Marco Dulca
{{Short description|Romanian footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Marco Dulca
| image =
| fullname = Marco Alexandru Dulca
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|05|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Pohang, South Korea
| height = 1.84 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Celje
| clubnumber = 4
| youthyears1 = 2004–2015
| youthclubs1 = Universitatea Cluj
| youthyears2 = 2015–2019
| youthclubs2 = Swansea City
| years1 = 2019–2021
| clubs1 = Viitorul Constanța
| caps1 = 14
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2020–2021
| clubs2 = → Chindia Târgoviște (loan)
| caps2 = 31
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2021–2022
| clubs3 = Chindia Târgoviște
| caps3 = 36
| goals3 = 2
| clubs4 = FCSB
| years4 = 2022–2023
| caps4 = 5
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2023
| clubs5 = Chindia Târgoviște
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2023–
| clubs6 = Celje
| caps6 = 35
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2015
| nationalteam1 = Romania U17{{efn|name=uefa|Official competitive matches only}}
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2018
| nationalteam2 = Romania U19{{efn|name=uefa}}
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2017–2021
| nationalteam3 = Romania U21{{efn|name=uefa}}
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2021
| nationalteam4 = Romania Olympic{{efn|name=uefa}}
| nationalcaps4 = 3
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| pcupdate = 9 March 2025
| ntupdate =
}}
Marco Alexandru Dulca (born 11 May 1999) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Slovenian PrvaLiga club Celje.
Club career
=Early career / Viitorul Constanța=
Dulca started practising football with Universitatea Cluj at the age of five,{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/marco-dulca-se-iubeste-cu-mihaela-buzarnescu-19328465|title=O nouă poveste de dragoste în sportul românesc: Marco Dulca se iubește cu Mihaela Buzărnescu {{!}} SPECIAL|trans-title=A new love story in Romanian sports: Marco Dulca is in a relationship with Mihaela Buzărnescu {{!}} SPECIAL|publisher=ProSport|language=ro|date=15 September 2021|access-date=24 September 2021}} and remained at the club for more than a decade before joining the academy of Swansea City in 2015.
He returned to Romania four years later by signing for Viitorul Constanța,{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/marco-dulca-a-semnat-cu-viitorul-571136.html|title=Marco Dulca a semnat cu Viitorul » Din Anglia, direct în Liga 1|trans-title=Marco Dulca signed with Viitorul » From England, directly to Liga 1|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=2 July 2019|access-date=2 November 2021}} where he recorded his senior debut in a 3–2 Liga I victory over Hermannstadt on 28 July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.fanatik.ro/viitorul-hermannstadt-live-stream-liga-1-video-online-tv-pe-digisport-telekom-look-tv-si-fanatik-ro-19038135|title=Hagi revine pe locul 1! Spectacol total la Viitorul – Hermannstadt: 3-2, după 0-0 la pauză. VIDEO|trans-title=Hagi returns to the first place! Total entertainment in Viitorul – Hermannstadt: 3–2, after 0–0 at the break. VIDEO|publisher=Fanatik.ro|language=ro|date=28 July 2019|access-date=2 November 2021}}
=Chindia Târgoviște=
On 30 August 2020, Dulca was loaned out to fellow league team Chindia Târgoviște.{{cite web|url=https://www.farulconstanta.com/stiri/noutati/tiberiu-capusa-si-paul-iacob-vor-evolua-la-chindia-targoviste|title=Tiberiu Căpușă, Marco Dulca și Paul Iacob vor evolua la Chindia Târgoviște|trans-title=Tiberiu Căpușă, Marco Dulca și Paul Iacob will play for Chindia Târgoviște|publisher=FC Viitorul Constanța|language=ro|date=30 August 2020}} He scored his first career goal in a 2–2 home draw with Argeș Pitești on 19 December, and totalled 33 matches in all competitions during the 2020–21 season.
During the summer of 2021, Dulca joined Chindia Târgoviște on a permanent basis as part of a swap deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/chindia-da-lovitura-pe-piata-transferurilor-sase-jucatori-de-la-clubul-lui-gheorghe-hagi-ajung-la-echipa-din-targoviste-dupa-plecarea-lui-marian-aioani-la-noul-farul-19283255|title=Chindia dă lovitura pe piața transferurilor! Șase jucători de la clubul lui Gheorghe Hagi ajung la echipa din Târgoviște, după plecarea lui Marian Aioani la noul Farul|trans-title=Chindia hits the jackpot on the transfer market! Six players from Gheorghe Hagi's club are joining the team from Târgoviște, after Marian Aioani left for the new Farul|publisher=ProSport|language=ro|date=21 June 2021}}
=FCSB=
On 5 August 2022, FCSB officially announced the signing of Dulca after diverting him from his way to 1899 Hoffenheim and meeting his €200,000 release clause.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcsb.ro/ro/stiri/stire-bine-ai-venit-marco-dulca/|title=Bine ai venit, Marco Dulca!|trans-title=Welcome, Marco Dulca|publisher=FCSB|language=ro|date=5 August 2022|access-date=5 August 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/superliga/s-a-aflat-cum-a-reusit-fcsb-super-transferul-lui-marco-dulca-conducatorul-chindiei-a-dat-cartile-pe-fata-am-fost-obligati-sa-l-cedam-se-stie-asta-de-acum-un-an-exclusiv-19500366|title=S-a aflat cum a reușit FCSB super transferul lui Marco Dulca! Conducătorul Chindiei a dat cărțile pe față: "Am fost obligați să-l cedăm! Se știe asta de acum un an!" | EXCLUSIV|trans-title=It was found out how FCSB managed the super transfer of Marco Dulca! Chindia's director revealed everything: "We were forced to give up on him! This has been known since a year ago!" | EXCLUSIVE|publisher=ProSport|language=ro|date=6 August 2022|access-date=6 August 2022|quote=Marcel Ghergu, the director of Chindia, said that Marco Dulca had the 250,000 euro clause since the moment the contract was signed.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fanatik.ro/gigi-becali-a-adus-la-fcsb-un-jucator-cu-probleme-marco-dulca-acuzat-de-mihaela-buzarnescu-ca-a-agresat-o-fizic-20106878|title=FCSB a transferat un jucător cu probleme? Marco Dulca, acuzat de Mihaela Buzărnescu că a agresat-o fizic|trans-title=FCSB transferred a problem player? Marco Dulca, accused by Mihaela Buzărnescu of physical abuse|publisher=Fanatik.ro|language=ro|date=9 August 2022}} He made his debut the following day in a 1–1 league draw at Mioveni.
=Celje=
On 14 September 2023, Dulca moved abroad for the first time in his senior career and signed with Slovenian PrvaLiga outfit Celje on a contract until 2026.{{cite web |title=Albert Riera je dobil novo okrepitev, v zvezni vrsti bo igral Marco Dulca, ki ima tržno vrednost 750.000 evrov |url=https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Albert-Riera-je-dobil-novo-okrepitev-v-zvezni-vrsti-bo-igral-Marco-Dulca-ki-ima-trzno-vrednost-750-000-evrov |publisher=Nogomania |access-date=14 September 2023 |language=sl |date=14 September 2023}}
International career
Dulca represented the Romania national under-23 team in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan,{{cite web|url=https://www.frf.ro/nationale/masculin/echipa-nationala/live-aflam-impreuna-tricolorii-convocati-pentru-jocurile-olimpice-de-la-tokyo/|title=Lotul României U23 convocat pentru Jocurile Olimpice de la Tokyo|trans-title=Romania U23's squad called up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo|publisher=Romanian Football Federation|date=29 June 2021|access-date=14 September 2021}} starting in all three games of the group-stage exit.
Personal life
Dulca was born in Pohang, South Korea, where his father Cristian was playing for Pohang Steelers. The latter was also a professional footballer and was part of the Romania squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/echipa-nationala/marco-dulca-o-ia-pe-urmele-tatalui-sau-e-gata-sa-se-vopseasca-blond-daca-romania-se-intoarce-cu-o-medalie-de-la-tokyo-1170249|title=Marco Dulca o ia pe urmele tatălui său! E gata să se vopsească blond dacă România se întoarce cu o medalie de la Tokyo|trans-title=Marco Dulca follows in his father's footsteps! He is ready to paint his hair blonde if Romania returns with a medal from Tokyo|publisher=Digi Sport|language=ro|date=3 July 2021|access-date=24 September 2021}}
In 2021, it was reported that Dulca started dating Mihaela Buzărnescu, a Romanian tennis player 11 years his senior. They ended their relationship the following year, after she accused him of emotional abuse.{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/stire/stire-659338.html|title=Marco Dulca reacționează la acuzațiile aduse de Mihaela Buzărnescu, fosta lui iubită|trans-title=Marco Dulca reacts to the accusations brought by Mihaela Buzărnescu, his ex-girlfriend|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=30 March 2022|access-date=1 April 2022}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{Updated|match played 13 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|marco-dulca/416846|access-date=30 August 2021}}
| 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|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Viitorul Constanța
|14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Chindia Târgoviște (loan)
|Liga I |31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 33 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Chindia Târgoviște
|Liga I |33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=LIPRPO|Appearance(s) in the Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23
|Liga I |19 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 19 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total | 83 | 4 | 4 | 0||colspan=2|—||2||0||89 | 4 | |||||
| FCSB
|Liga I |5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 13 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=3|Celje
|21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|Slovenian PrvaLiga |14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 30 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total | 35 | 0 | 5 | 1||13 | 0||colspan=2|—||53 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!137 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 168 | 5 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{RomanianSoccer|4773/marco-dulca}}
{{NK Celje squad}}
{{Romania men's football squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dulca, Marco}}
Category:Footballers from Pohang
Category:Footballers from Cluj-Napoca
Category:Romanian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Slovenian PrvaLiga players
Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Category:FC Viitorul Constanța players
Category:AFC Chindia Târgoviște players
Category:Romania men's youth international footballers
Category:Romania men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Olympic footballers for Romania
Category:Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Wales
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales
Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Slovenia