Ion Iuliu Haidu (also known as János Hajdu; born 1 January 1942) is a Romanian former footballer who played as a forward.
Haidu was born 1 January 1942 in Sepsiszentgyörgy (now Sfântu Gheorghe), and began playing junior-level football in 1956 at local club Flamura RoÃÂie. In 1959 he moved to Divizia B to play for CS Târgu MureÃÂ, and after one year, he joined MureÃÂul Târgu Mureàin the same league. In 1962 he went to play for Viitorul BucureÃÂti where on 19 August under coach Gheorghe Ola he made his Divizia A debut in a 7âÂÂ0 win over Minerul Lupeni. For the second half of the season he went to play for Steagul RoÃÂu BraÃÂov.
In 1963, Haidu joined Dinamo BucureÃÂti, helping the team win The Double in his first season, with coaches Nicolae Dumitru and Traian Ionescu using him in 21 games in which he scored six goals, also playing the entire match in the 5âÂÂ3 victory over rivals Steaua BucureÃÂti in the Cupa României final. In the same season he started playing in European competitions, making three appearances in the European Cup, helping his side get past East Germany champion, Motor Jena, but were eliminated in the following phase by Real Madrid. In the following season, Haidu helped The Red Dogs win another title, contributing with a personal record of 10 goals scored in the 23 matches he was used by coach Angelo Niculescu, including finding the net in a 1âÂÂ0 derby win against Steaua. In the 1965âÂÂ66 European Cup edition he scored the victory goal in a 2âÂÂ1 win against Inter Milan, after which he said:"I'm happy for the success, but I'm also sad that we didn't impose ourselves more clearly". However, they did not qualify further as the second leg was lost with 2âÂÂ0. Haidu won two more trophies with Dinamo, the first of which was the 1967âÂÂ68 Cupa României when coach Bazil Marian used him the entire match in the 3âÂÂ1 victory over Rapid BucureÃÂti in the final. Subsequently, he won the 1970âÂÂ71 title as he scored two goals in the 14 matches played under coaches Nicolae Dumitru and Traian Ionescu.
In 1972, Haidu went to play for Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea in Divizia B, winning the 1972âÂÂ73 Cupa României, being used by coach Dumitru Anescu all the minutes in both games in the final against Constructorul GalaÃÂi. Subsequently, he played in both legs of the 4âÂÂ2 aggregate loss to Glentoran in the European Cup Winners' Cup, having a total of 15 games with one goal in European competitions. In the same season the team earned promotion to the first league. In the following season, Haidu made his last Divizia A appearance, playing for Chimia on 29 June 1975 in a 3âÂÂ0 away loss to Politehnica IaÃÂi, totaling 201 matches with 46 goals in the competition.
Under the guidance of coaches Nicolae Dumitrescu and Gheorghe Ola, Haidu helped Romania's under-18 national team win the 1962 European championship. He scored a goal in the 4âÂÂ0 win over Turkey in the semi-finals and another one in the 4âÂÂ1 victory against Yugoslavia in the final.
Haidu made four appearances and scored two goals for Romania, scoring the victory goal in his debut game, a 3âÂÂ2 win over East Germany which took place on 12 May 1963, playing under coach Silviu PloeÃÂteanu. In his second game for the national team he opened the score in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Poland. He also played four games and scored one goal for Romania's Olympic team.
In July 1973, the Romanian magazine called Fotbal described Haidu's style of play:"Here (at Dinamo BucureÃÂti) he will determine, in a way, that "Internazionale tactic" which has brought the Red and Whites the suite of four national titles in good measure. In the economy of that tactic, developed by coach Traian Ionescu, Haidu had one of the mission roles similar to that of Zagallo in the Brazil team or Corso in the aforementioned Milan formation. He would appear as the third man in the midfield (next to Emil Petru and Octavian Popescu) but you could also find him advanced, centering for the "bulldozers" Ene II or FraÃÂilÃÂ".
Dinamo BucureÃÂti
Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea
Romania U18