Danny Mandroiu
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Danny Mândroiu
| image = Danny Mandroiu.jpg
| caption = Danny Mandroiu playing for Bohemians in 2019
| full_name = Daniel Jordan Mandroiu{{cite web | url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/february/efl-squad-list-season-202223/ | title=Homepage }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| height =
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Shamrock Rovers
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Ballymun United
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = St. Kevin's Boys
| youthyears3 = 2015–2019 | youthclubs3 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| years1 = 2019–2020 | clubs1 = Bohemians | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 14
| years2 = 2021–2022 | clubs2 = Shamrock Rovers | caps2 = 53 | goals2 = 22
| years3 = 2022–2024 | clubs3 = Lincoln City | caps3 = 56 | goals3 = 14
| years4 = 2024– | clubs4 = Shamrock Rovers | caps4 = 17 | goals4 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2013–2014 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U16
| nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2017 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2019–2020 | nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps3 = 7 | nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 10:46, 17 June 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 17 June 2021
}}
Daniel Jordan Mandroiu (born 20 October 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers.
Club career
=Early career=
Mandroiu started his football career with Ballymun United moving to St. Kevin's Boys, the academy that has produced a number of Republic of Ireland internationals, including Liam Brady, Damien Duff, and Jeff Hendrick. At the age of 15, Mandroiu was signed by Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion. In the 2018–19 season, he made 11 league appearances for Simon Rusk's Under-23 side in the Premier League 2 Division 2, contributing towards the team's promotion to the top flight of under-23 football. The midfielder fired three goals in those matches, while also finding the back of the net in the EFL Trophy against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.{{Cite web |url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/1267798/mandroiu-moves-to-bohemians |title=Mandroiu Moves To Bohemians |date=3 December 2018 |work=Brighton & Hove Albion|access-date=17 September 2019 |language=en-GB}}
=Bohemians=
On 3 December 2018, Brighton announced that Mandroiu had been released and had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Bohemians. He made his debut for "the Gypsies" on 15 February 2019 in a 1–0 home victory over Finn Harps. His first goal for the club came a week later, when he found the net away to UCD in a 2–0 win. Further goals would come against Derry City and St Patrick's Athletic, with Mandroiu earning numerous plaudits for his performances. He was nominated for the SWAI Player of the Month award for both April and May, but lost out to Bohemians teammate James Talbot and Dundalk's Sean Gannon respectively. Such was his fine form in his debut season, that Bohemians announced on 19 May that the young midfielder had been given a new contract at the club.{{Cite news|last=Sneyd|first=David|title=Global star Danny Mandroiu just happy to be at home|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/global-star-danny-mandroiu-just-happy-to-be-at-home-rzlqws7hz|access-date=12 August 2021|issn=0140-0460}}
On 14 June, Mandroiu scored two goals in a 2–1 Dublin Derby win over rivals Shamrock Rovers, including a game-winning strike from 30 yards out.{{Cite web |url=https://punditarena.com/football/oisinmcqueirns2758/go-and-watch-daniel-mandroiu-while-you-can-hes-a-special-talent/ |title=Go And Watch Daniel Mandroiu While You Can, He's A Special Talent |date=15 June 2019 |work=Pundit Arena|access-date=17 September 2019 |language=en-GB}} This was followed up with an SWAI Player of the Month award for June 2019. Mandriou would go on to win PFAI Young Player of the Year, beating off fellow nominees David Parkhouse and Republic of Ireland international Jack Byrne, while he was also named in the PFAI Team of the Year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.the42.ie/bohemians-danny-mandroiu-swai-player-of-the-month-interview-4717400-Jul2019/ |title='I was hit over the head with a pint of Bulmers when I scored. I don't know where it came from' |date=9 July 2019 |work=the42|access-date=17 September 2019 |language=en-GB}} July 2020 saw Mandroiu linked with a move to Eredivisie side FC Twente but the move did not come to fruition.{{Cite web|title=Top Dutch Eredivisie club eye up Bohemians and Ireland under-21 star Danny Mandroiu|url=http://www.extratime.ie/articles/25096/top-dutch-eredivisie-club-eye-up-bohemians-and-ireland-under-21-star-danny-mandroiu/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=ExtraTime.com|language=en}}
=Shamrock Rovers=
Mandroiu signed for Bohemians' arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers in December 2020.{{Cite web|title=Danny Mandroiu crosses Liffey to join Shamrock Rovers as arrival of Sean Gannon also confirmed|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/danny-mandroiu-crosses-liffey-to-join-shamrock-rovers-as-arrival-of-sean-gannon-also-confirmed-39871564.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=independent|date=16 December 2020 |language=en}} In June 2021, it emerged that Shamrock Rovers were ordered by the FAI to pay Bohemians a €20,000 compensation fee following a dispute over his transfer.{{Cite web|title=Shamrock Rovers ordered to pay €20k to arch-rivals Bohs over Danny Mandroiu switch|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/shamrock-rovers-ordered-to-pay-20k-to-arch-rivals-bohs-over-danny-mandroiu-switch-40526136.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=independent|date=11 June 2021 |language=en}} He played an important part in Rovers' league winning season in 2021 and half of the league winning season of 2022, scoring 22 goals over 53 league games.{{cite web | url=https://www.the42.ie/danny-mandroiu-lincoln-5811054-Jul2022/ | title=Shamrock Rovers' Danny Mandroiu completes Lincoln City move | date=7 July 2022 }} His displays for Rovers in 2021 earned him a call-up to Stephen Kenny's Ireland senior international side for the friendlies against Andorra and Hungary.{{cite web | url=https://static.shamrockrovers.ie/player/danny-mandroiu/ | title=Danny Mandroiu }}
=Lincoln City=
On 7 July 2022, Mandroiu joined EFL League One club Lincoln City for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news |title=Danny Mandroiu is an Imp|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/july/danny-mandroiu-is-an-imp/|access-date=7 July 2022 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=7 July 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62080211|title=Imps snap up Shamrock Rovers midfielder Mandroiu|work=BBC Sport }} He would make his long-awaited debut on 1 October 2022 against Bolton Wanderers.{{cite news |title=Bolton Wanderers 2 Imps 0|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/october/bolton-wanderers-2-imps-0/|access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=1 October 2022}} His first goal for the club came against Newcastle United U21 in the EFL Trophy.{{cite news |title=Imps 2 Newcastle United U21 0|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2022/october/imps-newcastle-united-u21/|access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=18 October 2022}}
After an instrumental start to the 2023–24 season, Mandroiu received a League One Player of the Month nomination after scoring two goals and three assists in the opening five games.{{cite web|title=Sky Bet League One: Manager and Player of the Month nominees|date=6 September 2023 |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/september/06/sky-bet-league-one--manager-and-player-of-the-month-nominees/|publisher=EFL|access-date=6 September 2023}} On 14 October 2023, he was sent off in a 1–0 defeat to Burton Albion. Following the match, manager Mark Kennedy warned the player that he was at a crossroads in his career and unless his approach to the game were to change he could become "just another statistic".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67124619|title=Danny Mandroiu at 'crossroads' after red card, says Lincoln boss Mark Kennedy|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 October 2023|accessdate=16 October 2023}} Following the end of the 2023–24 season the club confirmed that they were negotiating a new deal with him.{{cite web|title=Retained list|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/2024/may/retained-list/|publisher=Lincoln City FC|access-date=2 May 2024}} On 27 June 2024, manager Michael Skubala admitted that Mandroiu was likely to leave the club following a break-down in negotiations over a new contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1vvd1y9g7eo|title=Mandroiu & Bishop likely to leave Imps - Skubala|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 June 2024|accessdate=27 June 2024}}
=Return to Shamrock Rovers=
On 19 August 2024, Mandroiu returned to Shamrock Rovers until the end of the season.{{cite news |title=New signing Danny Mandroiu|url=https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/2024/08/19/new-signing-danny-mandroiu/|publisher=Shamrock Rovers F.C. |date=19 August 2024}} He signed a new multi-year contract with the club on 31 January 2025.https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/2025/01/31/signing-news-danny-mandroiu/
International career
Also eligible to play for the Romania national team as his father is originally from Romania, Mandroiu has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-16, under-19, and under-21 levels.
He earned his first cap with the under-21s in a European Championship qualifier at home to Luxembourg, coming on as an 86th-minute replacement for Connor Ronan. The Republic of Ireland would win the game 3–0 in what was manager Stephen Kenny's first game in charge. Following this, Mandroiu was not included in Kenny's squad for the Toulon Tournament.
In September 2019, Mandroiu was selected by Kenny for Ireland's squad in upcoming qualifiers against Armenia and Sweden. He came on as a substitute against Armenia and started against Sweden, with Ireland beating Armenia 1–0 at home and Sweden 3–1 away. He was subsequently called into the squad for the October qualifying clashes against Italy and Iceland, although he remained benched for the entire match against the young Italians.
On 24 May 2021, Mandroiu received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the summer friendlies against Andorra and Hungary, but remained an unused substitute in both.{{Cite web|title=Kenny names 27-man squad for Andorra & Hungary {{!}} Football Association of Ireland|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/kenny-names-27-man-squad-for-andorra-hungary|access-date=12 August 2021|website=www.fai.ie}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played on 16 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/daniel-mandroiu/400893/|title=Republic of Ireland{{Snd}} D.Mandroiu|publisher=Ie.soccerway.com|accessdate=18 September 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Brighton & Hove Albion U23
|rowspan="3"|— |colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2017–18
|colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| 2018–19
|colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |||||
| rowspan="3"|Bohemians
|2019 |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |28 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 34 | 14 | ||
| 2020
|9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 10 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 17 | |
| rowspan="3"|Shamrock Rovers
|2021 |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |35 | 15 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in President of Ireland's Cup|name=POIC}} | 0 | 43 | 15 | ||
| 2022
|18 | 7 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in President of Ireland's Cup|name=POIC}} | 0 | 19 | 7 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!53 | 22 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 22 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Lincoln City
|rowspan="2"|League One |25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 29 | 7 | ||
| 2023–24
|31 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 36 | 8 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!56 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5 | 1 | 65 | 15 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Shamrock Rovers
|2024 |LOI Premier Division |10 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, three appearance in UEFA Conference League|name=UELCL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 15 | 1 | ||||
| 2025
|LOI Premier Division |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Conference League|name=UECL}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!163 | 51 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 198 | 56 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- PFAI Young Player of the Year: 2019{{cite web|url = https://www.pfai.ie/young-player-year-previous-winners|title = Young Player of the Year - previous winners|work=Professional Footballers Association Ireland (PFAI)|access-date = 25 November 2020}}
- PFAI Team of the Year: 2019{{cite news|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/mandroiu-and-parkhouse-break-top-two-monopoly-in-pfai-team-of-the-year-1.4060603 |title = Mandroiu and Parkhouse break top-two monopoly in PFAI team of the year |last=Malone|first=Emmet|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=23 October 2019|access-date = 25 October 2019}}
- League of Ireland Player of the Month: June 2019,{{cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0709/1061099-mandroiu-wins-player-of-the-month-award-for-june/ |title = Mandroiu wins Player of the Month award for June|work=RTÉ.ie|date=9 July 2019|access-date = 15 July 2019}} October 2021{{cite web|url = https://www.the42.ie/daniel-mandroiu-shamrock-rovers-player-of-the-month-5596287-Nov2021/ |title = Shamrock Rovers win their first Player of the Month of 2021 as Mandroiu scoops October prize|work=The42.ie|date=9 November 2021|access-date = 18 November 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|daniel-mandroiu/400893}}
- [https://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/888843642 Danny Mandroiu] at Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
{{Shamrock Rovers F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|titlestyle=background: gold
|list1=
{{PFAI Players' Young Player of the Year}}
{{2019 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mandroiu, Danny}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Irish people of Romanian descent
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:English Football League players