Nicolae Dică has four proposals for the Romanian footballer of the year 2025. Three from the Super League, one from abroad
Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Monday, December 15, 2025, 4:15 p.m. / Updated Monday, December 15, 2025, 4:15 p.m.
Nicolae Dică, the Footballer of the Year in Gazetai Sporturilor's 2006 survey, when he was a UEFA Cup quarter-finalist, believes that Darius Olaru, Dennis Man, Daniel Bîrligea and Ștefan Baiaram can fight for the big trophy in 2025.
- Having reached its 60th edition, the Survey organized by Gazeta Sporturilor, the oldest and most prestigious awarding of trophies in Romanian sport, will award its champions on Wednesday, December 17, from 20:00.
- 5 major awards will be awarded: Footballer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Foreigner of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year, following a complex voting system that includes fans, journalists, club officials, coaches, captains and federations.
- On December 18, free of charge, together with the newspaper Libertatea, Gazeta Sporturilor publishes a collection edition of the newspaper, of 24 pages, with the best interviews given by the winners.
Nicolae Dica45 years old, was named the Footballer of the Year 2006. The former decar had a fantastic year then. He reached the UEFA Cup final with Steaua Bucharest, the red-blues being dramatically eliminated by the English from Middlesbrough, won the championship, then played in the Champions League groups, where the Pitesti player shone.
Present in the GSP studio, the current coach was questioned about his personal options regarding the Romanian footballer of the year 2025.
Nicolae Dică has 4 proposals for the Romanian footballer of the year 2025
“I would have to choose one from FCSB, because he had a very good season. He won the championship, he also had performances in the European spring… I would nominate Olaru, for example. He was very important for the team.
There is also Dennis Man, extraordinary, even if he had a transition period from Parma to PSV, he integrated more difficult in Eindhoven. Bîrligea is another important player with very good developments.
Maybe Baiaram… If he appeared at the beginning of the year it would be even better, but he was good starting in the summer, in the European cups and in the championship”, commented Nicolae Dică for Gazeta Sporturilor.
2.5millions of euros was collected by Gigi Becali from Catania in the summer of 2008, when he transferred Dică to the Sicilian team
Nicolae Dică recalled the moment when he was the Romanian Footballer of the Year in 2006: “It was hard to face Mutu and Chivu back then!”
“Now I realize what it was then. But together with the team… Without my colleagues I would not have been able to be number 1. I remember being in the top five as a player at FC Argeș and thinking: “Will I ever be in the top 3 in Romania?!”.
The transfer to Steaua fulfilled this dream. I was in first place in front of Chivu and Mutu! Plus there were also Raț, and Lobonț, and many other footballers. A sensational thing. It was hard to face Chivu and Mutu back then!
It was like in the period with Hagi and Gică Popescu when they won year after year the title of the best footballer in Romania. I never dreamed that I would reach this high.
I only dreamed of reaching the big team of Pitesti. I was looking at Vasile Popa, at Jean Barbu… When I got to be near them, it was a great joy”, Dică also declared.
6trophies won by Dică in his career: three championships (two with Steaua, one with CFR Cluj), two Cups (one with Steaua, one with CFR) and one Supercup (with Steaua)
2008this is the year he participated with Romania in the European Championship, he has 9 goals in 33 selections for the national team
Nicolae Dica about the year 2006: “It was my Oscar”
“It was the Oscar of my career and I'm very sorry that I didn't win that award once more”, declared Nicolae Dică years later, about the 1st place occupied in the historic investigation of Gazeta Sporturilur.
That year, Dică won the award, ahead of Adrian Mutu (Juventus/Fiorentina), Cristian Chivu (Roma), Dănuț Coman (Rapid) and Ciprian Marica (Shakhtior Donetsk).
4goals and 2 assists Dica has in the Champions League groups in 12 matches. Plus 2 goals and 2 assists in 10 UCL qualifiers
7goals and 2 assists Dica has in the UEFA Cup in 22 matches
