Sergiu Hanca

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sergiu Hanca

| image = Sergiu Hanca - Dinamo Bucuresti vs Petrolul Ploiesti, 26 August 2023.jpg

| upright = 0.75

| caption = Hanca with Petrolul Ploiești in 2023

| fullname = Sergiu Cătălin Hanca

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|04|04|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Târgu Mureș, Romania

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Winger, right-back

| currentclub = Petrolul Ploiești

| clubnumber = 20

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2009

| youthclubs1 = FCM Târgu Mureș

| years1 = 2009–2011

| clubs1 = Snagov

| caps1 = 38

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2012

| clubs2 = Bihor Oradea

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2012–2015

| clubs3 = ASA Târgu Mureș

| caps3 = 68

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2016–2019

| clubs4 = Dinamo București

| caps4 = 95

| goals4 = 17

| years5 = 2019–2022

| clubs5 = Cracovia

| caps5 = 102

| goals5 = 19

| years6 = 2022–2023

| clubs6 = Universitatea Craiova

| caps6 = 10

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2023–

| clubs7 = Petrolul Ploiești

| caps7 = 58

| goals7 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2017–

| nationalteam1 = Romania

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate = 4 April 2025

| nationalteam-update = 11 June 2022

}}

Sergiu Cătălin Hanca ({{IPA|ro|ˈserd͡ʒju kətəˈlin ˈhaŋka}}; born 4 April 1992) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger or a right-back for Liga I club Petrolul Ploiești.

Hanca began his senior career with spells at Snagov, Bihor Oradea, and his hometown club ASA Târgu Mureș, before making a name for himself at Dinamo București. He moved abroad for the first time by signing with Cracovia in 2019, for which he appeared in over 100 Ekstraklasa matches. Three years later, Hanca returned to Romania at Universitatea Craiova.

Internationally, Hanca recorded his debut for Romania in June 2017, in a 1–3 FIFA World Cup qualifier loss to Poland.

Club career

=Early career=

Hanca played football as a youngster for his hometown club FCM Târgu Mureș. In 2009, he joined Liga II team Snagov, for which he amassed 38 league games and one goal. At the start of 2012, Hanca had a brief stint at Bihor Oradea.

=Return to Târgu Mureș=

During mid-2012, Hanca was brought back by his former youth side FCM Târgu Mureș. He made 22 appearances and scored two goals during the 2013–14 season, as his team achieved promotion to the Liga I.

On 8 July 2015, Hanca won his first career trophy after his club—which was renamed ASA Târgu Mureș—defeated FC Steaua București 1–0 in the Supercupa României.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/09/dan-petrescu-trophy-targu-mures-resigns|title=Dan Petrescu wins trophy in first game in charge of Targu Mures – then resigns|date=9 July 2015|access-date=14 May 2016|work=The Guardian}} He recorded his debut in European competitions on 6 August 2015, starting in a 2–1 away victory over Saint-Étienne in the Europa League play-off round.{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2016838--st-etienne-vs-targu-mures/|title=Saint-Étienne 1–2 Târgu Mureș|publisher=UEFA|date=6 August 2015|access-date=7 March 2017}}

=Dinamo București=

On 8 January 2016, Hanca signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with fellow Liga I team Dinamo București.{{cite web|url=http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/FOTBAL/Competitii/Liga+1/OFICIAL+Sergiu+Hanca+a+semnat+cu+Dinamo+Mi-am+dorit+foarte+mult+|title=OFICIAL Sergiu Hanca a semnat cu Dinamo: "Mi-am dorit foarte mult asta!"|trans-title=OFFICIAL Sergiu Hanca signed with Dinamo: "I wanted this very much"|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=8 January 2016|access-date=6 March 2017}} He made his official debut for "the Red Dogs" in a 1–0 league win over Botoșani, on 14 February.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafax.ro/sport/dinamo-fc-botosani-scor-1-0-in-etapa-a-24-a-din-liga-1-15074891|title=Dinamo - FC Botoşani, scor 1-0, în etapa a 24-a din Liga 1|trans-title=Dinamo - FC Botoşani, score 1-0, counting for the 24th round of Liga 1|publisher=Mediafax|language=Romanian|date=14 February 2016|access-date=7 March 2017}} On 17 May, he started in the Cupa României final played against CFR Cluj, which Dinamo lost 4–5 at the penalty shootout.{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/cupa-romaniei/video-foto-magistrala-cfr-clujenii-se-impun-cu-5-4-la-penalty-uri-dupa-o-finala-dramatica-incheiata-2-2-in-timpul-regulamentar-478221.html|title=Magistrala CFR! Clujenii se impun cu 5-4 la penalty-uri după o finală dramatică, încheiată 2-2 în timpul regulamentar!|trans-title=The great CFR! The Cluj men win 5–4 on a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw at the end of extra time!|publisher=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=18 May 2016|accessdate=27 August 2023}}

Hanca scored his first goal on 17 October 2016, in a 2–1 victory against Universitatea Craiova in the Liga I. On the 30th the next month, he converted a penalty in a 3–1 derby defeat of FC Steaua București. On 20 May 2017, he won the Cupa Ligii trophy after his side defeated ACS Poli Timișoara 2–0 in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/sport/primul-trofeu-dupa-o-pauza-de-cinci-ani-dinamo-a-invins-acs-poli-timisoara-scor-2-0-si-a-castigat-cupa-ligii-16346717|title=Primul trofeu după o pauză de cinci ani: Dinamo a învins ACS Poli Timişoara, scor 2-0, şi a câştigat Cupa Ligii|trans-title=First trophy after a pause of five years: Dinamo defeated ACS Poli Timișoara, score 2–0, and won the Cupa Ligii|publisher=Mediafax|language=ro|date=20 May 2017|accessdate=27 August 2023}}

=Cracovia=

=Universitatea Craiova=

On 29 July 2022, Hanca returned to Romania and its Liga I by signing a three-year deal with Universitatea Craiova.[https://www.ucv1948.ro/OFICIAL--Bun-venit-Sergiu-Hanca OFICIAL | Bun venit, Sergiu Hanca!] {{in lang|ro}} He scored his only goal in a 2–1 local derby win over FC U Craiova, on 7 August.

Hanca soon fell out of favour with head coach Mirel Rădoi and the club's directors, being sent to the reserve team and suing them for €2 million. He terminated his contract on 18 June 2023, after receiving €120,000 in compensations.[https://www.digisport.ro/amphtml/fotbal/liga-1/le-a-luat-banii-si-a-plecat-suma-uriasa-primita-de-sergiu-hanca-la-rezilierea-contractului-cu-universitatea-craiova-2451415 Le-a luat banii și a plecat! Suma uriașă primită de Sergiu Hanca la rezilierea contractului cu Universitatea Craiova]

=Petrolul Ploiești=

On 5 July 2023, Hanca agreed to a contract with Petrolul Ploiești.{{cite web|url=https://fcpetrolul.ro/oficial-sergiu-hanca-este-jucatorul-petrolului-ploiesti/|title=Oficial: Sergiu Hanca este jucătorul Petrolului Ploiești|trans-title=Official: Sergiu Hanca is Petrolul Ploiești's player|publisher=FC Petrolul Ploiești|language=ro|date=5 July 2023|accessdate=5 July 2023}}

International career

In March 2017, Hanca was selected by manager Christoph Daum in Romania's squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Denmark.{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/in-premiera-la-nationala-hanca-e-laudat-de-un-fost-coleg-se-antreneaza-suplimentar-face-totul-ca-la-carte-503932.html|title=În premieră la națională, Hanca e lăudat de un fost coleg: "Se antrenează suplimentar, face totul ca la carte"|trans-title=For the first time at the national team, Hanca is praised by a former colleague: "He trains additionally, he does everything by the book"|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=Romanian|date=6 March 2017|access-date=6 March 2017}} On 10 June that year, he made his debut by coming on as a substitute in a 1–3 loss to Poland in the same competition.{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/nationala/foto-ce-nu-s-a-vazut-la-tv-tricolorii-au-iesit-la-antrenament-chiar-dupa-meci-cu-cine-a-facut-hanca-schimb-de-tricouri-lewa-a-luat-mingea-acasa-513224.html|title=Ce nu s-a văzut la TV » "Tricolorii" au ieșit la antrenament chiar după meci, cu cine a făcut Hanca schimb de tricouri + Lewa a luat mingea acasă|trans-title=What you didn't see on TV » "The Tricolours" started training right after the match, with which player Hanca exchanged jerseys + Lewa took the ball home|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=Romanian|date=10 June 2017|access-date=15 June 2017}}

Personal life

Hanca married his girlfriend Andreea in May 2016, and their wedding took place in Târgu Mureș in the summer of the same year.{{cite web|url=http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/povestea-lui-sergiu-hanca-cum-a-ajuns-mureseanul-de-la-un-fotbalist-obscur-la-nationala-casatoria-i-a-dat-un-imbold-1764834|title=Povestea lui Sergiu Hanca! Cum a ajuns mureșeanul de la un fotbalist obscur la națională! Căsătoria i-a dat un imbold|trans-title=The story of Sergiu Hanca! How the Mureș native progressed from an unknown footballer to a national team squad member! Marriage gave him an impulse|newspaper=Libertatea|language=Romanian|date=6 March 2017|access-date=7 March 2017}} The couple is known for its charity work.[https://www.digisport.ro/special/gest-superb-al-lui-sergiu-hanca-si-al-sotiei-sale-au-ajutat-o-familie-nevoiasa-sa-se-mute-in-casa-noua-587824 Gest superb al lui Sergiu Hanca şi al soţiei sale. Au ajutat o familie nevoiaşă să se mute în casă nouă]

Career statistics

=International=

{{updated|match played 11 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=29913|title=Sergiu Hanca|publisher=European Football|access-date=4 September 2017}}

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan="4"\|Romania
2017	4	0
2020	1	0
2022	2	0
colspan=2\|Total\|\|7\|\|0

Honours

ASA Târgu Mureș{{Soccerway|sergiu-hanca/125582|accessdate=29 June 2023}}

Supercupa României: 2015

Dinamo București

Cupa României runner-up: 2015–16
Cupa Ligii: 2016–17

Cracovia

Individual

Liga I Team of the Season: 2016–17
Digi Sport Liga I Player of the Month: April 2017,{{cite news|url=http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/FOTBAL/Competitii/Liga+1/Sergiu-Hanca-le-a-invins-pe-Viitorul-si-FCSB-si-e-Fotbalistul|title=Sergiu Hanca le-a învins pe Viitorul și FCSB și e "Fotbalistul lunii" aprilie!|trans-title=Sergiu Hanca defeated Viitorul and FCSB and is April's "Player of the Month"!|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=5 May 2017|access-date=5 May 2017}} August 2017{{cite web|url=http://www.digisport.ro/Fotbalistul+Lunii/August+2017/|title=Fotbalistul lunii – August 2017|trans-title=Player of the Month – August 2017|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=August 2017|access-date=8 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917213257/http://www.digisport.ro/Fotbalistul+Lunii/August+2017/|archive-date=17 September 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}