Valeriu Neagu

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Valeriu Neagu

|image =

|caption =

|fullname =

|birth_date = 26 April 1930

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|position = Striker

|years1 = 1948–1950

|clubs1 = Flacăra București

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 1951–1953

|clubs2 = Dinamo Brașov

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 1954–1958

|clubs3 = Dinamo București

|caps3 =

|goals3 =

|nationalteam1 = Romania

|nationalyears1 = 1954

|nationalcaps1 = 1

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|manageryears1 = 1966–1969

|managerclubs1 = Chimia Suceava

|manageryears2 = 1969–1970

|managerclubs2 = Dinamo Bacău

|manageryears3 = 1971

|managerclubs3 = Oțelul Galați

|manageryears4 = 1972–1975

|managerclubs4 = Boluspor

|manageryears5 = 1976–1977

|managerclubs5 = Boluspor

|manageryears6 = 1982–1983

|managerclubs6 = Antalyaspor

|manageryears7 = 1984–1985

|managerclubs7 = Eskişehirspor

|manageryears8 = 1985–1987

|managerclubs8 = Boluspor

}}

Valeriu Neagu (born 26 April 1930) was a Romanian footballer who played as a striker.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/valeriu-neagu/ |title=Valeriu Neagu |work=worldfootball.net |access-date=25 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/37614/Valeriu_Neagu.html |title=Valeriu Neagu |work=National Football Teams |access-date=25 November 2021}}

Playing career

While playing for Dinamo București Valeriu Neagu was used by coach Angelo Niculescu in 23 matches in which he scored 10 goals, including a brace in a 2–1 win over rivals Steaua București in the 1955 Divizia A season, helping the team win the first title in the club's history.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68299/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1955.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1955|work=RomanianSoccer|access-date=5 February 2020}} He played in the 1954 Cupa României final which was lost by Dinamo with 2–0 in front of Metalul Reșița and played in the first European campaign of a Romanian team in the 1956–57 European Cup in the 3–1 victory against Galatasaray, helping The Red Dogs go to the next phase of the competition where they were eliminated by CDNA Sofia, against whom he scored a goal, having a total of three appearances in the campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1954.shtml|title=Romanian Cup - Season 1954|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/valeriu-neagu-456657 |title=Valeriu Neagu |work=besoccer.com |access-date=30 November 2021}}{{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=26 October 2022}}{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/valeriu-neagu/champions-league-1956-1957/dinamo-bucuresti/3/|title=Valeriu Neagu - Champions League 1956/1957|access-date=20 October 2022}}

Valeriu Neagu played one friendly match for Romania, on 19 September 1954 when coach Ștefan Dobay sent him on the field in order to replace Stere Zeană in the 72nd minute of a 5–1 loss against Hungary.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=14823|title=Valeriu Neagu |publisher=European Football|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=14521|title=Hungary 5-1 Romania |publisher=European Football|access-date=30 November 2021}}

Managerial career

While coaching Dinamo Bacău, Neagu together with Constantin Rădulescu led them in the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup campaign where they eliminated Floriana, Skeid and Kilmarnock, reaching the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by Arsenal who would eventually win the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/diverse/retro-gsp-video-foto-jumatate-de-secol-de-la-o-calificare-istorica-in-primavara-europeana-587453.html|title=Jumătate de secol de la o calificare istorică în primăvara europeană|publisher=Gsp.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Half a century since a historic qualification in the European spring|date=13 January 2020|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://tikitaka.ro/povestile-fotbalului-romanesc-candva-au-fost-mari/|title=Football stories: Once upon a time they were great…|date=20 March 2019|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web| url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-bacaul-a-ajuns-in-fata-lui-arsenal-24596| title=Bacăul a ajuns în fața lui Arsenal| publisher=Welovesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Bacău ended up in front of Arsenal| date=13 January 2023| access-date=16 January 2023}} He went to coach in Turkey at Boluspor, Antalyaspor and Eskişehirspor, obtaining his biggest performance in Turkish football when he managed to qualify Boluspor in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup, where he got eliminated in the first round by his former team, Dinamo București.{{cite web|url=https://www.mackolik.com/antrenor/v-neagu/3a3k922lxtdac1zt9fyj9b1pm|title=Valeriu Neagu mackolik profile 1|publisher=Mackolik.com|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://arsiv.mackolik.com/Antrenor/2956/|title=Valeriu Neagu mackolik profile 2|date=26 April 1930 |publisher=Mackolik.com|access-date=30 November 2021}}