Tudorel Stoica (born 7 September 1954 in BrÃÂila) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He holds the record for the most club appearances for Steaua BucureÃÂti.
He is one of the most decorated players in Romanian First League history. He is tied for second place in all-time championship wins, alongside Giedrius Arlauskis, Ciprian Deac, Adrian Bumbescu, Mircea Lucescu, and Dumitru Stângaciu, each with seven titles, while Marius LÃÂcÃÂtuàleads the ranking with ten championships.
Stoica made his Romanian first division debuts with FCM Galaà £i in 1974, having previously played for CSU Galaà £i in the second league.
After only one season, he transferred to country giants Steaua BucureÃÂti where, safe for his first year, he was a nuclear midfield element as the team won â that season included â seven league titles and five domestic cups. He was a main player and captain of the squad that won the first European title in Romanian football's history, the 1985âÂÂ86 European Cup, even though he did not play in the final against FC Barcelona, because of accumulation of yellow cards.
In 1989, 35-year-old Stoica moved abroad for the first time, playing one season in France with second level side RC Lens, returning to Steaua where he finished his career at the age of 37. The longtime team captain amassed totals of 369 games and 43 goals (377 counting with FCM Galaà £i) in his country's top division, over the course of 15 professional seasons; in the early 1990s, he had brief spells as assistant manager with Steaua BucureÃÂti and as head coach Romania U21.
On 25 March 2008, Stoica was decorated by Romanian president Traian BÃÂsescu with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" â ("The Sportive Merit" Order) class II, for his part in the winning of the 1986 European Cup.
During eight years, Stoica was capped 15 times for the Romania national team, but did not attend any major international tournament.
He made his debut on 14 October 1979 in a 1âÂÂ3 friendly loss with the Soviet Union.
Steaua BucureÃÂti
After retiring from football, Stoica served as scout for Belgian club Anderlecht. His son, Alin, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He also represented Steaua and the Romania national team, and played mainly in Belgium, representing four clubs.