Vlad Chiricheș

Vlad Chiricheș
Chiricheș with Romania in 2014
Personal information
Full name Vlad Iulian Chiricheș[1]
Date of birth (1989-11-14) 14 November 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Bacău, Romania
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 FCSB
Number 21
Youth career
0000–2004 LPS Bacău
2004–2007 Ardealul Cluj
2007–2008 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Internațional Curtea de Argeș 41 (1)
2010–2011 Pandurii Târgu Jiu 39 (0)
2012–2013 Steaua București 42 (1)
2013–2015 Tottenham Hotspur 27 (1)
2015–2020 Napoli 32 (3)
2019–2020 → Sassuolo (loan) 9 (0)
2020–2022 Sassuolo 53 (2)
2022–2023 Cremonese 16 (0)
2023– FCSB 15 (0)
International career‡
2009–2010 Romania U21 4 (0)
2011–2022 Romania 75[a] (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 June 2022

Vlad Iulian Chiricheș (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈvlad ˈkirikeʃ]; born 14 November 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Liga I club FCSB. Primarily a centre-back, he can also be deployed as a right-back or a defensive midfielder.

Chiricheș spent the first part of his senior career in Romania with Internațional Curtea de Argeș, Pandurii Târgu Jiu, and Steaua București. He helped the latter to a Liga I title and a Supercupa României, before transferring to Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 in a then Romanian record sale of €9.5 million (£8.5 million). Chiricheș relocated to Italy after two years in the Premier League, representing Serie A clubs Napoli, Sassuolo, and Cremonese over the course of eight seasons. In 2023, he returned to Romania by re-signing for FCSB.

A full international for Romania since September 2011, Chiricheș has earned over 70 caps for his country and represented it in the UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

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Early career

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Chiricheș began his youth career in his hometown as a midfielder at LPS Bacău, and even played as a striker a few years later when he moved to Ardealul Cluj. At the latter side, he was teammates with also future Romanian internationals Mihai Răduț and Alexandru Maxim.[3] In 2007, Chiricheș moved to Portuguese team Benfica.[4][5][6]

Upon his return to Romania after twelve months spent in Lisbon, Chiricheș joined lower league club Internațional Curtea de Argeș and helped them achieve promotion to the top flight in 2009.[7] In 2010, shortly after Internațional was dissolved, he moved alongside many of his teammates to Pandurii Târgu Jiu.[8] Chiricheș was close to sign for FCSB instead, but their coach Victor Pițurcă did not agree with the transfer.[9]

Steaua București

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After one season in Târgu Jiu, Chiricheș eventually sealed a transfer to Steaua București for a reported sum of €700,000 plus 25% interest.[10] FCSB paid €500,000 for the remaining procents of the co-ownership in August 2013, making the total transfer sum to €1.2 million.[11]

On 25 October 2012, he scored an overhead volley from near the penalty spot in a 2–0 win against Molde in the Europa League, which put Steaua in control of Group E.[12] Chiricheș scored from long range against Ajax on 21 February 2013, canceling out a two-goal first-leg deficit as Steaua triumphed in the penalty shoot-out to set up a round of 16 meeting with 2012 Champions League winners Chelsea.[13][14] He scored again away, an equalising goal to make it 1–1 with a fine close-range finish on the stroke of half-time in the 3–1 second leg loss against "the Blues" at Stamford Bridge after FCSB won the first leg 1–0.[15]

Tottenham Hotspur

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On 30 August 2013, English team Tottenham Hotspur paid €9.5 million (£8.5 million) for the signing of Chiricheș, making him the record transfer of the Romanian championship at the time.[16][17] On 24 September, he made his competitive debut in a 4–0 League Cup victory over Aston Villa.[18] He registered his Premier League debut against the same opponent, with fans voting him Man of the Match in the 2–0 away win on 20 October.[19] On 4 December that year, Chiricheș scored his first goal by equalising from outside the penalty box in a 2–1 victory over Fulham.[20]

Towards the end of the 2015 winter transfer window, Italian side Roma offered €500,000 to take Chiricheș on a six-month loan, which was deemed too low and rejected by Tottenham.[21] On 9 May 2015, he was sent off for two bookings as his team lost 0–3 to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.[22]

Napoli

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Chiricheș (left) playing against Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League round of 16, 14 March 2019.

On 30 July 2015, Italian club Napoli signed Chiricheș on a four-year deal for a £4.5 million transfer fee.[23] He made his Serie A debut for the club in a 1–2 home loss to Sassuolo on 23 August.[citation needed]

On 10 September 2018, Chiricheș suffered a damage to his anterior cruciate ligament which sidelined him for most of the season.[24]

Sassuolo

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On 2 September 2019, Chiricheș moved to fellow Serie A club Sassuolo on a one-season loan with an obligation to buy.[25][26] In the summer of 2020, Sassuolo paid the previously-agreed €11 million fee to Napoli.[27]

Cremonese

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On 8 July 2022, Chiricheș chose to stay in Italy and its Serie A by signing a one-year deal with Cremonese.[28]

Return to FCSB

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FCSB announced the return of Chiricheș on 25 July 2023, roughly ten years after his record sale to Tottenham Hotspur.[29] He made his debut four days later by starting in a 2–0 away league win over Oțelul Galați. Chiricheș only played a further six matches—of which three in the Europa Conference League qualifiers—before suffering a long-term injury which kept him out of action until March 2024.[30]

International career

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On 2 September 2011, Chiricheș made his senior debut for Romania in a 2–0 away victory over Luxembourg counting for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying.[31] On 14 August 2013, he served as captain for the first time in a 1–1 friendly draw with Slovakia. His competitive debut as captain came on 6 September that year, in a 3–0 FIFA World Cup qualifier victory over Hungary.

On 5 October 2017, Chiricheș reached his 50th cap for the national team in a 3–1 home defeat of Kazakhstan.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 30 October 2024[32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Internațional Curtea de Argeș 2008–09 Liga II 26 1 1 0 — — — 27 1
2009–10 Liga I 15 0 1 0 — — — 16 0
Total 41 1 2 0 — — — 43 1
Pandurii Târgu Jiu 2010–11 Liga I 24 0 0 0 — — — 24 0
2011–12 15 0 2 0 — — — 17 0
Total 39 0 2 0 — — — 41 0
Steaua București 2011–12 Liga I 14 0 — — 2 0 — 16 0
2012–13 26 1 0 0 — 13 3 — 39 4
2013–14 2 0 — — 3 0 1 0 6 0
Total 42 1 0 0 — 18 3 1 0 61 4
Tottenham Hotspur 2013–14 Premier League 17 1 1 0 3 0 3 0 — 24 1
2014–15 10 0 3 1 1 0 5 0 — 19 1
Total 27 1 4 1 4 0 8 0 — 43 2
Napoli 2015–16 Serie A 8 1 2 0 — 7 1 — 17 2
2016–17 14 2 1 0 — 1 0 — 16 2
2017–18 7 0 1 0 — 1 0 — 9 0
2018–19 3 0 0 0 — 3 0 — 6 0
Total 32 3 4 0 — 12 1 — 48 4
Sassuolo (loan) 2019–20 Serie A 9 0 0 0 — — — 9 0
Sassuolo 2020–21 24 2 0 0 — — — 24 2
2021–22 29 0 0 0 — — — 29 0
Total 62 2 0 0 — — — 62 2
Cremonese 2022–23 Serie A 16 0 1 0 — — — 17 0
FCSB 2023–24 Liga I 10 0 0 0 — 3 0 — 13 0
2024–25 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 10 0
Total 15 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 23 0
Career total 274 8 14 1 4 0 44 4 2 0 338 13

International

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Chiricheș in action against Austria in June 2012.
As of match played 14 June 2022[33]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania 2011 5 0
2012 9 0
2013 8 0
2014 7 0
2015 7 0
2016 8 0
2017 9 0
2018 1 0
2019 3 0
2020 2 0
2021 10 0
2022 6 0
Total 75 0

Honours

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FCSB[32]

Tottenham Hotspur[32]

Individual

References

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Notes

  1. ^ Chiricheș previously earned a cap for Romania in a match against Belgium, which was later deemed unofficial.

Citations

  1. ^ "15th UEFA European Championship: Booking List before Qualifying Round Matchday 10" (PDF). UEFA. 11 October 2015. p. 6. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Prima Squadra - SSC Napoli". www.sscnapoli.it. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Chiricheş, Maxim, Răduţ. Ce mai scoate Şcoala Ardealul" (in Romanian). ProSport. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Sky Sports Scout – Vlad Chiriches". Sky Sports. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Un fost jucător de la Benfica a dezvăluit de ce n-a fost păstrat Vlad Chiricheş" (in Romanian). ProSport. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  6. ^ "I-a dus pe Chiricheş la Benfica şi pe Răduţ la Sporting! Omul care l-a descoperit pe Grozav pe când era minor aduce un nou nume în prim plan: "E foarte talentat"" (in Romanian). ProSport. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Nou promovata lui Ştefan Stoica a pornit la drum în Liga 1: FC Internaţional a început pregătirile". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 June 2009.
  8. ^ "Ionuţ Badea a ales 15 jucători de la Inter pentru lotul Pandurilor". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 21 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Povestea celui mai scump transfer din liga 1". Gazeta Sporturilor. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Chiricheş a semnat cu Steaua, dar vine la iarnă". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 3 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Steaua pays 1.2 million euros for Chiriches". Gazeta Sporturilor. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Chiricheş stunner helps Steaua sink Molde". UEFA. 25 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Latovlevici shines as Steaua beat Ajax on penalties". UEFA. 21 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Blues edge through, Ajax outed on penalties". FIFA. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013.
  15. ^ "Torres on target as Chelsea sneak past Steaua". UEFA. 14 March 2013.
  16. ^ "Tottenham agree price for Chiriches". FIFA. 25 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013.
  17. ^ "Spurs announce Vlad Chiriches signing". ESPN FC. 30 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Chiriches transfer agreed". Tottenham Hotspur FC. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  19. ^ "Chiriches voted Man of the Match". @SpursOfficial. Twitter. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  20. ^ Cryer, Andy. "Fulham 1–2 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Tottenham Reject Roma Loan Offer for Chirches (and Hands Him Bonus)". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  22. ^ Johnston, Neil (9 May 2015). "Stoke 3-0 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Tottenham Hotspur Official Announcement Regarding Vlad Chiriches". Spurs Official Twitter. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  24. ^ "Report: Napoli defender Vlad Chiriches suffered ACL damage". Calcio Mercato. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  25. ^ "OFICIAL Vlad Chiricheș a plecat de la Napoli » Sassuolo l-a prezentat astăzi pe fundașul român". 2 September 2019.
  26. ^ "UFFICIALE: Sassuolo, preso Chiriches. Prestito con obbligo di riscatto". Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Il Parma batte il Napoli e...riscatta tre azzurri: nelle casse del club" (in Romanian). 23 July 2020.
  28. ^ "CHIRICHES NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA CREMONESE". uscremonese.it (in Italian). US Cremonese. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Bine ai venit acasă, Vlad Chiricheș!" [Welcome home, Vlad Chiricheș!] (in Romanian). FCSB. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Avertisment pentru Vlad Chiricheș, după anunțul revenirii sale pe teren: "La ora actuală e sub ei"" [Warning for Vlad Chiricheș, after the announcement of his return to the field: "At the moment he is below their level"] (in Romanian). Eurosport Romania. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Torje double keeps Romania in touch". UEFA. 2 September 2011.
  32. ^ a b c Vlad Chiricheș at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  33. ^ "Vlad Chiricheș". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
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