Vasile Simionaș

{{Short description|Romanian footballer and manager (1950–2025)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Vasile Simionaș

| image =

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|11|16|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Iași, Romania

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|3|19|1950|11|16|df=yes}}

| death_place = Iași, Romania

| height = 1.73 m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1964–1966

| youthclubs1 = Laminorul Roman

| youthyears2 = 1966–1968

| youthclubs2 = Victoria Roman

| years1 = 1966–1968

| clubs1 = Victoria Roman

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1968–1969

| clubs2 = Dinamo Bacău

| caps2 = 9

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1969–1984

| clubs3 = Politehnica Iași{{efn|name="POL"|The statistics for the 1972–73 and 1981–82 Divizia B seasons are unavailable.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_a/top300.shtml|title=Top 300 |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=26 January 2022}}}}

| caps3 = 359

| goals3 = 42

| years4 = 1985

| clubs4 = CSM Suceava

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| totalcaps = 368

| totalgoals = 43

| nationalyears1 = 1971

| nationalteam1 = Romania U23

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1972

| nationalteam2 = Romania Olympic

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1972–1976

| nationalteam3 = Romania

| nationalcaps3 = 3

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{ROU}}}}

| manageryears1 = 1983–1984

| managerclubs1 = Politehnica Iași

| manageryears2 = 1984–1985

| managerclubs2 = Politehnica Iași (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 1985

| managerclubs3 = CSM Suceava

| manageryears4 = 1985–1986

| managerclubs4 = Politehnica Iași

| manageryears5 = 1986–1988

| managerclubs5 = CSM Suceava

| manageryears6 =

| managerclubs6 = Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț

| manageryears7 =

| managerclubs7 = CFR Pașcani

| manageryears8 = 1989–1990

| managerclubs8 = Politehnica Iași

| manageryears9 = 1991

| managerclubs9 = Dacia Unirea Brăila

| manageryears10 = 1991–1992

| managerclubs10 = Progresul București

| manageryears11 = 1993–1994

| managerclubs11 = Politehnica Iași

| manageryears12 = 1994–1999

| managerclubs12 = Oțelul Galați

| manageryears13 = 1999

| managerclubs13 = Astra Ploiești

| manageryears14 = 2000

| managerclubs14 = Farul Constanța

| manageryears15 = 2001–2002

| managerclubs15 = Politehnica Iași

| manageryears16 = 2003–2004

| managerclubs16 = Politehnica Iași

| manageryears17 = 2013

| managerclubs17 = Kosarom Pașcani

| manageryears18 = 2021–2025

| managerclubs18 = Politehnica Iași (board member)

}}

Vasile Simionaș (16 November 1950 – 19 March 2025) was a Romanian professional football manager and football player who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Simionaș was born on 16 November 1950 in Iași, Romania.{{cite web | url=https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/un-nume-un-om-o-legenda-vasile-simionas-la-70-de-ani-i--270097.html|title=Un nume, un om, o legendă: Vasile Simionaș la 70 de ani (I)| publisher=Ziuadeiasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=A name, a man, a legend: Vasile Simionaș at 70 (I)| date=11 November 2020| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/vasile-simionas-iasi-cetatean-de-onoare-782147.html|title=O legendă a unei echipe din Superliga a devenit cetățean de onoare al orașului| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=A legend of a Super League team became an honorary citizen of the city| date=28 February 2025| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/vasile-simionas-a-murit-la-74-de-ani-poli-iasi-787130.html|title=Vasile Simionaș, jucătorul emblematic al celor de la Poli Iași și antrenorul care a dus Oțelul în cupele europene, a murit subit: "Deces fulgerător!"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Vasile Simionaș, the emblematic player of Poli Iași and the coach who led Oțelul to European cups, died suddenly: "Sudden death!"| date=19 March 2025| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://www.monitorulsv.ro/Sport-local/2025-03-20/S-a-stins-din-viata-marele-Vasile-Simionas-antrenorul-care-a-reusit-promovarea-istorica-cu-CSM-Suceava-in-Divizia-A|title=S-a stins din viață marele Vasile Simionaș, antrenorul care a reușit promovarea istorică cu CSM Suceava în Divizia A| publisher=Monitorulsv.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The great Vasile Simionaș, the coach who achieved historic promotion with CSM Suceava to Division A, has passed away.| date=20 March 2025| access-date=17 April 2025}} At the age of two, his family moved to Bârlad, then in 1956 they settled in Roman where he spent most of his childhood. He started playing junior level football at the age of 14 at Laminorul Roman. In 1966 he went at neighboring club, Victoria where he continued to play at junior level but also at senior level in Divizia C and Divizia B.{{cite web | url=http://curierul-iasi.ro/vasile-simionas-fost-purtat-pe-brate-de-suporteri-din-copou-pana-piata-unirii-20454 | title=Vasile Simionaș: "Am fost purtat pe brațe de suporteri din Copou până în Piața Unirii"| publisher=Curierul-iasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Vasile Simionaș: "I was carried in the arms of supporters from Copou to Unirii Square"| date=9 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312100726/http://curierul-iasi.ro/vasile-simionas-fost-purtat-pe-brate-de-suporteri-din-copou-pana-piata-unirii-20454| access-date=17 April 2025| archive-date=12 March 2017}} After scoring a goal from the center of the field in a game, an official from Dinamo Bacău brought him to the team. At Bacău he learned a lot about football from the club's youth coach, Costică Rădulescu. In April 1968, at the age of 17, Simionaș made his Divizia A debut for Bacău when he was sent on the field by coach Nicolae Dumitru for the last 20 minutes in a match against Progresul București. He scored his first goal in the spring of 1969 in Bacău's 3–1 home win against Steaua București.

In June 1969, he moved back to his hometown at Politehnica Iași.{{cite web | url=https://www.politehnicaiasi.ro/deschidem-astazi-aceasta-sectiune-a-legendelor-politehnicii-iasi/ | title=Deschidem astazi aceasta sectiune a legendelor Politehnicii Iasi| publisher=Politehnicaiasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Today we open the legends section of Politehnica Iasi| date=8 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810001450/https://www.politehnicaiasi.ro/deschidem-astazi-aceasta-sectiune-a-legendelor-politehnicii-iasi/| access-date=17 April 2025| archive-date=10 August 2019}} Over the years at Politehnica he was coached by managers like Virgil Mărdărescu or Ilie Oană, also together with Mihai Romilă and Gabriel Simionov he formed one of the best midfield lines of the Romanian league from the 1970s.{{cite web | url=https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/un-nume-un-om-o-legenda-vasile-simionas-la-70-de-ani-ii--270217.html|title=Un nume, un om, o legendă: Vasile Simionaș la 70 de ani (II)| publisher=Ziuadeiasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=A name, a man, a legend: Vasile Simionaș at 70 (II)| date=12 November 2020| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/poli-iasi-istorie-sentimentala-amintiri-din-epoca-de-aur--34958.html | title=Poli Iași, istorie sentimentală: amintiri din epoca de aur | publisher=Ziaruldeiasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Poli Iași, sentimental history: memories from the golden age| date=31 December 2013 | access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/diverse/a-murit-vasile-simionas-cel-mai-important-om-din-istoria-fotbalului-iesean-s-a-stins-din-viata-la-74-de-ani-20122372|title=A murit Vasile Simionaș! Cel mai important om din istoria fotbalului ieșean s-a stins din viață la 74 de ani| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Vasile Simionaș has died! The most important man in the history of Iași football has passed away at the age of 74| date=19 March 2025| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ripensia-sport-magazin.ro/istoria-fotbalului/jucatorii-anilor-80-iasiul-lui-romila-ii-si-simionas/|title=Iașiul lui Romilă II și Simionaș|trans-title=The Iași team of Romilă II and Simionaș|publisher=Ripensia-sport-magazin.ro |date=19 October 2016|access-date=9 August 2019}} Until 1984, Simionaș played 359 Divizia A matches for The Copou Squad, scoring 42 goals, also during this period, the club relegated twice to Divizia B but he stayed with the club, helping it promote back each time after one year.

In 1985 he played the last games of his career while being a player-coach at CSM Suceava in Divizia B.{{cite web | url=https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/un-nume-un-om-o-legenda-vasile-simionas-la-70-de-ani-iii--270389.html|title=Un nume, un om, o legendă: Vasile Simionaș la 70 de ani (III)| publisher=Ziuadeiasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=A name, a man, a legend: Vasile Simionaș at 70 (III)| date=13 November 2020| access-date=17 April 2025}} Simionaș has a total of 368 matches with 43 goals netted in the Romanian top-league, Divizia A.

International career

In 1971, Simionaș played eight games for Romania's under-23 squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/vasile-simionas-168495/|title=Vasile Simionaș profile|publisher=11v11.com|access-date=29 December 2024}} He also played for Romania's Olympic team in a 3–2 home loss to Denmark at the 1972 Summer Olympics qualifiers. He won the Universiade gold medal with Romania's students football team in the 1972 edition hosted by Romania.{{cite web|author=Garin, Erik|title=World University Championships (Outdoor) 1972|publisher=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fisu72.html|date=17 April 2025}}

Simionaș made his first appearance for Romania's national team in a friendly which took place on 30 January 1972 as coach Gheorghe Ola used him all the minutes in a 4–2 away victory against Morocco.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=19314|title=Vasile Simionaș|publisher=European Football|access-date=28 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=11800|title=Morocco 2-4 Romania|publisher=European Football|access-date=28 January 2021}}{{NFT|37747}} His following game was a 1–0 loss to Bulgaria from the 1973–76 Balkan Cup final. Simionaș's third and last match played for the national team took place on 2 July 1976 in a 2–2 draw against Iran.

Managerial career

Simionaș was appointed head coach at Politehnica Iași for the 1983–84 Divizia A season while also still being an active player. He finished the season on the eight place but despite this performance, he was replaced with Constantin Oțet for the following season, remaining in the club as his assistant. However the results were poor and he and Oțet had to leave the team. Shortly afterwards, Simionaș went as a player-coach at Divizia B club CSM Suceava. He did not spend much time at Suceava as he was called back at Politehnica Iași but could not avoid the team's relegation. He stayed with the club, fighting for promotion with Oțelul Galați but eventually failing to do so.

He made a comeback at Suceava, managing to promote it to the first league after a competition with Politehnica Iași at the end of the 1986–87 Divizia B season. In the following season he did not manage to keep Suceava in the first league, leaving with a few rounds before the end of the season. In the next two years he had spells at Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț, CFR Pașcani and Politehnica Iași. In 1991 he went at Dacia Unirea Brăila which he helped avoid relegation to Divizia B. He then went to work at Progresul București which he promoted from the second to the first division. He returned at Poli Iași in Divizia B, trying to promote it but eventually finished second, below Argeș Pitești.

In 1994, Simionaș started the most successful spell of his coaching career at Oțelul Galați.{{cite web | url=https://fcotelulgalati.info/istoria-echipei-otelul/|title=Istoria echipei Otelul| publisher=Fcotelulgalati.info| language=Romanian |trans-title=The history of the Otelul team| date=| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://fotbalclubotelul.ro/primele-sezoane-de-divizia-a-si-cupa-uefa/|title=Primele sezoane de Divizia A si Cupa UEFA| publisher=Fcotelulgalati.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The first seasons of Divizia A and UEFA Cup| date=1 April 2020| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://sportgalati.com/2025/03/vasile-simionas-1950-2025-legenda-care-a-transformat-otelul-in-cimitirul-granzilor.html|title=Vasile Simionaș (1950-2025): Legenda care a transformat Oțelul în "Cimitirul Granzilor"| publisher=Sportgalati.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Vasile Simionaș (1950-2025): The Legend Who Transformed Oțelul into the "Graveyard of the Giants"| date=20 March 2025| access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=http://dunareabatrana.ro/201411114518/50-de-ani50-de-legende-vasile-simionas.html | title=50 de ani/50 de legende: Vasile Simionaș| publisher=Dunareabatrana.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=50 years/50 legends: Vasile Simionaș| date=11 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224054952/http://dunareabatrana.ro/201411114518/50-de-ani50-de-legende-vasile-simionas.html| access-date=17 April 2025| archive-date=24 February 2018}} Over the course of five seasons the team finished twice on the fourth place, being known for winning its home games against top teams which earned them the nickname "The Graveyard of the Giants". He participated twice with Oțelul in the UEFA Cup, in the 1997–98 edition they were eliminated in the first qualifying round by HIT Gorica, then in 1998–99 they got past Sloga Jugomagnat but got eliminated in the second qualifying round by Vejle.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/ideile-gazetei/de-la-extaz-la-agonie-otelul-nk-gorica-4-2-86050.html | title=De la extaz la agonie: Oțelul - NK Gorica 4-2| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=From ecstasy to agony: Oțelul - NK Gorica 4-2| date=7 July 2008 | access-date=17 April 2025}} In 1997 he was named the best coach from Romania.

Afterwards he had two unsuccessful spells at Astra Ploiești and Farul Constanța, relegating with the latter. In 2001 he made another comeback at Politehnica Iași, which was in Divizia C, helping it earn promotion to the second at the end of his first season at the club. After two seasons spent in Divizia B of which in the first one he was replaced for the second half of the season, he managed to earn promotion to Divizia A in 2004. After a disappointing start in the following season, he was replaced with Ionuț Popa.

After 2005, Simionaș started to work as an observer for the Romanian Football Federation and also managed Kosarom Pașcani for a short period in 2013.{{cite web | url=https://bit24.ro/antrenor-de-renume-la-cs-kosarom-vezi-programul-complet-al-echipei/ | title=Antrenor de renume la CS Kosarom. Vezi programul complet al echipei | publisher=Bit24.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Renowned coach at CS Kosarom. See the full team schedule| date=22 July 2013 | access-date=17 April 2025}}
{{cite web | url=https://bit24.ro/antrenorul-vasile-simionas-a-parasit-echipa-locala-de-fotbal-cs-kosarom-locul-7-in-campionat-pentru-pascaneni/ | title=Antrenorul Vasile Simionaș a părăsit echipa locală de fotbal CS Kosarom. Locul 7 în campionat pentru pășcăneni| publisher=Bit24.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Coach Vasile Simionaș has left the local football team CS Kosarom. 7th place in the championship for the people of Pășcani| date=21 October 2013 | access-date=17 April 2025}}
{{cite web | url=https://www.topiasi.ro/homepage/sport/4226-antrenorul-simionas-face-naveta-la-pascani-cu-trenul.html | title=Antrenorul Simionas face naveta la Pascani cu trenul| publisher=Topiasi.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Coach Simionas commutes to Pascani by train| date=25 August 2013 | access-date=17 April 2025}}

Simionaș has a total of 456 matches as a manager in the Romanian top-division, Divizia A consisting of 118 victories, 47 draws and 114 losses.{{cite web |url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_a/top_antrenori.shtml| title= Top 60 antrenori| publisher=RomanianSoccer.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Top 60 coaches|access-date=17 April 2025}}

Personal life and death

On 28 February 2025 he was named Honorary Citizen of Iași.

On 19 March 2025, Simionaș died in Iași at age 74.{{cite web |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/sport/fotbal/vasile-simionas-a-murit-fostul-fotbalist-si-antrenor-avea-74-de-ani-3163637 |title=Vasile Simionaș a murit. Fostul fotbalist și antrenor avea 74 de ani|publisher=Digi24.ro |language=Romanian|trans-title=Vasile Simionaș has died. The former footballer and coach was 74 years old.|access-date=19 March 2025 |date=19 March 2025}}