Ciprian Marica
{{Short description|Romanian footballer (born 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ciprian Marica
| image = Ciprian Marica 2011-08-03.jpg
| caption = Marica with Schalke 04 in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bucharest, Romania
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Farul Constanța
(minority shareholder)
| youthyears1 = 1996–2001
| youthclubs1 = Dinamo București
| years1 = 2001–2003
| clubs1 = Dinamo București
| caps1 = 22
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 2004–2007
| clubs2 = Shakhtar Donetsk
| caps2 = 74
| goals2 = 15
| years3 = 2007–2011
| clubs3 = VfB Stuttgart
| caps3 = 93
| goals3 = 19
| years4 = 2011–2013
| clubs4 = Schalke 04
| caps4 = 34
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2013–2014
| clubs5 = Getafe
| caps5 = 27
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2014–2015
| clubs6 = Konyaspor
| caps6 = 7
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2016
| clubs7 = Steaua București
| caps7 = 7
| goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 264
| totalgoals = 51
| nationalyears1 = 2001
| nationalteam1 = Romania U17
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2003
| nationalteam2 = Romania U19
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2003–2006
| nationalteam3 = Romania U21
| nationalcaps3 = 10
| nationalgoals3 = 4
| nationalteam4 = Romania
| nationalcaps4 = 72
| nationalgoals4 = 25
}}
Ciprian Andrei Marica ({{IPA|ro|tʃipriˈan anˈdrej ˈmarika}}; born 2 October 1985) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a centre forward. He is a minority shareholder of Farul Constanța.
Club career
=Dinamo București=
Marica's first professional club team was Dinamo București, from the city in which he was born. He started to gain attention even though he only played 23 games (scoring four goals) in three years with the club.
=Shakhtar Donetsk=
Ciprian transferred to the Ukrainian top club and played his so far best seasons with them. He gained international experience, getting to play in the UEFA Cup European competition.
=VfB Stuttgart=
File:Ciprian Marica.jpg in 2010.]]
On 23 July 2007, he transferred to German club VfB Stuttgart, after his former club, Shakhtar Donetsk, rejected another offer, from English team Derby County amongst interest from Manchester City.{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-hoping-marica-can-boost-citys-firepower-457783.html | title = Eriksson hoping Marica can boost City's firepower | work = The Independent| access-date=19 July 2007 | location=London | first=Jason | last=Burt | date=19 July 2007}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Marica signed a 5-year contract. Stuttgart sporting director Horst Heldt said: "Ciprian is a very flexible forward, and a permanent thorn in the side of any opposition defence, who fits outstandingly into our team. He wanted to join us desperately."{{cite news | url = http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2007/11073.php | title = Ciprian Marica signs for VfB | publisher = vfb.de | date = 24 July 2007 | access-date = 24 July 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031647/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2007/11073.php | archive-date = 28 September 2007 | url-status = dead }}
Marica made his debut for VfB in the Bundesliga on 12 August 2007, in a home game against Schalke 04 (2–2). In his first season, he got plenty of appearances (28), scoring only two goals in those (plus one goal in the UEFA Champions League, which led Stuttgart to their win against the Rangers F.C.).
After this first failed season then-coach Armin Veh mistrusted Marica, giving him only few appearances. Things seemed to get better after the sacking of Veh. New coach Markus Babbel entrusted him to play instead of Cacau, but Marica again failed to impress.
Only after Christian Gross replaced Babbel as VfB coach, Marica got a new chance, mainly profiting by long-time injury of Cacau. This time Marica didn't disappoint his coach, scoring four goals in three consecutive matches. (Two goals in a 2–0 victory for VfB on 20 March 2010 match in Bundesliga against Hannover 96, the winning goal on 27 March 2010 away at Bayern Munich and the equalizing goal in a 2–1 victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 3 April 2010.)
As of season 2010–11 he started again to be only the third choice behind Cacau and Pavel Pogrebnyak.
On 12 July 2011, Marica was released from his contract at Stuttgart.{{cite news | url = http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2011/vertragsaufloesung-marica/page/822-0-1-1310540567.html | title = Ciprian Marica parts company with VfB | publisher = VfB Stuttgart | date = 12 July 2011 | access-date = 12 July 2011 | archive-date = 1 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120401230323/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2011/vertragsaufloesung-marica/page/822-0-1-1310540567.html | url-status = dead }}
=Schalke 04=
On 28 July 2011, Marica signed a two-year contract with German club Schalke 04,{{cite web | url = http://www.schalke04.de/aktuell/news/einzelansicht/artikel/ciprian-marica-erhaelt-vertrag-bis-2013.html | title = Ciprian Marica erhält Vertrag bis 2013 | publisher = Official website of Schalke 04 | language = de | access-date = 28 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313180315/http://www.schalke04.de/aktuell/news/einzelansicht/artikel/ciprian-marica-erhaelt-vertrag-bis-2013.html | archive-date = 13 March 2012 | url-status = dead }} worth €5m.{{cite web | url = http://www.adevarul.ro/sport/fotbal_international/Marica-doi_ani_la_Schalke_04_0_526147884.html | title = Marica, doi ani la Schalke 04 | language = ro | date = 29 July 2011 | access-date = 12 March 2012 | publisher = adevarul.ro | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810193515/http://www.adevarul.ro/sport/fotbal_international/Marica-doi_ani_la_Schalke_04_0_526147884.html | archive-date = 10 August 2011 | url-status = dead }} He chose to remain in Germany, despite having offers from Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, and other two French clubs such as Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain.{{cite web | url = http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Blackburn-in-talks-Romania-striker-Ciprian-Marica-are-ahead-of-Marseille-Lokomotiv-Moscow-in-race-for-him-article778199.html | title = Blackburn eye Romania striker | publisher = mirrorfootball.co.uk | access-date = 28 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227012553/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Blackburn-in-talks-Romania-striker-Ciprian-Marica-are-ahead-of-Marseille-Lokomotiv-Moscow-in-race-for-him-article778199.html | archive-date = 27 February 2014 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110503_085306_marica-vers-le-psg.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110506130151/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110503_085306_marica-vers-le-psg.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 6 May 2011| title = Marica vers le PSG ?| publisher = L'Équipe.fr| language = fr | access-date=21 June 2011}}
In a match against Maccabi Haifa, on 14 December, Marica scored one goal,{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/match/2011/dec/14/maccabihaifa-v-schalke | title = Maccabi Haifa Schalke Match facts | work = The Guardian| date = 14 December 2011 | access-date = 12 March 2012}} to help his team to a 3–0 win.{{cite web | url = http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/66156/maccabi-haifa-vs-schalke-04/play-by-play | title = Maccabi Haifa Schalke live commentary | publisher = goal.com | date = 14 December 2011 | access-date = 12 March 2012}} On 29 January 2012, Marica scored a double against 1. FC Köln{{cite web | url = http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/ciprian-marica/solo-show-in-koeln-22347102.bild.html | title = Marica: Solo-Show in Köln | publisher = bild.de | language= de | first=Peter | last=Wenzel | date = 29 January 2012 | access-date = 30 January 2012}} Although Lukas Podolski opened the score in the first half, Marica made it 2–1 for FC Schalke 04, with the game eventually ending in a 4–1 win for his team.{{cite web | url = http://www.focus.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga1/4-1-sieg-in-koeln-schalke-bleibt-an-bayern-und-dortmund-dran_aid_707988.html | title = Schalke bleibt an Bayern und Dortmund dran | publisher = focus.de | language= de | date = 28 January 2012 | access-date = 29 January 2012}} Towards the end of his contract with the team he received interest from teams such as Shakhtar, Lazio and Inter.{{cite web | url = http://worldtransfer.ru/publ/ukraine/shakhtar/luchesku_podtverdil_interes_k_marike/13-1-0-2487 | script-title=ru:Луческу подтвердил интерес к Марике | language = ru | publisher = worldtransfer.ru | access-date = 12 June 2013}}
=Getafe=
On 27 September 2013, Marica signed a contract with Spanish La Liga side Getafe.{{cite web | url = http://www.getafecf.com/Noticia/tabid/137/Article/363/Ciprian-Marica-nuevo-futbolista-azulon.aspx | title = Ciprian Marica nuevo futbolista azulón | language = es | publisher = getafecf.com | access-date = 27 September 2013}} He made his Getafe debut on 6 October as a substitute in the 3–1 win against Betis Sevilla. On 31 October, Marica scored his first league goal in a 2–0 away win against Villarreal.{{cite web | url = http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2013_14/primera/jornada_11/vil_get/ | title = Ciprian es algo más que un nombre | publisher = Marca.com | language= es | date = 31 October 2013 | access-date = 1 November 2013}} In May 2014, he scored twice in a 2–1 win over Rayo Vallecano, keeping Getafe out of the relegation zone.{{cite web | url = http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/295683/report| title = Getafe secure survival | publisher = skysports.com | date = 18 May 2014 | access-date = 19 May 2014}}
=Konyaspor=
In the summer of 2014, Marica signed a two-year contract with Turkish side Konyaspor.{{cite web | url = http://www.konyaspor.org.tr/haberdetay.asp?HaberID=2138 | title = Torku Konyaspor'umuz Ciprian Marica ve Djalma Campos ile sözleşme imzaladı | publisher = konyaspor.org.tr | language = tr | date = 20 July 2014 | access-date = 20 July 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141105020102/http://www.konyaspor.org.tr/haberdetay.asp?HaberID=2138 | archive-date = 5 November 2014 }} On 15 October 2015, he was released by Konyaspor. Marica played only seven games in 14 months for the Turkish side, mainly because of his injuries.{{cite web | url = http://www.agerpres.ro/sport/2015/10/15/fotbal-marica-si-a-reziliat-contractul-cu-konyaspor-20-38-02 | title = Marica și-a reziliat contractul cu Konyaspor | publisher = Agerpres | language = ro | date = 16 October 2015 | first = Mihai | last = Țenea | access-date = 15 January 2016 | archive-date = 8 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308054807/http://www.agerpres.ro/sport/2015/10/15/fotbal-marica-si-a-reziliat-contractul-cu-konyaspor-20-38-02 | url-status = dead }}
=Steaua București=
On 14 January 2016, Marica reached an agreement with Steaua București, thus returning to Romania after twelve years. He became the 59th footballer to play for both big Bucharest rivals, Dinamo and Steaua București.{{cite web | url = https://www.dolce-sport.ro/fotbal/fotbal-intern/analiza-dolcesport-ro-i-ciprian.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20161102083454/https://www.dolce-sport.ro/fotbal/fotbal-intern/analiza-dolcesport-ro-i-ciprian.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2 November 2016 | title = Marica este al 59-lea "câine" care va juca și în tricoul rivalei Steaua! Care sunt cele mai mari "țepe" din istorie | publisher = dolce-sport.ro | language = ro | date = 14 January 2016 | access-date = 15 January 2016 }} In his first match with Steaua, a 2–0 victory against Concordia Chiajna, he played from the start and was replaced after 84 minutes. His performance was deemed weak and conservative,{{Citation| url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/video-s-au-plimbat-varela-si-hamroun-au-adus-o-victorie-la-pas-pentru-steaua-2-0-cu-chiajna-cum-s-au-impartit-notele-470226.html| title=VIDEO S-au plimbat! Varela şi Hamroun au adus o victorie la pas pentru FCSB, 2–0 cu Chiajna. Cum s-au împărțit notele| newspaper=Gsp.ro| access-date=16 February 2016| language=ro| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321154124/http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/video-s-au-plimbat-varela-si-hamroun-au-adus-o-victorie-la-pas-pentru-steaua-2-0-cu-chiajna-cum-s-au-impartit-notele-470226.html| archive-date=21 March 2016| url-status=dead}} as he only managed to get two opportunities in a game in which he was otherwise unremarkable.{{Citation | url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/7-concluzii-dupa-victoria-clara-a-stelei-la-chiajna-2-0-ce-impresie-au-lasat-marica-si-gebhart-la-debut-470218.html| title=7 concluzii după victoria clară a Stelei la Chiajna, 2–0 » Ce impresie au lăsat Marica și Gebhart la debut| newspaper=Gsp.ro| access-date=16 February 2016|language=ro}}
International career
File:Algérie-Roumanie - 20140604 - Ciprian Marica.jpg in 2014]]
Marica scored 25 goals in 71 caps. He made his debut on 16 November 2003, in a friendly game with Italy played in Ancona and won by Squadra Azzurra 1–0. Marica was introduces in the 81st minute, replacing Daniel Pancu.{{cite news |title=Italy – Romania 1–0 |url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=25768 |publisher=EU-Football |access-date=15 November 2019}} His first goal for the national team came on 17 November 2004, in a match against Armenia.{{cite news |title=Ciprian Marica |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=13020 |publisher=EU-Football |access-date=15 November 2019}}
On 25 March 2008, he was awarded the "Meritul Sportiv", class III medal, by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu for the results on Qualifying to EURO 2008 and qualification to UEFA Euro 2008 Group C.{{cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Monitorul_Oficial_al_Rom%C3%A2niei._Partea_I_2008-03-28%2C_nr._241.pdf |title=DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv |publisher=Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241 |date=28 March 2008 |page=3 |access-date= 15 November 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://old.presidency.ro/index.php?_RID=det&tb=date_arhiva&id=10313&_PRID=arh |title=Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc |publisher=Administrația Prezidențială |date=25 March 2008 |access-date=15 November 2019 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912005010/http://old.presidency.ro/index.php?_RID=det&tb=date_arhiva&id=10313&_PRID=arh |url-status=dead }}
He scored his first double for Romania in a 2012 European championship qualifying match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 3 June 2011.
He scored his first ever hat-trick for Romania in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago, on 4 June 2013.
Career statistics
=Club=
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web |url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/players/1157/ciprian-andrei-marica.htm |title=Ciprian Marica |publisher=RomanianSoccer |access-date=3 December 2020}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="12"|Romania
|2003 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2007 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 72 | 25 |
:Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Marica goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ciprian Marica{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/marica-intlg.html |title=Ciprian Marica – Goals in International Matches |work=RSSSF |access-date=28 September 2014 }} Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first. | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 17 November 2004 | Hanrapetakan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia | {{fb|ARM}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | 2 September 2006 | Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania | {{fb|Bulgaria}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|2–2 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|3 | 7 October 2006 | Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|BLR}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|4 | 15 November 2006 | Estadio Ramón de Carranza, Cadiz, Spain | {{fb|ESP}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|5 | 28 March 2007 | Ceahlăul Stadium, Piatra Neamț, Romania | {{fb|LUX}} | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|6 | 17 October 2007 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg | {{fb|LUX}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|7 | 21 November 2007 | Național Stadium, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|ALB}} | style="text-align:center"|5–1 | style="text-align:center"|6–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|8 | 26 March 2008 | Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|RUS}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|9 | 19 November 2008 | Stadionul Dinamo, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|GEO}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | style="text-align:center"|2–1 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|10 | 11 February 2009 | Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|CRO}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|11 | 28 March 2009 | Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania | {{fb|SRB}} | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | style="text-align:center"|2–3 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|12 | 6 June 2009 | Sūduva Stadium, Marijampolė, Lithuania | {{fb|LTU}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|13 | 17 November 2010 | Hypo-Arena, Klagenfurt, Austria | {{fb|ITA}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|14 | 26 March 2011 | Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina | {{fb|BIH}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|15 | rowspan="2"|3 June 2011 | rowspan="2"|Giulești-Valentin Stănescu, Bucharest, Romania | rowspan="2" |{{fb|BIH}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–0 | rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|16 | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | |||||
| style="text-align:center"|17 | 7 September 2012 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | {{fb|EST}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|18 | 16 October 2012 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|NED}} | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | style="text-align:center"|1–4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|19 | rowspan="3"|4 June 2013 | rowspan="3"|Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | rowspan="3"|{{fb|TRI}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|4–0 | rowspan="3"|Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|20 | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | |||||
| style="text-align:center"|21 | style="text-align:center"|4–0 | |||||
| style="text-align:center"|22 | 6 September 2013 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | {{fb|HUN}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|23 | rowspan="2"|15 October 2013 | rowspan="2"|Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | rowspan="2" |{{fb|EST}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–0 | rowspan="2"| 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|24 | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | |||||
| style="text-align:center"|25 | 7 September 2014 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece | {{fb|GRE}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
Honours
- Divizia A: 2001–02
- Cupa României: 2002–03
- Supercupa României runner-up: 2002, 2003
Steaua București
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://ciprianmarica.com}} {{in lang|ro|en|de}}
- {{Fussballdaten|maricaciprian|Ciprian Marica}}
- {{NFT player|pid=5383}}
- {{FIFA player|215868|Ciprian Marica}}
- {{UEFA player|63022}}
{{Romania squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marica, Ciprian}}
Category:Footballers from Bucharest
Category:Romanian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:FC Dinamo București players
Category:FC Shakhtar Donetsk players
Category:VfB Stuttgart players
Category:FC Schalke 04 players
Category:Getafe CF footballers
Category:Konyaspor footballers
Category:Ukrainian Premier League players
Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Romania men's international footballers
Category:Romanian football chairmen and investors
Category:Romania men's under-21 international footballers