Ion Nunweiller

{{short description|Romanian footballer and manager}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ion Nunweiller

| image = Ion Nunweiller 1963.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| height = 1.79 m

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1936|01|09}}

| birth_place = Piatra Neamț, Romania

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2015|02|03|1936|01|09}}

| death_place = Pitești, Romania

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1950–1951

| youthyears2 = 1951–1955

| youthclubs1 = Progresul ICAB București

| youthclubs2 = Dinamo București

| years1 = 1956

| years2 = 1956–1968

| years3 = 1968–1970

| years4 = 1970–1972

| clubs1 = Dinamo 6 București

| clubs2 = Dinamo București{{efn|name="FCD"|The statistics for the 1957 unofficial championship called Cupa Primăverii are not taken into consideration.{{RomanianSoccer|1429/ion-nunweiller}}}}

| clubs3 = Fenerbahçe

| clubs4 = Dinamo București

| caps1 =

| caps2 = 244

| caps3 = 57

| caps4 = 35

| goals1 =

| goals2 = 19

| goals3 = 6

| goals4 = 0

| totalcaps = 336 | totalgoals = 25

| nationalyears1 = 1958–1967

| nationalteam1 = Romania

| nationalcaps1 = 40{{efn|name="ROM"|Including 14 appearances for Romania's Olympic team{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=15318|title=Ion Nunweiller|publisher=European Football|access-date=13 November 2019}}{{NFT|37639}}}}

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1972–1974

| manageryears2 = 1974–1975

| manageryears3 = 1976–1979

| manageryears4 = 1979–1981

| manageryears5 = 1981–1983

| manageryears6 = 1984–1985

| manageryears7 = 1985–1986

| manageryears8 = 1986–1989

| manageryears9 = 1990

| manageryears10 = 1990–1991

| manageryears11 = 1991–1992

| manageryears12 = 1992–1993

| manageryears13 = 1996–1998

| manageryears14 = 1998–1999

| managerclubs1 = Dinamo București

| managerclubs2 = Dinamo București (assistant)

| managerclubs3 = Dinamo București

| managerclubs4 = Romania U21

| managerclubs5 = Gloria Bistrița

| managerclubs6 = Corvinul Hunedoara

| managerclubs7 = Victoria București

| managerclubs8 = Flacăra Moreni

| managerclubs9 = Argeș Pitești

| managerclubs10 = Bursaspor

| managerclubs11 = Argeș Pitești (technical director)

| managerclubs12 = Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț

| managerclubs13 = Romania (women)

| managerclubs14 = FC Baia Mare

}}

Ion Nunweiller (9 January 1936 – 3 February 2015) was a Romanian football defender and manager.{{WorldFootball|ion-nunweiller}}

Club career

File:Lică Nunweiller, Radu Nunweiller, Ion Nunweiller 1963.jpg, Radu and Ion]]}}

Ion Nunweiller was born in Piatra Neamț on 9 January 1936.{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/doliu-la-dinamo-nelu-nunweiller-a-murit-un-jucator-exceptional-ambitios-si-foarte-talentat-443283.html|title=Doliu la Dinamo! Nelu Nunweiller a murit. "Un jucător excepţional, ambiţios şi foarte talentat!" |publisher=Gsp.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Mourning Dynamo! Nelu Nunweiller has died. "An exceptional, ambitious and very talented player!"|date= 3 February 2015|access-date= 4 October 2017}} He had an Austrian father named Johann Nunweiller, who settled in Piatra Neamț after World War II where he met his wife, Rozina, later they moved from Piatra Neamț to Bucharest.{{cite web|url=http://premium.gsp.ro/premium/poveste/fata-primului-caine-rosu-cele-mai-frumoase-povesti-despre-lica-nunweiller-si-un-indemn-pentru-ultima-etapa-tata-v-ar-fi-zis-sa-fiti-un-suflet-510237.html|title=Fata primului "câine roșu", cele mai frumoase povești despre Lică Nunweiller și un îndemn pentru ultima etapă: "Tata v-ar fi zis să fiți Un suflet!"|publisher=Gsp.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=The girl of the first "red dog", the most beautiful stories about Lica Nunweiller, and an exhortation for the last stage: "Dad would have said be A Soul!"|access-date= 4 October 2017}} He had six brothers, the oldest one of them, Constantin was a water polo player and the other five: Dumitru, Lică, Victor, Radu and Eduard were footballers, each of them having at least one spell at Dinamo București. They are the reason why the club's nickname is "The Red Dogs" as especially Ion and Lică were known for their aggressiveness on the field and the fact that their faces were turning red from the effort.{{cite web|url=http://www.cancan.ro/destinul-fratilor-nunweiller-cei-care-au-dat-numele-de-cainii-rosii-nevestele-ne-au-indepartat.html|title= Destinul fratilor Nunweiller, cei care au dat numele de "cainii-rosii". "Nevestele ne-au indepartat"|date= 6 July 2014|publisher=Cancan.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=The Destiny of the Nunweiller Brothers, who gave the name of "Red Dogs". "The wives separated us"|access-date= 4 October 2017}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.primasport.ro/de-ce-li-se-spune-dinamovistilor-cainii-rosii-totul-s-a-intamplat-dupa-un-dinamo-rapid-ce-le-a-spus-un-adversar-fratilor-nunweiller-19639575|title=De ce li se spune dinamoviștilor "câinii roșii". "Totul s-a întâmplat după un Dinamo - Rapid!" Ce le-a spus un adversar fraților Nunweiller |publisher=Primasport.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Why are the Dinamo called "red dogs". "Everything happened after a Dinamo - Rapid!" What an opponent said to the Nunweiller brothers|date=4 December 2020|access-date=27 September 2024}}
Ion started playing junior level football in 1950 at Progresul ICAB București, one year later moving to Dinamo București where he worked with coach Petre Steinbach, four years later starting his senior career in 1956, playing for satellite club Dinamo 6 București in Divizia B.{{cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/special/doliu-la-dinamo-s-a-stins-din-viata-ion-nunweiller-unul-dintre-primii-caini-rosii-152735|title= Doliu la Dinamo. S-a stins din viaţă Ion Nunweiller, unul dintre primii "câini roșii"|publisher=Digisport.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Sorrow at Dinamo. Ion Nunweiller, one of the first "red dogs", passed away|date= 3 February 2015 |access-date= 8 November 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://www.independentaromana.ro/din-istoria-sportului-romanesc-povestea-lui-petre-steinbach-fotbalistul-scriitor-deportat-in-urss/ | title=Din istoria sportului românesc-Povestea lui Petre Steinbach, fotbalistul-scriitor deportat în URSS| publisher=Independentaromana.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=From the history of Romanian sport-The story of Petre Steinbach, the football player-writer deported to the USSR| date=10 March 2020 | access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web | url=https://zch.ro/ceahlaul-a-avut-un-antrenor-legendar-petre-steinbach/ | title=Ceahlăul a avut un antrenor legendar, PETRE STEINBACH| publisher=Zch.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Ceahlăul had a legendary coach, PETRE STEINBACH| date=25 November 2013| access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web | url=https://dordeneamt.ro/2019/07/30/ceahlaul-100-fotbalistii-pietreni-au-avut-un-antrenor-legendar-petre-steinbach/ | title=Ceahlăul 100: Fotbaliștii pietreni au avut un antrenor legendar – Petre Steinbach| publisher=Dordeneamt.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Ceahlăul 100: The footballers from Piatra Neamț had a legendary coach – Petre Steinbach| date=30 July 2019| access-date=27 September 2024}}

He came back to Dinamo București where on 12 August 1956 he made his Divizia A debut in a 2–0 victory against Dinamo Bacău. In his first seasons spent with Dinamo he scored four goals against rivals Steaua București, including a brace in a 2–1 victory, winning his first trophy after being used all the minutes by coach Iuliu Baratky in the 4–0 win over CSM Baia Mare from the 1959 Cupa României final.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68302/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1956.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1956|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68312/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1959-60.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1959–60|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68314/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1960-61.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1960–61|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1958_1959.shtml|title=Romanian Cup 1958–59|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web | url=https://tikitaka.ro/finala-cupei-romaniei-1959-dinamo-csm-baia-mare-4-0/ | title=Finala Cupei României 1959: Dinamo – CSM Baia Mare 4-0| publisher=Tikitaka.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The Cupei României Final 1959: Dinamo – CSM Baia Mare 4-0| date=14 June 2023| access-date=28 September 2024}}

File:Dinamo București (fotbal) 1963.jpg

Ion Nunweiller helped the club win four consecutive Divizia A titles from 1962 until 1965.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}} In the first he worked with three coaches Traian Ionescu, Constantin Teașcă and Nicolae Dumitru who gave him 26 appearances in which he scored three goals, in the following two Dumitru and Ionescu used him in 18 matches in the first and 26 in the second and in the last one he played 25 games under the guidance of Angelo Niculescu. At the conquest of all these titles he was teammate with his brother Lică, at the last two in the team being his brother Radu as well.

He also won two more Cupa României trophies with The Red Dogs, coach Ionescu using him and his brothers all the minutes in the 5–3 victory over Steaua from the 1964 final, then in the one from 1968 Ion played the whole match which was a 3–1 over Rapid București, being coached by Bazil Marian.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1963_1964.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1963–1964|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1967_1968.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1967–1968|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}
{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/cupa-romaniei/video-finala-steaua-dinamo-cu-cei-mai-multi-spectatori-cum-s-au-omorat-70-000-de-fani-sa-vada-umilinta.html | title=Asta e prima finala Steaua - Dinamo din istorie! Omul care i-a inventat pe Lucescu si Dinu a umilit-o pe Steaua in fata a 70.000 de fani!| publisher=Sport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=This is the first Steaua - Dinamo final in history! The man who invented Lucescu and Dinu humiliated Steaua in front of 70,000 fans!| date=23 May 2011 | access-date=28 September 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=28 September 2024}}
He played for Dinamo in a total of 19 European Cup matches in which he scored twice and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup game, appearing in the first European match of a Romanian team, the 3–1 victory against Galatasaray from the 1956–57 European Cup, helping the team go to the next phase of the competition where they were eliminated by CDNA Sofia.{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/liga-campionilor/retro-gsp-64-de-ani-de-la-primul-meci-european-al-unei-echipe-romanesti-608325.html|title=RETRO GSP. 64 de ani de la primul meci european al unei echipe românești. Dinamo i-a scos pe turci, apoi a urmat măcelul!|publisher=Gsp.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=RETRO GSP. 64 years since the first European match of a Romanian team. Dinamo took out the Turks, then the slaughter followed!|date=26 August 2020 |access-date=11 October 2022}} In the 1963–64 European Cup edition, he scored once in a 2–0 victory against East Germany champion, Motor Jena which helped the club advance to the next phase where they were eliminated by Real Madrid against whom he scored in a 5–3 loss.{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/021e-0f8a84e87c33-5ea22ec36483-1000--red-dog-nunweiller-mourned-in-romania/| title='Red Dog' Nunweiller mourned in Romania| publisher=UEFA| language=Romanian | date=3 February 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319074239/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/national-associations/news/021e-0f8a84e87c33-5ea22ec36483-1000--red-dog-nunweiller-mourned-in-romania/| access-date=8 November 2021| url-status=live| archive-date=19 March 2022}}{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/ion-nunweiller/champions-league-1963-1964/dinamo-bucuresti/3/|title=Ion Nunweiller - Champions League 1963/1964|access-date=11 October 2022}} He also appeared in a historical 2–1 win over Inter Milan in the 1965–66 edition who were the winners of the last two seasons of the competition.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/retro-gsp-video-si-foto-1-decembrie-1965-ziua-nationala-a-cainilor-cea-in-care-au-invins-dubla-campioana-a-europei-si-a-lumii-584274.html | title=1 decembrie 1965, Ziua națională a "câinilor": cea în care au învins dubla campioană a Europei și a lumii| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=December 1, 1965, the national day of the "dogs": the one in which they defeated the double champion of Europe and the world| date=1 December 2019 | access-date=27 September 2024}} For the way he played in 1966, Nunweiller was placed fifth in the ranking for the Romanian Footballer of the Year award.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/roempoy.html|title=Romania - Player of the Year Awards|publisher=Rsssf.org|language=en|access-date=24 August 2024}}

Afterwards Nunweiller spent two seasons at Fenerbahçe from 1968 until 1970, making him one of the first Romanians to play professional football in Turkey.{{cite web | url=http://www.cotidianul.ro/pe-timpul-lui-ceausescu-fotbalistii-romani-au-invadat-turcia-157478/ | title=Pe timpul lui Ceaușescu fotbaliștii români au invadat Turcia| publisher=Cotidianul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=During Ceaușescu's time, Romanian footballers invaded Turkey|date=10 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110013541/http://www.cotidianul.ro/pe-timpul-lui-ceausescu-fotbalistii-romani-au-invadat-turcia-157478/| access-date=9 May 2025| archive-date=10 November 2013}} During his period spent in Turkey, Nunweiller played four games in the 1968–69 European Cup where he helped Fenerbahçe eliminate the champion of England, Manchester City. In his second season spent at the club he was coached by Traian Ionescu and was teammate with Ilie Datcu, all of them previously working together at Dinamo, winning together the Turkish Super League title, a TSYD Cup in which he scored the only goal from the final against Beşiktaş, also being elected the best foreign player of the Turkish League 1969–70 season.{{cite web|url=https://sptfm.ro/ilie-datcu-primul-baskan-roman-in-fotbal/|title=Ilie Datcu, primul bașkan român în fotbal|publisher=Sptfm.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Ilie Datcu, the first Romanian baskan in football|date=2 December 2020 |access-date= 1 October 2022}}

File:Dynamo Boekarest tegen Feyenoord 0-3, Europa Cup I , overhandiging vaantjes, sch, Bestanddeelnr 925-0617.jpg of Feyenoord in 1971]]

In 1970, he returned to Dinamo and in his first season he won another title, playing alongside his brother Radu, coaches Dumitru and Ionescu using Ion in 20 games. Ion Nunweiller made his last Divizia A appearance on 12 December 1971 in a 2–1 away loss to Argeș Pitești, having a total of 279 matches with 19 goals scored in the competition.

International career

File:Echipa României (fotbal) 1963.jpg, Denmark (1963)}}]]

Ion Nunweiller played 26 games at international level for Romania, making his debut on 26 October 1958 under coach Augustin Botescu in a friendly which ended with a 2–1 loss against Hungary.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=14979|title=Romania 1-2 Hungary|publisher=European Football|access-date=8 November 2021}} He played four games at the 1960 European Nations' Cup qualifiers as Romania eliminated Turkey in the round of 16, reaching the quarter-finals where they were defeated by Czechoslovakia, who advanced to the final tournament. Nunweiller played two games at the 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifiers, one game at the 1966 World Cup qualifiers and four at the Euro 1968 qualifiers. He also played for Romania's Olympic team, being chosen by coach Silviu Ploeșteanu to be part of the 1964 Summer Olympics squad from Tokyo where he played four games, helping the team finish the competition on the fifth place.{{cite web|url=http://www.ripensia-sport-magazin.ro/istoria-fotbalului/nunweiller-iii-legendarul-libero-caine-rosu-s-dus-azi-la-ceruri/|title= Nunweiller III, legendarul libero "câine roșu", s-a dus azi la Ceruri|publisher=Ripensia-sport-magazin.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Nunweiller III, the legendary "red dog" sweeper, went to Heaven today|date= 3 February 2015 |access-date= 8 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://theplaymaker.ro/ultima-participare-a-romaniei-la-olimpiada-1964-sfert-cu-ungaria/5341/|title=Cum a fost ultima participare a României la Olimpiadă, în 1964, când "tricolorii" au pierdut dramatic sfertul cu Ungaria|publisher=Theplaymaker.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=How was Romania's last participation in the Olympics, in 1964, when "The Tricolors" dramatically lost the quarter to Hungary|date=27 June 2019 |access-date=27 September 2024}}

Managerial career

After ending his playing career in 1972, Ion Nunweiller became the head coach of Dinamo București, managing to win the title in his first season, one of his players being his brother, Radu.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.ro/fotbal-intern/doliu-in-fotbalul-romanesc-legenda-lui-dinamo-nelu-nunweiller-a-murit-in-aceasta-dimineata.html|title= Doliu in fotbalul romanesc. Legenda lui Dinamo, Ion Nunweiller, a murit in aceasta dimineata|publisher=Sport.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Mourning in Romanian football. Dinamo legend Ion Nunweiller died this morning|date= 3 February 2015 |access-date= 8 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/sport/fostul-fotbalist-ion-nunweiller-a-fost-inmormantat-cu-onoruri-militare-13806397|title= Fostul fotbalist Ion Nunweiller a fost inmormantat cu onoruri militare|publisher=Mediafax.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Former football player Ion Nunweiller was buried with military honors|date= 5 February 2015 |access-date= 8 November 2021}} Together with his brother, they won another title in the 1974–75 season but this time Ion was the assistant coach of Nicolae Dumitru. As head coach he led The Red Dogs to a third title in the 1976–77 season, having his brother Lică as his assistant coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68353/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1976-77.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1976–77|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=27 September 2024}}

In the following years he qualified Flacăra Moreni to the 1989–90 UEFA Cup, had an experience in Turkey at Bursaspor and obtained the first ever promotion to Divizia A of his hometown team Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț. Nunweiller has a total of 374 matches as a manager in the Romanian top-division, Divizia A consisting of 163 victories, 76 draws and 135 losses.{{cite web |url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_a/top_antrenori.shtml| title= Top 60 antrenori| publisher=RomanianSoccer.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Top 60 coaches|access-date=1 August 2022}}

On 25 March 2008, Ion Nunweiller was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu for all of his achievements as a football coach, and for forming young generations of future champions with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class III.{{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= 1 February 2023}}
{{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=8 March 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 }}

Death

Ion Nunweiller died on 3 February 2015 at age 79 in a hospital from Pitești.{{cite web|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/situatie-ireala-moartea-lui-ion-nunweiller-anuntata-de-cel-mai-mare-dusman-al-sau-1387134|title=Moartea lui Ion Nunweiller, anunțată de către cel mai mare dușman al său!|publisher=Libertatea.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=The death of Ion Nunweiller, announced by his greatest enemy!|date=4 February 2015 |access-date=7 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://epitesti.ro/stiri/sport/marele-dinamovist-nelu-nunweiller-murit-va-fi-inmormantat-arges|title=Ion Nunweiller va fi inmormantat in Albota|publisher=Epitesti.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=

Ion Nunweiller will be buried in Albota|date=3 February 2015 |access-date=7 June 2024}} He was buried in a cemetery from Albota, his coffin being wrapped up in the flags of Dinamo București and Fenerbahçe. After his death, his former Dinamo teammate, Cornel Dinu talked about him:"He was the creator of the symbol of The Red Dogs and the main pillar of resistance through which the great team was built from the beginning of the 60s. A player who had many moments in which he showed heroism in blocking the opponent and making sure that his own defense was not overtaken. He was an indisputable leader of that period and achieved good things, as a coach, after the 70s, also in the position of leader of Dinamo. Both as a player and as a coach, he transmitted this spirit of fight and loyalty in the service of the team."

Honours

=Player=

=Manager=

Dinamo București

Dinamo București (assistant)

Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț

See also

Notes

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

References

{{Reflist}}