Radu Jercan

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Radu Jercan

| image =

| image_size =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|10|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Popești-Leordeni, Romania{{RomanianSoccer|5059/radu-jercan}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|09|29|1945|10|24|df=y}}

| death_place = Popești-Leordeni, Romania

| height = 1.69 m

| position = Forward

| years1 = 1966–1967 |clubs1 = Dinamo Victoria București |caps1 = |goals1 =

| years2 = 1967–1976 |clubs2 = Argeș Pitești |caps2 = 247 |goals2 = 27

| years3 = 1976–1978 |clubs3 = Muscelul Câmpulung |caps3 = |goals3 =

| nationalyears1 = 1972 | nationalteam1 = Romania | nationalcaps1 = 2 |

nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1978–1979 |managerclubs1 = ȘN Oltenița

| manageryears2 = 1980–1981 |managerclubs2 = CS Târgoviște (assistant)

| manageryears3 = |managerclubs3 = Muscelul Câmpulung

| manageryears4 = |managerclubs4 = Chimia Găești

| manageryears5 = |managerclubs5 = Textila Roșiori

| manageryears6 = |managerclubs6 = IUPS Chitila

}}

Radu Jercan (24 October 1945 – 29 September 2012) was a Romanian football forward and manager.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/radu-jercan-partenerul-lui-dobrin-in-atacul-lui-fc-arges-a-decedat-la-66-de-ani-363508.html | title=Radu Jercan, partenerul lui Dobrin în atacul lui FC Argeş, a decedat la 66 de ani| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Radu Jercan, Dobrin's partner in the attack of FC Arges, died at 66| date=1 October 2012 | access-date=21 February 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/redy-jercan-a-fost-inmormintat-azi-citeste-povestea-unuia-din-locotenentii-lui-dobrin-363731.html | title=Redy Jercan a fost înmormîntat azi. Citeşte povestea unuia din "locotenenţii" lui Dobrin| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Redy Jercan was buried today. Read the story of one of Dobrin's "lieutenants"| date=2 October 2012 | access-date=21 February 2020}}

Club career

Radu Jercan was born on 24 October 1945 in Popești-Leordeni, Romania, starting to play football in 1966 at Divizia B side, Dinamo Victoria București.{{cite web | url=https://argesfc.ro/10-ani-fara-radu-jercan/ | title=10 ani fără Radu Jercan| publisher=Argesfc.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=10 years without Radu Jercan| date=29 September 2022 | access-date=23 August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://jurnaluldearges.ro/10-ani-de-la-disparitia-campionului-alb-violet-radu-jercan-216679/ | title=10 ani de la dispariția campionului alb-violet Radu Jercan| publisher=Jurnaluldearges.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=10 years since the disappearance of the purple-white champion Radu Jercan| date=29 September 2022 | access-date=23 August 2024}}

One year later he signed with Argeș Pitești where on 20 August 1967 he made his Divizia A debut in a 2–0 home loss in front of Rapid București. He started playing in European competitions during the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, scoring a goal in a victory over Ferencváros, then in the following edition he scored in a win with Göztepe, however on both occasions Argeș was eliminated on the aggregate result.{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/radu-jercan/uefa-cup-1967-1968/arge-piteti/3/|title=Radu Jercan. Europa League 1967/1968|access-date=22 August 2024}}
{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/radu-jercan/uefa-cup-1968-1969/arge-piteti/3/|title=Radu Jercan. Europa League 1968/1969|access-date=22 August 2024}} In the 1971–72 season he formed a successful offensive trio with Nicolae Dobrin and Constantin Radu which helped Argeș win the first title in its history, Jercan scoring a personal record of eight goals in the 29 appearances given to him by coaches Titus Ozon and Florin Halagian, including a brace in Halagian's first game as coach, a 2–1 win over Rapid București.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=22 August 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://argesfc.ro/halagian-la-primul-meci-pe-banca-argesului/|title=Halagian la primul meci pe banca Argeșului|trans-title=Halagian at the first game on the Argeș bench|language=Romanian|publisher=Argesfc.ro|date=29 August 2023|access-date=22 August 2024}}
{{cite web|url=https://jurnaluldearges.ro/halagian-la-primul-meci-pe-banca-argesului-dobrin-si-momentele-sale-magice-270891/|title=Halagian la primul meci pe banca Argeșului. Dobrin și momentele sale magice|trans-title=Halagian at the first match on the Argeș bench. Dobrin and his magical moments|language=Romanian|publisher=Jurnaluldearges.ro|date=29 August 2023|access-date=22 August 2024}} Afterwards he played three games in the 1972–73 European Cup, eliminating Aris Bonnevoie in the first round, then in the following one they won a home game with 2–1 against Real Madrid but lost the second leg with 3–1.{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/pitesti/singura-echipa-romaneasca-de-fotbal-care-a-invins-1846838.html | title=Singura echipă românească de fotbal care a învins trei mari cluburi din Spania. Marele Dobrin a fost cheia succeselor| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The only Romanian football team that has defeated three major clubs in Spain. The great Dobrin was the key to success| date=1 March 2018 | access-date=23 August 2024}}{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/radu-jercan/champions-league-1972-1973/arge-piteti/3/|title=Radu Jercan. Champions League 1972/1973|access-date=22 August 2024}} Jercan's last Divizia A appearance took place on 13 June 1976 in a 7–1 away loss in front of Dinamo București, having a total of 247 matches with 27 goals scored in the competition, also playing a total of 11 games with two goals scored in European competitions, including six games with two goals in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

In 1976, Jercan went at Muscelul Câmpulung where coach was his former Argeș teammate, Ion Barbu and he was colleague with other former Argeș teammates like Constantin Radu, Vasile Stan and Marian Popescu, managing to promote the team from the third league to the second where he ended his career in 1978.{{cite web | url=https://argespress.ro/cutia-cu-amintiri-vasile-stan-cea-mai-mare-satisfactie-era-sa-i-vezi-pe-acei-oameni-ca-te-felicita-si-sunt-fericiti-de-jocul-tau/ | title=Cutia cu amintiri: VASILE STAN: "Cea mai mare satisfacție era să-i vezi pe acei oameni că te felicită și sunt fericiți de jocul tău"| publisher=Argespress.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Box of memories: VASILE STAN: "The greatest satisfaction was to see those people congratulating you and being happy with your game"| date=3 September 2022| access-date=25 August 2024}} During his career he was known for his speed, running 100 metres in about 11 seconds.

International career

Radu Jercan played two friendly games at international level for Romania, making his debut under coach Gheorghe Ola in a 4–2 away victory against Morocco.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=9501|title=Radu Jercan |publisher=European Football|access-date=21 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=11800|title=Morocco – Romania 2:4|publisher=European Football|access-date=28 July 2020}} His second game was a 2–2 against Peru.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=11815|title=Romania – Peru 2:2|publisher=European Football|access-date=28 July 2020}}

Coaching career

After he ended his playing career, Jercan coached teams in the Romanian lower leagues such as Muscelul Câmpulung, Ș.N. Oltenița, CS Târgoviște, Chimia Găiești, Textila Roșiori and IUPS Chitila.