most appreciated goalkeepers" of Rapid. The highlights of his career were winning the 1957 Cupa PrimÃÂverii and two runner-up positions in the 1948âÂÂ49 and 1950 Divizia A seasons. He also helped Rapid reach two Cupa României finals in 1961 and 1962 under coach Ion MihÃÂilescu which were lost to ArieÃÂul Turda and Steaua BucureÃÂti, respectively.
Dungu played two friendly games for Romania, making his debut on 30 September 1962 in a 4âÂÂ0 victory against Morocco, as coach Constantin TeaÃÂcàused him in the first 80 minutes, being replaced for the last 10 by Vasile Sfetcu. In the second game which took place on 14 October 1962, TeaÃÂcàplayed him the entire match in the 3âÂÂ2 away loss to East Germany.
Dungu coached several teams in the Romanian lower leagues, the first one being Progresul Alexandria in 1963. He had a spell abroad as the national team of Zanzibar's coach from 1972 until 1974. He also worked at junior level at the youth centers of Steaua BucureÃÂti and Rapid BucureÃÂti, and in the 1985âÂÂ86 Divizia A season he was the assistant of Ion Motroc at Rapid.
Dungu was married to Silvia Popescu. He died on 15 June 2023 at age 94.
Rapid BucureÃÂti