Cornel Dinu

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Cornel Dinu (footballer, born 1989).

Cornel Dinu
Dinu with Dinamo București
Personal information
Date of birth (1948-08-02) 2 August 1948 (age 75)
Place of birth Târgoviște, Romania
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Sweeper, defensive midfielder
Youth career
1963–1965
Metalul Târgoviște
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1966
Metalul Târgoviște
1966–1983 Dinamo București 454 (53)
Total 454 (53)
International career
1968–1981 Romania 67 (3)
Managerial career
1983–1984 Dinamo București (assistant)
1984–1985 Dinamo București
1985–1987 CS Târgoviște
1987–1988
ASA Târgu Mureș
1988
Oțelul Galați
1989
Universitatea Cluj
1989–1990
Olt Scornicești
1992–1993 Romania
1996 Dinamo București (caretaker)
1998–2001 Dinamo București
2002–2003 Dinamo București
2013– Dinamo București (board member)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cornel Dinu (born 2 August 1948) is a Romanian retired professional footballer and manager who played as a sweeper or a defensive midfielder.

He started out his playing career at hometown club Metalul Târgoviște in 1965, and went on to spend the rest of his career at Dinamo București with which he won eight domestic trophies. Internationally, Dinu appeared in over 60 matches for the Romania national team and scored three goals. He was named the Romanian Footballer of the Year three times, in 1970, 1972 and 1974, and in the former year also finished on the 24th place in the Ballon d'Or voting.

After retiring as a player, Dinu coached Dinamo București on five occasions among other stints, initially in the role of an assistant. Between 1992 and 1993, he was at the helm of the Romania national team.

Club career

"Cornel Dinu, the serious player, who never smiles and maybe that's why he doesn't tremble in front of anyone, even if he has to face an entire stadium. For him, football was never just a game."

– Journalist Ioan Chirilă's words about Dinu in 1974[1]

Cornel Dinu was born in

Metalul where he was noticed by Dinamo's officials, later being brought there at the request of coach Traian Ionescu.[6]

Dinu debuted for Dinamo București in Divizia A under coach Traian Ionescu on 25 September 1966 in a 1–0 loss against Steagul Roșu Brașov.[7][9][10] He remained at Dinamo throughout his career, winning six Divizia A titles, a competition in which he made 454 appearances (only in one of them coming to the field as a substitute) and scored 53 goals, also winning two Cupa României and playing 33 games in which he scored 3 goals in European competitions, including appearing in both legs of the 4–3 victory on aggregate against his childhood favorite team, Inter Milan in the 1981–82 UEFA Cup.[3][7][9][11][12][13][14] His last game played was a Divizia A match which took place on 18 June 1983 against Universitatea Craiova which ended 1–1, being replaced by coach Nicolae Dumitru in the 25th minute with Nelu Stănescu as he suffered an injury.[8][9][12] During his period spent at Dinamo, he graduated the Faculty of Law at the University of Bucharest in 1972, which earned him the nickname "Procurorul" (The Prosecutor).[4][10][15][16]

Dinu won three times (1970, 1972, 1974) the Romanian Footballer of the Year award, also in 1970 along with Dinamo teammate Florea Dumitrache he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or.[3][10][11][12][17][18] In 1979, Dinu had an offer from Bayern Munich which he refused, choosing to stay in Romania, also in 1972 Romanian coach Ștefan Kovács who was in charge of Ajax Amsterdam said about him:"Cornel Dinu could have played at the great Ajax at any time! Why? He is the only Romanian player who has the spirit of total football".[1][19][20][21]

International career

Cornel Dinu played 67 matches and scored 3 goals for Romania (75/7 including Romania's Olympic team games), making his debut on 1 May 1968 under coach Angelo Niculescu in a friendly which ended 1–1 against Austria.[22][23][24] He played three games at the successful 1970 World Cup qualifiers, also being used by coach Angelo Niculescu in all the minutes of the three group matches from the final tournament as Romania did not advance to the next stage.[22] He played 9 matches at the 1972 Euro qualifiers, managing to reach the quarter-finals where Romania was defeated by Hungary, who advanced to the final tournament.[22] Dinu played a total of five matches at the 1974 World Cup qualifiers, including being captain in Romania's biggest ever victory, a 9–0 against Finland.[22][25][26] He also played in a 3–1 victory and a 1–1 against Greece at the 1973–76 Balkan Cup and he scored a goal in a 6–1 victory against Denmark at the Euro 1976 qualifiers where he played a total of five games.[22] Dinu made a appearance at the 1978 World Cup qualifiers, two appearances at the Euro 1980 qualifiers, making his last appearance for the national team on 15 April 1981 in a friendly which ended with a 2–1 loss against Denmark.[22][27]

For representing his country at the 1970 World Cup, Dinu was decorated by President of Romania Traian Băsescu on 25 March 2008 with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.[28][29]

International goals

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dinu goal.[22]
List of international goals scored by Cornel Dinu
# Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 April 1972 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 27  France 2–0 2–0 Friendly
2 11 May 1975 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 49  Denmark 6–0 6–1 Euro 1976 qualifiers
3 12 October 1975 Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania 52  Turkey 2–2 2–2 Friendly

Managerial career

Cornel Dinu in 2009

After ending his playing career in 1983, Dinu became the assistant coach of

Olt Scornicești, having a total of 218 matches as a manager in the Romanian top-division, Divizia A consisting of 118 victories, 35 draws and 65 losses.[2][3][4][10][12][32]

Cornel Dinu was also the head coach of Romania's national team from April 1992 until June 1993, having a total of 13 games (7 victories, 2 draws, 4 losses) including a 5–1 home victory against Wales and a 5–2 away loss against Czechoslovakia, both games at the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.[2][3][10][12][33]

After retirement

After he retired from his playing and coaching football career, Dinu worked in various management positions at Dinamo București.[3][4][10][12][34] He was also guest at various radio and television shows, with football and cultural themes.[3][10] He received the Honorary Citizen of Târgoviște (2015) and Bucharest (2019) titles.[3][4]

Writing

Cornel Dinu wrote sports columns in the magazine "Flacăra" and the daily "Scânteia tineretului" during Romania's communist era, and after 1989 in the newspapers "Sportul", "Gazeta Sporturilor", "Dimineața", "Gândul", "Național", "Adevărul", "Cultura" and "Fanatik".[2][3][4][12] He also wrote a total of five volumes, two of them being about football and three autobiographical:[2][3][4][12][35][36][37][38]

  • Fotbal – Tactica astăzi (Football – The tactic of today) - co-written with Ion V. Ionescu (1977)
  • Fotbal – Concepția de joc (Football - The concept of the game) - co-written with Ion V. Ionescu (1982)
  • Zâmbind din iarbă (Smiling from the grass) - autobiographical novel (2007)
  • Jucând cu destinul (Playing with destiny) - autobiographical novel (2008)
  • Misterele lui Mister (The mysteries of Mister) - autobiographical novel (2019)

Quotes

Cornel Dinu was known for his original ironic comments by using metaphors, parables, quotes from historians or classical writers and references to history:[39][40][41][42][43][44][45]

  • "A funny story. The first match was played in Belfast. I was not in the team. On the way back, a few colleagues said it was a very tough game, 1–0, the Northern Irish are very strong. They were given a bonus, good thing the matches weren't broadcast! When we played in the second leg, I yelled at them to shame them after about 20 minutes. Those guys had no idea about football. They were amateurs, these bearded guys, you had the feeling that they were something between guitarists and waiters. Pure amateurs!" – declaration years later after a 11–0 win over Crusaders in which he scored a goal from the 1973–74 European Cup.[46][47]
  • "Șumudică is a «vero» (n.r. true) Romanian. He combines the fantastic humor and the Romanian spirit very well. He has this spirit to treat phases with humor. His lines are very good. I don't know where he gets this humor from, he has it not only because he was born in the center of Bucharest, in Piața Romană, as he says. He has good quality sidewalk humor. He is not called Ninel for nothing. He is also called Marius, a Latin name. That was the name of Caesar's uncle, the general who fought the German savages head-to-head."
  • "Worker Nicoliță, very hardworking, but the football field is not a construction site."
  • "Philosophy is a transcendental propaedeutic for the death-haunted soul of the Romanian."
  • "Pițurcă is like a Griffon dog that you have to knock off the forehead with a compass and a rake to see if it has a brain."
  • "I started writing the fourth book. I generally write at night and sleep during the day. On the other hand, where should I go out? I apply the famous quote of Țuțea, "you have nothing to look for outside, there are too many imbeciles"."
  • "Gnohéré looked like a simple Foreign Legion unit cook somewhere in Africa in an imaginary war."
  • "This Rambé... I think his name is Ramble. The railway ramble where the train slows down so it doesn't derail."
  • "I have a reserved opinion, in my opinion Peteleu is something between a cave and a cavern as a left defender. The poor guy has big problems! He has speed in the lane, but when he enters, he does it like those who were at old mens' at our wall of death. He has some speed, but otherwise quality..."
  • "Matulevičius is good rather as a high voltage pole in the opposing box, maybe only to electrocute the opposing defenders."
  • "Sânmărtean as he plays in many phases when he won't finish the dribbles he starts at 30, 35 meters from the opposing goal. I have the feeling that he is a born tired player!"
  • "Oroș, according to me, is a hole in Astra's indisputable defense! The way Oroș looks means that he eats well at Giurgiu, because he looks more like a rugby pillar. Don't you see how he looks?"
  • "It was a mistake with the display of frankincense. Not in the locker room, not in the cells where the football parishioners stay. It had to start from the Palace, everything starts from there. Well, who brought players like Popescu or Oaidă? They are players without imagination, without technical ability. These players, after they pass the half court, you have to tell them to stop. But who will do this? The monks and prayer witnesses who sit next to Becali are not good at football."
  • "A detective needs to find out what Dinamo is playing and how the players were placed on the field by Bonetti. When you make football players train by climbing the stairs, something that hasn't been done since Teașcă's time, what expectations do you have?! That's the basic training lately, ten stairs up, ten down! It's like those black guys who carried sacks of dirt on their backs in search of Tutankhamun's tomb."

Honours

Player

Dinamo București

Individual

Manager

Dinamo București

References

  1. ^ a b "Cornel Dinu #75. Zece citate memorabile despre Misterul fotbalului românesc: "Ar fi putut juca oricând la marele Ajax!" + "Spumos, spontan, are un nemaipomenit simț al replicii"" [Cornel Dinu #75. Ten memorable quotes about the Mister of Romanian football: "He could have played at the great Ajax at any time!" + "Sparkling, spontaneous, has an amazing sense of response"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Cornel Dinu" (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Cornel Dinu" (in Romanian). Profesionisti.juridice.ro. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cariera lui Cornel Dinu. Fostul jucătorul și antrenor de fotbal și-a dedicat 40 de ani la Dinamo București" [Cornel Dinu's career. The former football player and coach dedicated 40 years to Dinamo Bucharest] (in Romanian). Wowbiz.ro. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 1964–1965". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b "INTERVIU-EVENIMENT cu Cornel Dinu la 70 de ani: "M-au drogat ca să nu ajung în Ghencea! Tata a ales Dinamo, nu Steaua"" [INTERVIEW-EVENT with Cornel Dinu at the age of 70: "They drugged me so that I wouldn't end up in Ghencea! My father chose Dinamo, not Steaua"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "10 repere memorabile pentru "Mister" de România. Singurul meci în care a fost rezervă, golul anulat din derby și "dubla" cu Inter" [10 memorable milestones for the "Mister" of Romania. The only match in which he was a substitute, the disallowed goal in the derby and the "double" with Inter] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b "40 de ani de la ultimul meci din cariera lui Cornel Dinu. Mister visa să revoluționeze fotbalul: "Sper să inventez lucruri noi, poate chiar un alt sistem de joc. Am vorbit deja cu Ferguson"" [40 years since the last match of Cornel Dinu's career. Mister dreamed of revolutionizing football: "I hope to invent new things, maybe even a different game system. I have already spoken to Ferguson"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e Cornel Dinu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Cornel Dinu, aniversat! Fostul mare fotbalist dinamovist împlinește azi 73 de ani" [Cornel Dinu's birthday! The former great Dinamo football player turns 73 today] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Cornel Dinu at WorldFootball.net
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Cornel Dinu la 73 de ani. Vizionar în… 1981! Ce scria despre "ordinele venite din birouri"! Interviu exclusiv" [Cornel Dinu at 73 years old. Visionary in… 1981! What did he write about "orders from the offices"! Exclusive interview] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  13. ^ "50 de ani de la singurul meci în care Cornel Dinu a fost rezervă la Dinamo" [50 years since the only match in which Cornel Dinu was a substitute for Dinamo] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Ziua în care "Mister" și-a răpus idolii adolescenței" [The day "Mister" kidnapped his teenage idols] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  15. ^ "La Mulţi Ani "Procurorului" Cornel Dinu!" [Happy Birthday to "Prosecutor" Cornel Dinu!] (in Romanian). Juridice.ro. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Cornel Dinu îmlinește 66 de ani. Cifrele care marchează cariera "Procurorului"" [Cornel Dinu turns 66 years old. Figures marking the career of the "Prosecutor"] (in Romanian). Romanialibera.ro. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  17. ^
    RSSSF
    . Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Dumitru Macri, primul fotbalist român nominalizat la Balonul de Aur! Gică Hagi, aproape de succes în 1994" [Dumitru Macri, the first Romanian footballer nominated for the Golden Ball! Gica Hagi, almost successful in 1994] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Cum putea ajunge Cornel Dinu la marele Bayern Munchen. De ce a refuzat" [How Cornel Dinu could get to the great Bayern Munich. Why he refused] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Dezvăluire de senzație! Cornel Dinu a fost la un pas să fie coleg de echipă cu Rummenigge. Bayern Munchen a vrut să-l transfere pentru a-l înlocui pe legendarul Franz Beckenbauer" [Sensational revelation! Cornel Dinu was one step away from being a teammate of Rummenigge. Bayern Munich wanted to transfer him to replace the legendary Franz Beckenbauer] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Denise Rifai a rămas mască! Răspunsul care a făcut-o să lăcrimeze. Nu se aştepta la asta" [Denise Rifai remained a mask! The answer that made her cry. She didn't expect that] (in Romanian). Capital.ro. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g "Cornel Dinu". European Football. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Austria 1-1 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  24. ^ Cornel Dinu at National-Football-Teams.com
  25. ^ "Romania 9-0 Finland". European Football. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  26. ^ "Sandu și ceilalți "eroi" din 1973, despre culisele victoriei istorice cu 9-0 cu Finlanda" [Sandu and the other "heroes" from 1973, about the backstage of the historic 9-0 victory over Finland] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  27. ^ "RETRO GSP. 39 de ani de la ultimul meci al lui Cornel Dinu la națională. Dezvăluiri incendiare: "Aș fi avut mai multe selecții, dar Liță Dumitru îi transmitea lui Piști că-l mai făceam bozgor"" [RETRO GSP. 39 years since Cornel Dinu's last match at the national team » Incendiary revelations: "I would have had more selections, but Liță Dumitru was telling Piști that I was still making fun of him"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  28. ^ "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF). Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  29. ^ "Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc". Administrația Prezidențială. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  30. ^ a b "Cine a pregătit, de fapt, Dinamo în '84, la calificarea în semifinalele Cupei Campionilor? Dinu susține că el, foștii jucători îl contrazic. Ce spunea fostul "principal" despre Procuroru'" [Who actually prepared Dinamo in ’84 to qualify for the Champions Cup semifinals? Dinu claims that he, the former players contradict him. What the former "principal" said about the Prosecutor] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Ioan Sdrobiș, la 30 de ani de la istoricul meci Oțelul – Juventus 1-0. "Nici Baba Vanga nu poate prezice când vom mai obține o astfel de victorie"" [Ioan Sdrobiș, 30 years after the historic match of Oțelul – Juventus 1-0. "Baba Vanga can't predict when we will get such a victory either"] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Top 60 antrenori" [Top 60 coaches] (in Romanian). RomanianSoccer.ro. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  33. ^ "Cornel Dinu". European Football. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Ce pensie a ajuns să aibă Cornel Dinu în 2021 și ce alte surse de venit mai are "mister"" [What pension Cornel Dinu will have in 2021 and what other sources of income does "Mister" still have] (in Romanian). Playsport.ro. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  35. ^ ""Zambind in iarba", de Cornel Dinu" ["Smiling in the grass", by Cornel Dinu] (in Romanian). Sport.hotnews.ro. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Mister dezvăluie misterele anilor '90! Cornel Dinu își lansează oficial al treilea volum autobiografic despre fotbalul și societatea românească de după Revoluție" [Mister reveals the mysteries of the '90s! Cornel Dinu officially launches his third autobiographical volume on Romanian football and society after the Revolution] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Cornel Dinu și-a lansat azi cartea "Misterele lui Mister": "Răul domină în carte, așa cum predomină și în acest popor chinuit! Veți vedea că am păcate"" [Cornel Dinu launched today his book "The mysteries of Mister": "Evil dominates in this book, as it predominates in this tormented people! You will see that I have sins."] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Lumea, oamenii și cărțile lui Cornel Dinu" [The world, people and books of Cornel Dinu] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Cornel Dinu face praf unul dintre transferurile Stelei: "E un simplu bucătar de unitate din Legiunea Străină, se împiedică și el pe-acolo"" [Cornel Dinu dusts off one of Stela's transfers: "He's a simple unit cook from the Foreign Legion, he stumbles there too"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  40. ^ "Cornel Dinu îl face praf pe Gnohere: "A părut un simplu bucătar din Legiunea Străină! Se împiedică de adversari"" [Cornel Dinu destroys Gnohere: "He looked like a simple cook from the Foreign Legion! He trips over his opponents"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  41. ^ "Cornel Dinu l-a făcut "praf" pe Șumudică: "Are o labilitate psihică!"" [Cornel Dinu made Șumudică "dust": "He has a mental lability!"] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  42. ^ "Cornel Dinu a făcut spectacol la Dolce Sport! Cele mai tari declaraţii ale lui Mister în studioul "Minutul 91"" [Cornel Dinu performed at Dolce Sport! Mister's hottest statements in the "Minutul 91" studio] (in Romanian). Orangesport.ro. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  43. ^ "8 declarații savuroase ale lui Cornel Dinu de-a lungul timpului! Dinamovistul împlinește azi 73 de ani" [8 tasty statements of Cornel Dinu over time! The Dynamo player turns 73 today] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  44. ^ "Cornel Dinu, la 73 de ani! Top 10 declarații memorabile al lui "Mister" de-a lungul timpului" [Cornel Dinu, at 73 years old! Top 10 memorable statements by "Mister" over time] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  45. ^ "Cornel Dinu a împlinit 75 de ani! Citate celebre ale lui "Mister"" [Cornel Dinu turned 75 years old! Famous quotes from "Mister"] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  46. ^ "Au fost Hamburg, Crusaders, Real Madrid, Inter. 10 victorii de legendă pentru Dinamo în Europa la revenirea "câinilor" în cupele continentale după o pauză de 5 ani" [There were Hamburg, Crusaders, Real Madrid, Inter. 10 legendary victories for Dinamo in Europe when the "dogs" returned to the continental cups after a 5-year break] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  47. ^ "Dinamo – Crusaders FC 11-0 (Cupa Campionilor – 3 octombrie 1973)" [Dinamo – Crusaders FC 11-0 (Champions Cup – October 3, 1973)] (in Romanian). Tikitaka.ro. Retrieved 20 March 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cornel_Dinu&oldid=1215929380"