Alexandru Boc

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|quote="The spectators stood up and would applaud for 5 minutes after each intervention with the Oxford procedure that I had"

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Alexandru Boc was born on 3 June 1946 in Vașcău and played football as a defender, being known for using often the "Oxford procedure" for the public's delight which consisted of him letting the ball pass over or past him, and when the forward was about to gain possession of it, he would reach back and take it with the exterior side of the foot.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/superreportaje/sandu-boc-eroul-unei-interventii-uitate-azi-in-fotbal-procedeul-oxford-264933.html | title=Sandu Boc, eroul unei intervenţii uitate azi în fotbal: procedeul Oxford| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Sandu Boc, the hero of an intervention forgotten today in football: the Oxford procedure | date=23 September 2011 | access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=http://adevarul.ro/news/sport/legendele-fotbalului-sandu-boc-craiul-fotbalului-romanesc-1_50acfe0b7c42d5a6638d43d0/index.html | title=Legendele fotbalului: Sandu Boc, "craiul" fotbalului românesc| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Football legends: Sandu Boc, the "ladies' man" of Romanian football | date=23 July 2011 | access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/diverse/il-mai-stii-pe-alexandru-boc-nu-renunta-la-fotbal-la-75-de-ani-19388024 | title=Îl mai știi pe Alexandru Boc? Fostul mare jucător nu renunță la fotbal nici la 75 de ani: "Medicament contra coronavirusului!"| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Do you remember Alexandru Boc? The former great player does not give up football even at the age of 75: "Medicine against the coronavirus!" | date=27 December 2021 | access-date=19 October 2022}}{{RomanianSoccer|222/alexandru-boc}}

File:Petrolul Ploiești 1966.jpg

Boc made his Divizia A debut on 11 October 1964, playing for Petrolul Ploiești in a 3–0 victory against CSMS Iași. In the following season he helped Petrolul win the 1965–66 Divizia A title, being used by coach Constantin Cernăianu in 26 matches in which he scored one goal, being the player with the highest grade point average in the entire championship according to the Sportul newspaper.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=19 October 2022}} He also played three games for The Yellow Wolves in the first round of the 1966–67 European Cup against Liverpool which include a 3–1 victory in which he scored a goal, however they did not manage to qualify to the next round.{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/video-petrolul-66-53-de-ani-de-la-victoria-cu-liverpool-supravietuitorii-succesului-de-pe-anfield-sarbatoriti-la-ploisti-2771131 | title=Petrolul 66, 53 de ani de la victoria cu Liverpool. Supraviețuitorii succesului, sărbătoriți la Ploiești| publisher=Libertatea.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Petrolul 66, 53 years since the victory with Liverpool. The survivors of success, celebrated in Ploiesti | date=13 October 2019 | access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://wesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-55-de-ani-de-istorica-victorie-a-petrolului-cu-liverpool-14833 | title=55 de ani de la istorica victorie a Petrolului cu Liverpooli| publisher=Wesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=55 years since the historic victory of Petrolul with Liverpool | date=12 October 2021 | access-date=19 October 2022}}

In 1967, he went to play for two seasons at Dinamo București, helping the club win the 1967–68 Cupa României but in the first one coach Bazil Marian did not use him in the 3–1 victory with Rapid București from the final, then in the following season he scored once in a 4–2 win in a derby with Steaua București from the league.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1967_1968.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1967–1968|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=1 October 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68333/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1968-69.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1968–69|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=1 October 2024}}
{{cite web | url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-povestea-unei-fabuloase-finale-de-cupa-27058 | title=Povestea unei fabuloase finale de Cupă| publisher=Welovesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The story of a fabulous cup final| date=16 June 2023 | access-date=16 June 2023}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68333/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1968-69.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1968–69|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=1 January 2024}} After one season in which he didn't play because he was in jail and another one spent in Divizia B at Sportul Studențesc București, Boc returned to play in Divizia A at Rapid București where he worked again with coach Bazil Marian, winning together the 1971–72 Cupa României, Boc playing all the minutes in the 2–0 over Jiul Petroșani from the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1971_1972.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1971–1972|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=9 October 2024}} He also made some European performances while playing for The Railwaymen, firstly in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup campaign, playing five matches, as the team reached the eight-finals, eliminating Napoli and Legia Warsaw, being eliminated by the team who would eventually win the competition, Tottenham, also taking part in the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign, playing four games, helping the team reach the quarter-finals, eliminating Landskrona BoIS and Rapid Wien against whom he scored a goal, being eliminated by Leeds United who reached the final.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/49-de-ani-de-cand-rapid-matura-pe-jos-cu-zoff-si-cu-altafini-611625.html | title=49 de ani de când Rapid mătura pe jos cu Zoff și cu Altafini. Boc: "Așa ne-am câștigat dreptul să vedem un film aproape porno la Varșovia!"!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=49 years since Rapid swept on foot with Zoff and Altafini. Boc: "This is how we earned the right to see an almost pornographic film in Warsaw!"| date=30 September 2020| access-date=19 October 2022}}
{{cite web | url=https://wesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-acum-o-jumatate-de-veac-rapid-elimina-pe-napoli-14573|title=Acum o jumătate de veac, Rapid elimina pe Napoli| publisher=Wesport.ro| trans-title=Half a century ago, Rapid eliminated Napoli| date=19 October 2021| access-date=30 September 2022}}
{{cite web | url=https://tikitaka.ro/leeds-united-rapid-1973/|title=Leeds United – Rapid 5-0 (7 martie 1973 – sferturi Cupa Cupelor)| publisher=Tikitaka.ro| trans-title=Leeds United – Rapid 5-0 (March 7, 1973 – Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals)| date=| access-date=19 October 2022}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alexandru-boc/uefa-cup-1971-1972/rapid-bucuresti/3/|title=Alexandru Boc. Europa League 1971/1972|access-date=19 October 2022}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alexandru-boc/ec-der-pokalsieger-1972-1973/rapid-bucuresti/3/|title=Alexandru Boc. Cup Winners Cup 1972/1973|access-date=19 October 2022}} For the way he played in 1972, Boc was placed second in the ranking for the Romanian Footballer of the Year award, being only behind Cornel Dinu.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/roempoy.html|title=Romania - Player of the Year Awards|publisher=Rsssf.org|language=en|access-date=26 August 2024}}

He reunited with coach Cernăianu at Universitatea Craiova, their first performance being getting pass Fiorentina in the first round of the 1973–74 UEFA Cup edition, being eliminated in the following one by Standard Liège.{{cite web | url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-razboiul-olteano-florentin-primul-episod-28511|title=Războiul olteano-florentin, primul episod| language = Romanian |trans-title=The Olteano-Florentine War, the first episode| publisher=Welovesport.ro | date=3 October 2023| access-date=1 October 2024}}{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alexandru-boc/uefa-cup-1973-1974/fc-universitatea-craiova/3/|title=Alexandru Boc. UEFA Cup 1973/1974|access-date=1 October 2024}} In the same season he helped "U" win the first championship title in its history, Cernăianu giving him 32 appearances in which he scored one goal and at the last game of the season against Petrolul Ploiești which ended 0–0, Boc received a grade 10 in the Sportul newspaper as the team earned the point that mathematically made them champions. Alexandru Boc made his last Divizia A appearance on 10 December 1975 in a 3–0 away loss in front of FCM Reșița, having a total of 224 matches and 12 goals scored in the competition, also having a total of 22 games and two goals scored in European competitions.{{WorldFootball.net|alexandru-boc}}

Boc played five matches at international level for Romania, making his debut under coach Bazil Marian in a 1–1 against Uruguay, which took place on 4 January 1967 in Montevideo on Estadio Gran Parque Central.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=13823|title=Uruguay - Romania 1:1|publisher=European Football|access-date=18 October 2022}} He played in two victories against Switzerland and a 2–2 against Greece at the successful 1970 World Cup qualifiers, however he missed the opportunity be part of the squad that went at the final tournament, being in jail at that time. After Romania's 1–0 victory from Lausanne against Switzerland at the 1970 World Cup qualifiers, journalist Eugen Barbu praised Boc in the Flacăra magazine:"If Nicolae Ceaușescu would give Boc the right to play in Europe and sell him, he could build a city with the money!".{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/sandu-boc-s-iubit-cu-1862351 | title=Alexandru Boc s-a iubit cu cea mai frumoasă femeie din lume. Cei doi au fost logodiți, dar n-au rămas uniți!| publisher=Libertatea.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Alexandru Boc fell in love with the most beautiful woman in the world. The two were engaged, but they didn't stay together!| date=5 June 2017| access-date=19 October 2022}}

In 1969, during an evening spent at the Athenee Palace where he was staying with actor Cornel Patrichi among others at a table, a man threw an empty cigarette pack in Patrichi's glass, then a verbal confrontation between them started and Boc intervened and punched the man, afterwards the man was beaten by other people, ending with his leg broken.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/superreportaje/cu-emotie-si-respect-pentru-unicitatea-povestii-sale-alexandru-boc-descrie-iubirile-din-viata-sa-cele-1001-nopti-ale-lui-sandu-boc-173223.html | title=Cu emoţie şi respect pentru unicitatea poveştii sale, Alexandru Boc descrie iubirile din viaţa sa. Cele 1001 nopţi ale lui Sandu Boc!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=With emotion and respect for the uniqueness of his story, Alexandru Boc describes the loves of his life. The 1001 nights of Sandu Boc| date=25 January 2010| access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/anchetele-gazetei/ceausescu-l-a-aruncat-in-inchisoare-99543.html | title=Ceauşescu l-a aruncat în închisoare!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Ceauşescu threw him in jail!| date=24 September 2008| access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/dezvaluire-dupa-47-de-ani-sandu-boc-crede-ca-si-cornel-patrichi-l-a-bagat-la-puscarie-in-1969-am-fost-fraier-am-crezut-ca-este-de-partea-mea-galerie-foto-1440102 | title=Dezvăluire după 47 de ani. Sandu Boc l-a iertat pe Cornel Patrichi, după ce a făcut pușcărie în 1969: "Am fost fraier, am crezut că este de partea mea"| publisher=Libertatea.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Disclosure after 47 years. Sandu Boc forgave Cornel Patrichi, after serving prison time in 1969: "I was a sucker, I thought he was on my side"| date=25 January 2010| access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://ziare.com/fotbal/nationala/amintiri-din-puscarie-cu-sandu-boc-mana-dreapta-a-lui-dragomir-1208088 | title=Amintiri din puscarie cu Sandu Boc, mana dreapta a lui Dragomir| publisher=Ziare.com| language=ro |trans-title=Memories from prison with Sandu Boc, Dragomir's right-hand man| date=19 December 2012| access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://orangesport.ro/exclusiv-o-poveste-incredibila-ce-a-patit-alexandru-boc-dupa-ce-a-batut-un-colonel-de-securitate-19411184 | title=O poveste incredibilă. Ce a păţit Alexandru Boc după ce a bătut un colonel de securitate| publisher=Orangesport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=An incredible story. What happened to Alexandru Boc after beating a security colonel| date=4 July 2020| access-date=19 October 2022}} The man beaten up was a Securitate captain, so Boc confessed what happened and took all the responsibility of the situation on himself, relying on the fact that he was a football player at Dinamo București and wouldn't suffer any consequences but at the trial Patrichi sided with the Securitate captain. He was sentenced to a jail term of two years and a half, spending the first six months of the conviction in a relaxed environment having a telephone and a TV in his cell from the headquarters of the Militia Command in the center of Bucharest, where the minors were also imprisoned. After that period he was close to obtain a pardon from his conviction, but the Securitate found out about the light detention he had and at the pressure of Vasile Patilineț who found out that his wife had an affair with Boc and was a member of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party who on 7 September 1970 had a meeting to discuss his case with dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu himself participating in it where it was decided that he would not be granted the pardon.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/diverse/sandu-boc-dezvaluiri-cutremuratoare-am-stat-la-inchisoare-180-de-oameni-intr-un-dormitor-cu-3-geamuri-m-au-inchis-pentru-ca-i-am-furat-nevasta-593567.html | title=Sandu Boc, dezvăluiri cutremurătoare: "Am stat la închisoare cu 180 de oameni într-un dormitor cu 3 geamuri! M-au închis pentru că i-am furat nevasta"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Sandu Boc, shocking revelations: "I was in prison with 180 people in a bedroom with 3 windows! They locked me up because I stole his wife"| date=21 March 2020| access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://romanialibera.ro/lifestyle/food/cum-l-a-infuriat-informatorul-boc-pe-ceausescu-135021/ | title=Cum l-a infuriat informatorul Boc pe Ceausescu| publisher=Romanialibera.ro| language=ro |trans-title=How the informant Boc angered Ceausescu| date=24 September 2008| access-date=19 October 2022}} He was sent to the Văcărești prison, afterwards being moved to one of the toughest prisons in Romania, the Policolor colony where he was in an insanitary cell with many criminals and he had to wake up each day at 4 a.m. to work and at every three hours a black Volga car with members of the Central Committee would come to verify if he works, looking at his hands to see if they have calluses. His teammates from Dinamo would send him food and money, Cornel Dinu personally going to deliver the packages to him but because he was not allowed to go inside the prison, he would come through the back, entering through a cornfield to reach him at the prison's yard. After a total of 13 months spent in jail, Boc was released.

Boc was known for his success with women, being nicknamed "The ladies' man of Romanian football", having relationships among others with actresses Corina Chiriac and Aimée Iacobescu, volleyball player Elena Butnaru and was engaged with Salomeea Djanhanghir who was the granddaughter of the richest man on the planet at that time, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.{{cite web | url=https://www.wowbiz.ro/dezvaluiri-aimee-iacobescu-s-a-iubit-cu-un-fotbalist-celebru-la-vremea-lui-ce-spune-alexandru-boc-despre-actrita-ma-tot-batea-la-cap-ca-vrea-sa-se-marite-cu-mine-16367542 | title=Aimee Iacobescu s-a iubit cu un fotbalist celebru la vremea lui! Ce spune Alexandru Boc despre actrita: "Ma tot batea la cap ca vrea sa se marite cu mine!"| publisher=Wowbiz.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Aimee Iacobescu fell in love with a famous footballer of his time! What Alexandru Boc says about the actress: "She kept beating me on the head that she wants to marry me!"| date=| access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.playsport.ro/fotbalistul-care-s-a-iubit-cu-cele-mai-frumoase-femei-ale-romaniei-episod-exploziv-cu-celebra-corina-chiriac-fiica-mea-m-a-dat-de-gol-1317 | title=Fotbalistul care s-a iubit cu cele mai frumoase femei ale României, episod exploziv cu celebra Corina Chiriac:"Fiica mea m-a dat de gol"| publisher=Playsport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=The footballer who was in love with the most beautiful women in Romania, explosive episode with the famous Corina Chiriac: "My daughter told on me"| date=24 December 2020| access-date=27 October 2022}} The VIP magazine put Boc in the top 5 best Romanian men alongside Florin Piersic, Petre Roman, Ion Dichiseanu and Sergiu Nicolaescu. He was also an occasional film actor, playing alongside Romanian actors Toma Caragiu and Gheorghe Dinică in the 1975 comedy movie Nu filmăm să ne-amuzăm (We do not film to amuse ourselves) directed by Iulian Mihu.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071928/?ref_=nm_knf_t1 | title=Nu filmăm să ne-amuzăm| publisher=Imdb.com| language=English |trans-title=We do not film to amuse ourselves| date=| access-date=19 October 2022}}

In 2023, Boc received the Honorary Citizen of Craiova title.{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/diverse/sapte-componenti-ai-campioanei-unei-mari-iubiri-vor-primi-titlul-de-cetatean-de-onoare-al-craiovei-19667447|title=Șapte componenți ai "Campioanei Unei Mari Iubiri" vor primi titlul de "cetățean de onoare al Craiovei"|publisher=Digisport.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Seven members of the "Champion of One Great Love" will receive the title of "honorary citizen of Craiova"|date=29 May 2023 |access-date=9 September 2024}}

Petrolul Ploiești

• Divizia A: 1965–66

Dinamo București

• Cupa României: 1967–68

Rapid București

• Cupa României: 1971–72

Universitatea Craiova

• Divizia A: 1973–74

Individual

• Romanian Footballer of the Year (runner-up): 1972

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Boc, Alexandru}}

Category:1946 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Vașcău

Category:Romanian men's footballers

Category:Olympic footballers for Romania

Category:Romania men's international footballers

Category:Liga I players

Category:Liga II players

Category:FC Petrolul Ploiești players

Category:FC Dinamo București players

Category:FC Sportul Studențesc București players

Category:FC Rapid București players

Category:CS Universitatea Craiova players

Category:Romanian criminals

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Footballers from Bihor County

Category:Sportspeople convicted of crimes

Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen