Spiridon Niculescu (born 8 April 1943) is a Romanian former football goalkeeper and manager.
Niculescu was born on 8 April 1943 in Vidra, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1961 at Dinamo BucureÃÂti. One year later, he joined Divizia B club Dinamo PiteÃÂti, helping them earn promotion to the first league after one season. He made his Divizia A debut on 25 August 1963 under coach ÃÂtefan Vasile in a 2âÂÂ1 home victory against ÃÂtiinÃÂa Cluj. The team reached the 1965 Cupa României final where coach Virgil MÃÂrdÃÂrescu started him, but after conceding an 11th-minute goal from Remus Câmpeanu, he was replaced in the 17th minute by Constantin Matache in the eventual 2âÂÂ1 loss to ÃÂtiinÃÂa Cluj.
In 1966, Niculescu was transferred from Dinamo PiteÃÂti to Dinamo BucureÃÂti in exchange for fellow goalkeeper Narcis Coman. There, he played in another Cupa României final in 1968, with coach Bazil Marian using him the entire match in the 3âÂÂ1 win over Rapid BucureÃÂti. Afterwards Niculescu returned to PiteÃÂti, and the team was now named ArgeÃÂ. He started playing in European competitions during the 1968âÂÂ69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup second round, appearing in both legs of the 5âÂÂ3 aggregate loss to Göztepe. In the 1971âÂÂ72 season he won the league title with ArgeÃÂ, but played just one game as coaches Titus Ozon and Florin Halagian preferred Vasile Stan as first-choice goalkeeper.
In 1972, Niculescu was loaned to Rapid BucureÃÂti for half a season, playing only two league games. He then returned to Argeàwhere he made one appearance in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Fenerbahçe in the first round of the 1973âÂÂ74 UEFA Cup edition, but they failed to qualify, having lost the first leg with 5âÂÂ1.
On 29 September 1975, Niculescu made his last Divizia A appearance in a 2âÂÂ0 away loss to Politehnica IaÃÂi, totaling 145 games in the competition with 216 goals conceded. He ended his career in 1976 after one and a half seasons spent in Divizia B at FC BrÃÂila.
After he ended his playing career, Niculescu worked as a coach in the Romania lower leagues for clubs such as Celuloza CÃÂlÃÂraÃÂi and DunÃÂrea GalaÃÂi. He was also Ion Nunweiller's assistant at Corvinul Hunedoara. Niculescu had a short spell in the first league at FlacÃÂra Moreni during the 1989âÂÂ90 Divizia A season, leading them in nine games, winning only two, which resulted in the team's relegation.
ArgeÃÂ PiteÃÂti
Dinamo BucureÃÂti