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Cristian Ganea

{{Short description|Romanian professional footballer}}

{{distinguish|George Ganea}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cristian Ganea

| image =

| fullname = Cristian George Ganea

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|05|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bistrița, Romania

| height = 1.76 m

| currentclub = Farul Constanța

| clubnumber = 11

| position = Left-back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Școala de Fotbal Inter Viișoara

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Basconia

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = CD Indartsu

| youthyears4 = 2010–2011

| youthclubs4 = Mallorca

| years1 = 2011–2013

| clubs1 = Mallorca B

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2011–2012

| clubs2 = → Santanyí (loan)

| caps2 = 53

| goals2 = 20

| years3 = 2013

| clubs3 = FCM Târgu Mureș

| caps3 = 10

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2013–2014

| clubs4 = Universitatea Craiova

| caps4 = 29

| goals4 = 5

| years5 = 2014–2015

| clubs5 = Săgeata Năvodari

| caps5 = 14

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2015

| clubs6 = FC Brașov

| caps6 = 16

| goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2015–2018

| clubs7 = Viitorul Constanța

| caps7 = 94

| goals7 = 8

| years8 = 2018–2020

| clubs8 = Athletic Bilbao

| caps8 = 1

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2019

| clubs9 = → Numancia (loan)

| caps9 = 17

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2020

| clubs10 = → Viitorul Constanța (loan)

| caps10 = 10

| goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2020–2022

| clubs11 = Aris

| caps11 = 52

| goals11 = 1

| years12 = 2022–2023

| clubs12 = Panathinaikos

| caps12 = 9

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2023–2024

| clubs13 = FCSB

| caps13 = 5

| goals13 = 0

| years14 = 2024–

| clubs14 = Farul Constanța

| caps14 = 57

| goals14 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2011

| nationalteam1 = Basque Country U18

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2017–2021

| nationalteam2 = Romania

| nationalcaps2 = 8

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| pcupdate = 16 May 2025

| ntupdate = 2 June 2021

}}

Cristian George Ganea ({{IPA|ro|kristiˈan ˈdʒe̯ordʒe ˈgane̯a}}; born 24 May 1992) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Liga I club Farul Constanța.

After emerging through the Spanish football system, Ganea returned to Romania at age 21 and moved around several teams before settling at Viitorul Constanța. He won the national title in 2016–17 season with the latter, which prompted a transfer to Athletic Bilbao in 2018. He only made one La Liga appearance, serving loan spells at Numancia and back at Viitorul before being released and signing for Greek club Aris Thessaloniki in 2020.

Internationally, Ganea made his full debut for Romania in June 2017, in a 3–2 friendly victory over Chile.

Club career

=Early career=

Ganea moved from Romania to Spain with his family while still a minor.{{Cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/es/noticias/el-athletic-ficha-a-cristian-ganea/11bdiqij3nvuw1oe4bne4uh9jg|title=El Athletic Club de Bilbao ficha a Cristian Ganea|newspaper=Goal|date=15 January 2018|language=Spanish}} He grew up in Basauri south of Bilbao where his relatives still live, and spent several years playing with local clubs.{{Cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/futbol/2018/01/15/5a5cac83ca47419e778b4645.html|title=El Athletic ficha al internacional rumano Cristian Ganea|trans-title=Athletic sign the Romanian international Cristian Ganea|newspaper=El Mundo|date=15 January 2018|accessdate=15 January 2018|language=Spanish}}

In 2010, Ganea signed for RCD Mallorca. After a year with their youth teams, he was assigned to the reserve squad, but was then loaned to local fourth-tier club CD Santanyí for one and a half seasons, during which he played regularly.{{cite web|url=http://www.lapreferente.com/index.php?comp=3379&IDjugador=84313|title=Ganea: Cristian George Ganea|publisher=La Preferente|date=16 January 2018|language=Spanish}}

=Return to Romania / Viitorul Constanța=

In January 2013, Ganea returned to his country of birth to sign for second division club FCM Târgu Mureș. That summer he moved on to CS Universitatea Craiova in the same league, helping them to earn promotion in his sole campaign in Oltenia.

Ganea then transferred to Săgeata Năvodari, staying in the Liga II and this time enduring an administrative relegation as his club were deducted 42 points for unpaid debts and subsequently dissolved during mid-season.{{cite news|url=http://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/farul-porneste-de-pe-locul-3-in-play-out-acs-berceni-are-cele-mai-mari-emotii-la-retrogradare-vezi-programul-si-clasamentul-14073158|title=Farul porneşte de pe locul 3 în play-out. ACS Berceni are cele mai mari emoţii la retrogradare. |trans-title=Farul start from 3rd place in the play-out. ACS Berceni has the greatest emotions in relegation. |language =Romanian|publisher=Liga 2|date=28 March 2015|accessdate=16 January 2018}} Ganea signed with FC Brașov for the latter part of the 2014–15 Liga I, but they too suffered relegation and experienced severe financial problems.{{cite news|url=http://www.steagu.ro/index.php?cat=1&id=4031|title=S-a terminat. FC Braşov a retrogradat! |trans-title=It's over. FC Braşov relegated! |language =Romanian|publisher=Monitorul Expres|date=28 May 2015|accessdate=16 January 2018}}

In the summer of 2015, Ganea moved to Viitorul Constanța, owned and coached by former Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi. In the 2015–16 season, the club finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. The following campaign, he helped Viitorul win the Romanian league title for the first time in their short history.{{cite web|url=http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/FOTBAL/Competitii/Liga+1/Bucurie+fara+margini+la+Ovidiu|title=Bucurie fără margini la Ovidiu! Hagi și căpitanul Benzar au ridicat trofeul. Sărbătoare şi la vestiar|trans-title=Boundless joy at Ovidiu! Hagi and captain Benzar lifted the trophy. Party in the changing room too|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=13 May 2017|accessdate=16 January 2018}} Ganea was a regular during both seasons, with 58 league starts. He also played in the club's early exits from the qualifying rounds of both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

=Athletic Bilbao=

On 15 January 2018, Athletic Bilbao announced the signing of Ganea on a three-year contract with the option of another year, with the player due to join the squad in the summer; he was deemed eligible to join under their signing policy due to his time developing as a young player in the Basque region.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/18649/cristian-ganea-initial-agreement-with-fc-viitorul.html|title=Cristian Ganea: Initial agreement with FC Viitorul|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=15 January 2018|accessdate=15 January 2018}} Almost as soon as he arrived in Bilbao, the club signed Yuri Berchiche, who was immediately installed as first choice in the left back position, with the previous regular Mikel Balenziaga also still part of the squad and ahead in the queue for selection.

Ganea made his debut for the club on 28 November 2018 in a Copa del Rey game against Huesca, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.{{Cite web |title=Por fin debuta Ganea, el rumano del Athletic: "Han sido tres meses muy largos|trans-title=At last, Ganea, the Romanian of Athletic, debuted: "It has been three very long months"|first=Juanma |last=Velasco |work=Marca|language=Spanish|date=28 November 2018 |accessdate=29 November 2018 |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/athletic/2018/11/28/5bff1b95e5fdea475f8b45ac.html}}{{Cite web |title=Athletic Club vs. Huesca 4–0|work=Soccerway.com|date=28 November 2018 |accessdate=29 November 2018 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/11/28/spain/copa-del-rey/athletic-club/sd-huesca/2929480/}} Five days later he made his La Liga debut in a 0–3 loss to Levante, but was stretchered off with a torso injury early in the second half of the match and replaced by habitual starter Markel Susaeta.{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2018/12/03/levante-ud-3-athletic-club-0|title=The alarms go off|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=3 December 2018|accessdate=4 December 2018}} After recovering from the injury, on 9 January 2019 Ganea was loaned to Segunda División side Numancia until June.{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2019/01/09/cristian-ganea-on-loan|title=Cristian Ganea on-loan|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=9 January 2019|accessdate=11 January 2019}}

After playing regularly in Soria he returned to Athletic Bilbao, but was again afflicted by injuries and made no further appearances before being loaned again, this time back to his former club Viitorul Constanța, in January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2020/01/24/principio-de-acuerdo-para-la-cesion-de-ganea|title=Preliminary agreement for the transfer of Ganea|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=24 January 2020|accessdate=25 January 2020}} The season in Romania was soon postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Ganea's loan spell expired before all fixtures were completed; he went back to Spain in July 2020 with a possibility of participating in Athletic's final few matches, which had also been delayed due to the pandemic,{{cite web|url=https://insideathletic.com/2020/06/29/cristian-ganea-to-return-to-athletic-as-viitorul-loan-expires/ |title=Cristian Ganea To Return To Athletic As Viitorul Loan Expires|website=Inside Athletic|date=29 June 2020|accessdate=2 July 2020}} but was not named in any match squads before the end of the campaign. On 11 August 2020, Ganea's contract with Athletic was terminated.{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2020/08/11/rescision-del-contrato-de-cristian-ganea|title=Cristian Ganea's contract terminated|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=11 August 2020|accessdate=13 August 2020}}

=Aris=

On 14 August 2020, he joined Super League Greece side Aris on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/athletic-bilbao/20200814/482811054569/athletic-ganea-aris-salonica-oficial-bistrita-viitorul-hagi-europa-league-dorsal-22-recision-de-contrato.html|title=Oficial: Ganea ficha por el Aris Salónica|work=Mundo Deportivo|language=Spanish|author=García, Alberto|date=14 August 2020|accessdate=15 August 2020}} On 28 February 2021, he scored his first goal for the club with an exquisite shot in a comfortable 3–0 home win against Atromitos.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/aris-atromitos-3-0-me-triara-epestrepse-sti-2i-thesi.9156869.html |title=Άρης - Ατρόμητος 3-0: Με τριάρα επέστρεψε στη 2η θέση |publisher=www.sport24.gr |date=28 February 2020}}

International career

Ganea was called up to the Basque Country national under-18 team.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-athletic-ficha-ganea-primer-rumano-historia-201801151632_noticia.html|title=El Athletic ficha a Cristian Ganea, el primer rumano de su historia|trans-title=Athletic sign Cristian Ganea, the first Romanian in their history|newspaper=ABC|date=15 January 2018|accessdate=15 January 2018|language=Spanish}}

He made his full debut for Romania on 13 June 2017 in a friendly against Chile.{{cite news|url=http://m.ziuaconstanta.ro/stiri/sport/echipa-romaniei-de-fotbal-a-invins-nationala-din-chile-cu-scorul-3-2-intr-un-meci-amical-632881.html|title=Echipa României de fotbal a învins naţionala din Chile cu scorul 3–2 într-un meci amical |trans-title=The football team of Romania defeated Chile 3–2 in a friendly match|language =Romanian|publisher=Ziua di Constanța|date=13 June 2017|accessdate=16 January 2018}}

Personal life

Ganea does not hold Spanish citizenship yet. He regarded the Basques as "extraordinary people, with common sense and welcoming." He also praised the Basque Country, saying it's the cleanest and quietest in Spain and that its streets and infrastructure generally do not have a correspondent across the country.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fanatik.ro/cristi-ganea-bascul-din-nationala-romaniei-1032206|title="Bascul" Ganea: salvat de Hagi, refuzat de CSU, la un pas de Bilbao!|newspaper=Fanatik|date=15 January 2018|language=Romanian}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 16 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|282315|accessdate=17 January 2022}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan=2 | Club

! rowspan=2 | Season

! colspan=3 | League

! colspan=2 | National Cup

! colspan=2 | League Cup

! colspan=2 | Continental

! colspan=2 | Other

! colspan=2 | Total

Division

! Apps

! Goals

! Apps

! Goals

! Apps

! Goals

! Apps

! Goals

! Apps

! Goals

! Apps

! Goals

rowspan=3|Santanyí (loan)

|2011–12

|rowspan=2|Tercera División

|33

17colspan="2" |—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—3317
2012–13

|20

3colspan="2" |—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—203
colspan="2"|Total

!53

20colspan="2" |—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—5320
FCM Târgu Mureș

|2012–13

|Liga II

|10

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—102
Universitatea Craiova

|2013–14

|Liga II

|29

520colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—315
Săgeata Năvodari

|2014–15

|rowspan=1|Liga II

|14

320colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—163
FC Brașov

|2014–15

|rowspan=1|Liga I

|16

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—162
rowspan=4|Viitorul Constanța

|2015–16

|rowspan=3|Liga I

|34

33110colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—384
2016–17

|26

0100010colspan="2"|—280
2017–18

|34

510colspan="2"|—3110396
colspan="2"|Total

!94

85110411010510
Athletic Bilbao

|2018–19

|La Liga

|1

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—20
Numancia (loan)

|2018–19

|Segunda División

|17

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—170
Viitorul Constanța (loan)

|2019–20

|Liga I

|10

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—101
rowspan="3" |Aris

|2020–21

| rowspan="2" |Super League Greece

|22

120colspan="2"|—10colspan="2"|—251
2021–22

|30

|0

|3

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|1

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|34

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!52

150colspan="2"|—20colspan="2"|—591
Panathinaikos

|2022–23

|Super League Greece

|9

000colspan="2"|—10colspan="2"|—100
FCSB

|2023–24

|Liga I

|5

030colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—80
rowspan="3" |Farul Constanța

|2023–24

| rowspan="2" |Liga I

|18

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—182
2024–25

|39

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—410
colspan="2" |Total

!57

220colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—592
colspan="3" |Career total

!367

4420110711039646

=International=

{{updated|2 June 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=29924|title=Cristian Ganea|publisher=European Football|accessdate=1 September 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan=4|Romania
201750
202020
202110
colspan="2"|Total||8||0

Honours

Universitatea Craiova

Viitorul Constanța

FCSB

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{RomanianSoccer|3505/cristian-george-ganea}}
  • {{BDFutbol|20776}}
  • {{NFT|68398}}
  • {{UEFA|250099656}}
  • {{Athletic Bilbao profile|cristian-ganea}}

{{FCV Farul Constanța squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganea, Cristian}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Bistrița

Category:Romanian emigrants to Spain

Category:Romanian men's footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Tercera División players

Category:Liga I players

Category:Liga II players

Category:La Liga players

Category:Super League Greece players

Category:RCD Mallorca B players

Category:ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș players

Category:CS Universitatea Craiova players

Category:AFC Săgeata Năvodari players

Category:FC Brașov (1936) players

Category:FC Viitorul Constanța players

Category:Athletic Bilbao footballers

Category:CD Numancia players

Category:Aris Thessaloniki F.C. players

Category:Panathinaikos F.C. players

Category:FCSB players

Category:FCV Farul Constanța players

Category:Romania men's international footballers

Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain

Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Spain

Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Greece

Category:Segunda División players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece

Category:21st-century Romanian sportsmen