Viorel Turcu (9 August 1960 â 29 November 2020) was a Romanian footballer who played as a forward.
Turcu was born on 9 August 1960 in Slobozia, ArgeÃÂ, Romania and began playing junior-level football at ArgeàPiteÃÂti. He made his Divizia A debut on 11 June 1978 when coach Florin Halagian sent him in the 60th minute and two minutes later he scored his side's goal after an assist from Nicolae Dobrin in a 2âÂÂ1 away loss to Bihor Oradea. In the 1978âÂÂ79 season he helped Argeàwin the title, coach Halagian using him in only seven games as he had to compete in the offence with players such as Dobrin, Marin Radu and Doru Nicolae. In the following season they got past AEK Athens in the first round of the 1979âÂÂ80 European Cup, the team being eliminated in the following one by title holders and eventual winners, Nottingham Forest. He scored his only goal in European competitions in a 4âÂÂ0 win over APOEL Nicosia in the 1981âÂÂ82 UEFA Cup season.
In the middle of the 1982âÂÂ83 season, Turcu left Argeàto play for one year at Steaua BucureÃÂti. In the middle of the following season he arrived at Dinamo BucureÃÂti, helping the team win The Double at the end of it, scoring two goals in the 11 league matches coach Nicolae Dumitru used him. However, he did play in the 2âÂÂ1 win in the Cupa României final over his former team, Steaua. He also played with The Red Dogs in the 1983âÂÂ84 European Cup campaign, eliminating Dinamo Minsk in the quarter-finals, reaching the semi-finals where they were defeated by Liverpool. Afterwards, Turcu went for two years to Olt ScorniceÃÂti, then returned for a second spell at Steaua. After playing only five games in the first half of the 1986âÂÂ87 season, he returned to ScorniceÃÂti, but Steaua managed to win The Double without him. Turcu made his last Divizia A appearance on 20 June 1989 in a 2âÂÂ1 home loss to Victoria BucureÃÂti, totaling 252 matches with 42 goals in the competition and 11 games with one goal in European competitions.
In the following years he played for several clubs, first in Divizia B at UTA Arad. Subsequently, he moved to Nistrul ChiÃÂinÃÂu for the 1991 Soviet First League season, afterwards spending one season at Nemzeti Bajnokság II side, Szarvasi Vasas. From 1992 until 1996 he came back for a third spell at Olt ScorniceÃÂti, being a player-coach in the Romanian lower leagues.
After he ended his playing career, Turcu talked about his achievements, praising former ArgeÃÂ teammate, Nicolae Dobrin:"I've always said it and I'm happy to say it now. I'm proud to have carried his boots and bag. Nowadays, that doesn't happen anymore, to recognize a player by value. I carried his bag out of respect and never bothered to do so. I am also proud to have played alongside Dobrin but also with Balaci at FC Olt and Hagi at Steaua!"
In 1982, Turcu played in seven friendly matches for Romania, making his debut on 24 March under coach Mircea Lucescu in a 4âÂÂ1 loss to Belgium. He scored his only goal in a 4âÂÂ0 victory against Japan, a team against which he also played his last game for the national team, a 3âÂÂ1 victory.
In 1992, Turcu started coaching at Olt ScorniceÃÂti, the spell lasting until 1996. He worked only for teams in the Romanian lower leagues such as Cimentul Fieni, Fulgerul Bragadiru or ArgeÃÂul MihÃÂileÃÂti.
In his later life, Turcu suffered from diabetes, which necessitated the amputation of his legs. He died on 29 November 2020, at the age of 60, after experiencing a heart attack in his sleep.
ArgeÃÂ PiteÃÂti
Dinamo BucureÃÂti
Steaua BucureÃÂti