Alexandru Chipciu

Alexandru Mihăiță Chipciu (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru kipˈt͡ʃi.u];[1] born 18 May 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Liga I club CFR Cluj and the Romania national team. A versatile player, he is mainly deployed as a winger or an attacking midfielder, but has also been used as a false 9 or a wing-back on occasion.[2][3]

Alexandru Chipciu
Chipciu training with Anderlecht in 2016
Personal information
Full name Alexandru Mihăiță Chipciu
Date of birth (1989-05-18) 18 May 1989
Place of birth Brăila, Romania
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s)
Winger, attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 CFR Cluj
Number 27
Youth career
2001–2004 Brăila
2004–2006 Sporting Pitești
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2012 FC Brașov 76 (13)
2008 → Forex Brașov (loan) 6 (0)
2008–2009 → Brăila (loan) 18 (4)
2012–2016 Steaua București 116 (24)
2016–2020 Anderlecht 49 (5)
2018–2019 → Sparta Prague (loan) 27 (1)
2020– CFR Cluj 1 (0)
National team‡
2006 Romania U17 2 (1)
2008 Romania U19 2 (0)
2011– Romania 46 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 January 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2019

After starting his senior career with FC Brașov, Chipciu moved to FC Steaua București in the winter of 2011[4] and won seven domestic trophies during his spell in the capital. In 2016, he transferred abroad for the first time to join Anderlecht. He helped to a national title in his first season in Belgium, but he later fell out of favor and sent on loan to Sparta Prague. At the start of 2020, Chipciu returned to his native country with defending champions CFR Cluj.

Chipciu is a Romanian international and has played for the country's under-17 and under-19 teams before making his senior debut in 2011.[5] He was a member of the squad that participated at the UEFA Euro 2016.[6]

Club career

Early years

Chipciu started his football career in 2001, aged 13, with the youth squad of hometown club Dacia Unirea Brăila. From 2004 to 2006, before joining FC Brașov, he played for Sporting Pitești.[7][8]

FC Brașov

At the age of 18, Chipciu made the senior squad breakthrough, scoring four goals in his first year with FC Brașov. However, as the team's aspirations grew, aiming promotion to the first division, he received less playing time.

For the first half of the 2008–09 season he was loaned out to Liga II side Forex Brașov,[9] and in the second half of the season he went to his former youth club Brăila in Liga III to gain experience.[10]

Upon his return to FC Brașov, now in the Liga I, Chipciu again got few opportunities to play in the first year. During the 2010–11 season he had appreciated performances,[11] being one of the best players of the team and attracting the attention of Bucharest rivals Steaua and Dinamo.[12] He eventually chose to stay at Brașov, signing a new contract that would have kept him at the club until 2015.[13] Chipciu had a great 2011–12 season start, scoring two important goals in the first three games.

Steaua București
Chipciu playing for Steaua București in 2014.

On 21 December 2011, Steaua București announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Chipciu, with the player penning a five-year contract.[4] The press reported that FC Brașov would receive an initial €1.2 million and 25% from a future transfer sum.[14] On 31 March 2012, Chipciu netted his first goal for the club in a 1–1 away draw at Pandurii Târgu Jiu,[15] and his second came just one week later against Sportul Studențesc after an impressive build-up play (4–1 win, at Stadionul Steaua).[16] On 7 May, he was sent off after receiving a red card in a match against Concordia Chiajna.[17]

In the autumn of 2012, Chipciu helped Steaua qualify from the UEFA Europa League group stage, where they played against the likes of VfB Stuttgart, Molde and Copenhagen.[18] Furthermore, Steaua defeated Ajax on penalty shoot-outs, before losing in the round of 16 with Chelsea 3–2 on aggregate.[19] On 10 May 2013, in one of the last remaining matches of the season, Chipciu suffered an injury against rivals from Dinamo București and he was subsequently sidelined for 5 months with a fractured tibia.[20] Two weeks later he received a winner's medal after Steaua's 2012–13 Liga I conquest, being his first major honour. Six trophies went to follow in the next three years: two more League Championships, one Romanian Cup, one Romanian Supercup and two League Cups.

Anderlecht

On 18 July 2016, Chipciu traveled to Belgium to undergo a medical at Anderlecht.[21] The following day it was officially announced that he signed a four-year contract with the club.[22] Anderlecht paid €3 million for his services, with bonus clauses potentially rising the transfer fee to €3.5 million.[23][24] On 7 August, Chipciu scored his first goal for the club in a Belgian Pro League match against Kortrijk.[25]

Sparta Prague

On 3 July 2018, Chipciu moved to Czech club Sparta Prague on a one-season loan.[26]

CFR Cluj

On 18 January 2020, CFR Cluj announced the signing of Chipciu as a free agent.[27]

International career
Chipciu lining up for Romania in 2014.

On 29 March 2006, Chipciu made his debut for Romania U17 in a match with Serbia. He also represented the country at under-19 level.

Chipciu gained his first cap for the full side in 2011, playing as a starter against San Marino.[5] On 15 November, he scored his first senior international goal in a friendly match in Austria with Greece. On 17 May 2016, Chipciu was picked by manager Anghel Iordănescu for his preliminary 28-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad and eventually made it to the final list.[6]

Career statistics

Club
As of 19 November 2019[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Forex Brașov (loan) 2008–09 60??———60
Brăila (loan) 2008–09 18400———184
FC Brașov 2006–07 154??———154
2007–08 10011———111
2009–10 2100———21
2010–11 31351———364
2011–12 18520———205
Total 761382——————8415
Steaua București 2011–12 142——00—142
2012–13 27610—132—418
2013–14 22641—30—297
2014–15 263414110211458
2015–16 27741116010399
Total 11624133523242116834
Anderlecht 2016–17 32520—14100486
2017–18 17010102000210
2019–20 000000000000
Total 495301016100696
Sparta Prague (loan) 2018–19 27120—2000311
Career total 29247265625052137660

International
As of 19 November 2019[29]
National teamYearAppsGoalsRatio
Romania
2011210.50
2012400.00
2013210.50
2014810.12
2015300.00
2016710.14
2017600.00
2018910.11
2019510.20
Total4660.13

International goals
As of 10 June 2019 (Romania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Chipciu goal)[29]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 November 2011Stadion Schnabelholz, Altach, Austria2 Greece3–13–1Friendly
2 22 March 2013Ferenc Puskás, Budapest, Hungary7 Hungary2–22–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 4 June 2014Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland11 Algeria1–11–2Friendly
4 8 October 2016Vazgen Sargsyan, Yerevan, Armenia24 Armenia5–05–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 11 October 2018LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania39 Lithuania1–02–12018–19 UEFA Nations League C
6 10 June 2019National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta45 Malta3–04–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Club

FC Brașov

Steaua București[28]

Anderlecht[28]

References
  1. "How to pronounce EURO players' names correctly". UEFA. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016.
  2. "Dilema falsului număr "9". De ce nu poate Steaua continua cu succes aplicarea sistemului folosit contra Chiajnei. Comparaţie cu Barcelona" [The difficulties of a false 9. Why Steaua can't continue using the system applied against Chiajna. Comparison with Barcelona] (in Romanian). ProSport. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  3. "Reacția lui Chipciu când a auzit că va fi folosit fundaș dreapta la Sparta: "E bine că e Stanciu pe partea mea" + Cum l-a impresionat pe antrenor" [Chipciu's reaction when he heard he would be used as a right-back at Sparta: "Is good that Stanciu is on my side" + Hoe he impressed the coach]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 10 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. Chipciu a semnat cu Steaua
  5. Chipciu, titular cu San Marino Archived 21 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Romania Euro 2016 squad". The Daily Telegraph. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. Chipciu
  8. Alexandru Mihăiţă CHIPCIU
  9. Vezi ce jucator din Liga I a refuzat Steaua pentru FC Brasov
  10. Alexandru Chipciu si Marius Lupu au fost cistigurile echipei brailene in finalul turului
  11. "Tupeu de puşti » Braşoveanul Chipciu e una dintre marile revelaţii ale turului de campionat". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 2 December 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  12. A fost dorit de Steaua şi Dinamo, dar rămîne fidel Braşovului » Chipciu şi-a prelungit contractul pînă în 2015
  13. ""A fost dorit de Steaua şi Dinamo, dar rămîne fidel Braşovului / Chipciu şi-a prelungit contractul pînă în 2015"". Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  14. "Transferul lui Chipciu la Anderlecht reaprinde speranţa la FC Braşov. Oficialii echipei caută antrenor şi jucători" [Chipciu's transfer to Anderlecht reignites hope at FC Brașov. The officials of the team are searching for a coach and players]. ProSport (in Romanian). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  15. Steaua loses title hopes
  16. Chipciu superb goal against Sprotul
  17. Chicpiu only 1 match day suspension
  18. "Ce adversari poate întîlni Steaua". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 6 December 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  19. "Au trecut testul Champions League". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 16 March 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  20. "Chipciu are fractură de tibie". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  21. "Chipciu is in Anderlecht, ander doelwit kiest voor Zenit". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  22. "Alexandru Chipciu voor 4 seizoenen bij RSCA!". R.S.C. Anderlecht (in Dutch). 19 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  23. "Alexandru Chipciu signe à Anderlecht". France Football (in French). 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  24. "Detaliile afacerii "Chipciu". Ce sumă primeşte, de fapt, Steaua şi ce număr va purta fotbalistul la Anderlecht" [The details of the "Chipciu" deal. What sum Steaua actually receives and the jersey number which the player will wear at Anderlecht]. DigiSport (in Romanian). 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  25. "Alexandru Chipciu a marcat primul gol pentru Anderlecht. A avut nevoie de 4 meciuri" [Alexandru Chipciu scored his first goal for Anderlecht. He needed 4 matches]. DigiSport (in Romanian). 7 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  26. "Hotovo! Ve Spartě bude hostovat Rumun Chipciu, přišel si pro titul". Sport.cz (in Czech). 3 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  27. "Bine ai venit, Alexandru Chipciu!" [Welcome, Alexandru Chipciu!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  28. "Alexandru Chipciu". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  29. "Alexandru Chipciu". European Football. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
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