Nicolae Simatoc

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nicolae Simatoc

| image = Nicolae Simatoc 1950.jpg

| upright = 1.1

| caption = Simatoc in 1950

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|5|1|df=y}}{{NFT player|37392}}

| birth_place = Grimăncăuți, Kingdom of Romania

| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|12|11|1920|5|1|df=y}}

| death_place = Sydney, Australia

| height = 1.92 m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1934–1938

| youthclubs1 = Ripensia Timișoara

| years1 = 1938–1941

| years2 = 1941–1942

| years3 = 1942–1944

| years4 = 1945

| years5 = 1945–1947

| years6 = 1948–1949

| years7 = 1949–1950

| years8 = 1950

| years9 = 1950–1952

| years10 = 1952–1953

| clubs1 = Ripensia Timișoara

| clubs2 = Carmen București{{efn|name="CAR"|The Divizia A 1940–41 was the last season before World War II and the Divizia A 1946–47 was the first one after, so the appearances and goals scored during this period for Carmen București are not official with the exception of the 1945–46 regional championship.{{cite web | url=https://ploiestiulpatrianoastra.com/2014/07/07/file-de-poveste-perioada-juventus-episodul-xxiv-ultimul-sut-aduce-promovarea/ | title=File de poveste – perioada Juventus! Episodul XXIV – "Ultimul șut aduce promovarea"| publisher=Ploiestiulpatrianoastra.com| language=Romanian |trans-title=Story files - the Juventus period! Episode XXIV - "The Last Shot Gets the Promotion"| date=7 July 2014 | access-date=7 March 2025}}}}

| clubs3 = Nagyváradi AC

| clubs4 = Vasas

| clubs5 = Carmen București

| clubs6 = Inter Milan

| clubs7 = Brescia

| clubs8 = Hungaria FbC Roma

| clubs9 = Barcelona

| clubs10 = Real Oviedo

| caps1 = 44

| caps2 = 0

| caps3 = 32

| caps4 = 9

| caps5 = 12

| caps6 = 17

| caps7 = 30

| caps8 =

| caps9 = 34

| caps10 = 5

| goals1 = 3

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 = 3

| goals4 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 3

| goals7 = 8

| goals8 =

| goals9 = 2

| goals10 = 0

| totalcaps = 183

| totalgoals = 22

| nationalyears1 = 1940–1946

| nationalteam1 = Romania

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1959–1960

| manageryears2 = 1960–1961

| manageryears3 = 1962–1963

| manageryears4 = 1963–1968

| manageryears5 = 1969–1972

| managerclubs1 = Lleida

| managerclubs2 = Sabadell

| managerclubs3 = AEL Limassol

| managerclubs4 = Budapest Sydney

| managerclubs5 = Polonia Western Eagles

}}

Nicolae Simatoc (also known as Nicolae Șmatoc, Miklós Szegedi or Nicholas Sims; 1 May 1920 – 11 December 1979) was a Romanian football player and manager.

Club career

Simatoc started playing junior level football at age 14 in 1934 at Ripensia Timișoara.{{cite web |url=https://iamsport.ro/fotbal/special/45-de-ani-de-la-moartea-socanta-a-primului-fotbalist-roman-cu-anvergura-europeana-infarct-la-masa-de-poker-id26027.html|title=45 de ani de la moartea șocantă a primului fotbalist român cu anvergură europeană: infarct la masa de poker!|publisher=Iamsport.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=45 years since the shocking death of the first Romanian footballer with European stature: heart attack at the poker table!|date=12 December 2024|access-date=7 March 2025}} He made his Divizia A debut on 28 May 1939 in a 1–0 home loss to Juventus București.{{RomanianSoccer|1827/nicolae-simatoc-(szegedi-miklos-).htm}}{{cite web |url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/simatoc-mai-mult-decat-un-fotbalist-12229|title=Simatoc, mai mult decât un fotbalist|publisher=Welovesport.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Simatoc, more than a footballer|date=25 June 2021|access-date=7 March 2025}} In 1941 he went at Carmen București where he spent one season and a half before moving to Hungary at Nemzeti Bajnokság I team, Nagyváradi AC with whom under the guidance of coach Ferenc Rónay he won the title in the 1943–44 season, contributing with one goal in 19 matches.{{cite web |url=https://caoradea.ro/despre-noi/|title=Despre noi|publisher=Caoradea.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=About us|date=1 June 2017|access-date=7 March 2025}} Afterwards he spent one year at Vasas, then he returned to Romania at Carmen where on 7 December 1947 he made his last Divizia A appearance in a 6–2 home win against Ciocanul București.

In 1948, Simatoc went to play at Inter Milan, making his Serie A debut on 25 January under coach Giuseppe Meazza in a 3–0 loss to Napoli.{{cite web |url=https://adevarul.ro/sport/nicolae-simatoc-primul-roman-care-a-jucat-la-1328054.html|title=Nicolae Simatoc, primul român care a jucat la Inter|publisher=Adevarul.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Nicolae Simatoc, the first Romanian to play for Inter|date=22 June 2007|access-date=7 March 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://fmf.md/noutate/1118/nicolae-simatoc-%E2%80%93-singurul-basarabean-care-a-jucat-la-inter-si-barcelonaajuns-la-centenar|title=Nicolae Simatoc – singurul basarabean care a jucat la Inter și Barcelona - ajuns la centenar!|publisher=Fmf.md |language=Romanian|trans-title=Nicolae Simatoc – the only Bessarabian to play for Inter and Barcelona – has reached the centenary!|date=1 May 2020|access-date=7 March 2025}} He scored his first goal in a 4–1 over Fiorentina, scoring two more until the end of the season in a victory against AS Roma and a loss to Triestina. In the following season, he helped Inter to a runner-up position in the league, making his last appearance in the competition in a 0–0 against Lucchese.{{cite web |url=https://theplaymaker.ro/poker-masini-si-fotbal-viata-de-thriller-primului-roman-care-jucat-la-fc-barcelona/527/|title=Poker, mașini și fotbal: viața de thriller a primului român care a jucat la FC Barcelona |publisher=Theplaymaker.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Poker, cars and football: the thriller life of the first Romanian to play for FC Barcelona|date=23 December 2017|access-date=7 March 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.banatulazi.ro/nicolae-simatoc-o-viata-ca-un-roman/|title=Nicolae Simatoc. O viață ca un roman |publisher=Banatulazi.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Nicolae Simatoc. A life like a novel|date=16 October 2016|access-date=7 March 2025}}{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nicolae-simatoc/ita-serie-a-1948-1949/inter/3/|title=Nicolae Simatoc. Serie A 1948/1949|access-date=7 March 2025}}

Afterwards he went to play for one season at Brescia in Serie B where he scored a personal record of eight goals to help earn a sixth place. In 1950, Simatoc played alongside László Kubala at Hungaria FbC Roma, a team that was formed mainly from Hungarian players that left the Eastern Bloc and they would play exhibition games in Italy and Spain under the guidance of Ferdinand Daučík.{{cite web |url=https://fmf.md/noutate/1120/simatoc100-lucruri-inedite-despre-nicolae-simatoc?lang=ro|title=SIMATOC-100. Lucruri inedite despre Nicolae Simatoc |publisher=Fmf.md |language=Romanian|trans-title=SIMATOC-100. New things about Nicolae Simatoc|date=1 May 2020|access-date=7 March 2025}}

His next spell was at Barcelona where on 10 September 1950 he made his La Liga debut under coach Daučík in a 8–2 win over Real Sociedad, managing to score once and provide three assists. He played regularly for the Catalans in his first season, wearing the number 10 shirt, appearing in a 7–2 win over Real Madrid in the El Clásico, then scoring his second goal in another 7–2 victory against Málaga, also managing to win the Copa del Generalísimo. In his second season with Barça, Simatoc made six league appearances as the club won The Double. Simatoc spent the last season of his career at Real Oviedo where on 22 March 1953 he played his last La Liga game, a 4–0 away loss to Valencia, having a total of 39 matches with two goals netted in the competition.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nicolae-simatoc/esp-primera-division-1952-1953/real-oviedo/3/|title=Nicolae Simatoc. La Liga 1952/1953|access-date=7 March 2025}}

International career

Nicolae Simatoc played eight games for Romania, making his debut on 22 September 1940 at age 20 under coach Liviu Iuga in a friendly which ended with a 2–1 away victory against Yugoslavia.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=19295|title=Nicolae Simatoc profile|publisher=European Football|access-date=7 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=6235|title=Yugoslavia 1-2 Romania|publisher=European Football|access-date=7 March 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.ripensiatimisoara.ro/component/tlpportfolio/portfolio/nicolae-simatoc|title=Nicolae Simatoc|publisher=Ripensiatimisoara.ro |language=Romanian|access-date=7 March 2025}} His last three games for the national team were at the 1946 Balkan Cup, consisting of a draw against Bulgaria, a victory over Yugoslavia and a loss to Albania.

Managerial career

After retiring as a player he became a coach, managing Spanish side Lleida between 1959 and 1960 in the Spanish third league, promoting Eladio to the team.{{cite web |url=https://ripensiatimisoara.ro/noutati/prima-echipa/24-arhiva/278-povestea-vietii-lui-silvio-simatoc-fiul-legendarului-fotbalist-format-de-ripensia-care-a-evoluat-pentru-inter-si-barcelona/|title=Povestea vieții lui Silvio Simatoc, fiul legendarului fotbalist format de Ripensia, care a evoluat pentru Inter și Barcelona|publisher=Ripensiatimisoara.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=The life story of Silvio Simatoc, the son of the legendary footballer from Ripensia, who played for Inter and Barcelona|date=18 June 2013|access-date=7 March 2025}} Then he worked at Sabadell between 1960 and 1961 in the second league.{{cite web |url=http://www.cesabadell.cat/entrenadors.asp |title=CE Sabadell FC - Entrenadors |trans-title=CE Sabadell FC - Coaches|access-date=11 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510003721/http://www.cesabadell.cat/entrenadors.asp |archive-date=10 May 2013}} In 1961 he worked as a technical director for Espanyol, afterwards in 1962, Simatoc went in Cyprus at AEL Limassol for one year.

In 1963, he moved to Australia, coaching Budapest Sydney for five years, then at Polonia Western Eagles for three years.{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es/preview/1963/02/20/pagina-3/926795/pdf.html?search=nicola%20szegedi|title=Edición del Wednesday, Página 3|publisher=Elmundodeportivo.es |language=Spanish|trans-title=Wednesday edition, Page 3|date=20 February 1963|access-date=29 May 2017}}

Personal life

Simatoc was born to Romanian parents on 1 May 1920 in Grimăncăuți, then part of Romania, present-day Moldova. His birth name was Nicolae Șmatoc, while in Hungary he was known as Miklós Szegedi and in Australia as Nicholas Sims. Simatoc was married to a Hungarian woman named Etelka Stolárcsik, with whom he had two sons, Silvio and Santi.{{cite web |url=https://fmf.md/noutate/1119/simatoc100-interviu-exclusiv-cu-silvio-simatoc-fiul-moldoveanului-care-a-jucat-la-barcelona?lang=ro|title=SIMATOC-100. Interviu exclusiv cu Silvio Simatoc, fiul moldoveanului care a jucat la Barcelona|publisher=Fmf.md |language=Romanian|trans-title=SIMATOC-100. Exclusive interview with Silvio Simatoc, the son of the Moldovan who played for Barcelona|date=1 May 2020|access-date=7 March 2025}} Silvio, born in 1950, had followed his father's footsteps and played for the junior squads of Barcelona and in the first league of Australia at Hakoah Sydney City.

Simatoc was multilingual, speaking ten languages: Romanian, Hungarian, Serbian, Russian, Italian, Spanish, English, French, Catalan and German.{{cite web |url=https://ayonews.ro/2025/02/07/povestea-incredibila-a-romanului-care-a-jucat-la-inter-si-fc-barcelona-a-fost-antrenat-de-giuseppe-meazza/|title=Povestea incredibilă a românului care a jucat la Inter și FC Barcelona. A fost antrenat de Giuseppe Meazza|publisher=Ayonews.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=The incredible story of the Romanian who played for Inter and FC Barcelona. He was coached by Giuseppe Meazza|date=7 February 2025|access-date=7 March 2025}} After retirement he became a professional poker player and owned a casino in Australia.

Death

He died in Sydney on 11 December 1979 at age 59 after suffering a heart attack while playing a game of poker.

Legacy

A stadium in Lozova, Moldova is named after him.{{cite web |url=https://fmf.md/noutate/1122/simatoc100-stadionul-din-lozova-cu-nume-de-legendA|title=Simatoc-100. Stadionul din Lozova, cu nume de legendă |publisher=Fmf.md |language=Romanian|trans-title=Simatoc-100. The stadium from Lozova, with a legendary name|date=1 May 2020|access-date=7 March 2025}}

A book about him was written in 2013 by Octavian Țîcu and Boris Boguș called Nicolae Simatoc (1920 – 1979). Legenda unui fotbalist basarabean de la Ripensia la FC Barcelona (Nicolae Simatoc (1920 – 1979). The legend of a Bessarabian footballer from Ripensia to FC Barcelona).{{cite web |url=https://omiedesemne.ro/lansare-de-carte-nicolae-simatoc-1920-1979-legenda-unui-fotbalist-basarabean-de-la-ripensia-la-fc-barcelona-de-octavian-ticu-si-boris-bogus-la-libraria-din-centru/|title=Lansare de carte: "Nicolae Simatoc (1920 – 1979). Legenda unui fotbalist basarabean de la Ripensia la FC Barcelona", de Octavian Țîcu și Boris Boguș, la Librăria din Centru|publisher=Omiedesemne.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Book launch: "Nicolae Simatoc (1920 – 1979). The legend of a Bessarabian footballer from Ripensia to FC Barcelona", by Octavian Țîcu and Boris Boguș, at the Centru Bookstore|date=18 April 2022|access-date=7 March 2025}} A documentary about him called Nicolae Simatoc - variațiuni pe un nume (Nicolae Simatoc - variations on a name) was released in 2017.{{cite web |url=https://fmf.md/noutate/1121/simatoc100-viata-lui-nicolae-simatoc-intrun-film-documentar|title=Simatoc-100. Viața lui Nicolae Simatoc într-un film documentar |publisher=Fmf.md |language=Romanian|trans-title=Simatoc-100. The life of Nicolae Simatoc in a documentary film|date=1 May 2020|access-date=7 March 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/simatoc-omul-care-cucerit-barcelona-1787812|title=Documentar despre Nicolae Simatoc, primul fotbalist român care a jucat la FC Barcelona|publisher=Libertatea.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Documentary about Nicolae Simatoc, the first Romanian footballer to play for FC Barcelona|date=27 March 2017|access-date=7 March 2025}}

Honours

Nagyváradi

Hungarian League: 1943–44

Barcelona

La Liga: 1951–52
Copa del Rey: 1951, 1952

Notes

References

External links

{{Eu-Football.info|19295}}
{{RomanianSoccer|1827/nicolae-simatoc-(szegedi-miklos-).htm}}
{{WorldFootball|nicolae-simatoc}}
{{BDFutbol|10134}}
[https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/863-szegedi-nicolaemiklos-simatoc Nicolae Simatoc] at Fcbarcelona.com
[https://www.rsssf.org/players/apolides-in-it.html RSSSF – "Apolides" in Italy]

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Category:1920 births

Category:1979 deaths

Category:People from Briceni District

Category:Romanian men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Romania men's international footballers

Category:Liga I players

Category:La Liga players