“It's one of the most important trophies in my career”

Ionel Danciulescu, 49 years old, is a legend of Romanian football, one of the great strikers that Romania has had. Danciu-gol was the laureate of Gazeta Sporturilor's historical survey in 2004, an extraordinary year for the former top. He conquered the event that year when he was #1 in Ioan Andone's lineup.

• Reached issue number 60the investigation organized by Gazeta Sporturilor, the oldest and most prestigious awarding of trophies in Romanian sport, will award its champions on Wednesday, December 17, from 8:00 p.m.

• 5 major prizes will be awarded: Footballer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Foreigner of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year, after a complex voting system that includes fans, journalists, club officials, coaches, captains and federations.

• On December 18, for free, together with the newspaper Libertatea, Gazeta Sporturilor publishes a collection edition of the newspaper, of 24 pages, with the hottest interviews given by the winners.

214goals scored by Ionel Danciulescu in the first domestic division in 515 matches. Second in the ranking of all-time goalscorers in L1 after the legendary Dudu Georgescu (252 goals)

Ionel Dănciulescu, the best Romanian footballer of 2004: “Not all of my favorites managed to win this trophy”

– Danciul, what does that individual trophy mean to you, won in 2024, a fabulous year for you?
– It was one of the most important trophies in my career. Something extraordinary, considering who else has won such a trophy.

The front page of Gazeta Sporturilor, which celebrated the supremacy of Ionel Danciulescu in 2004

– Do you remember what you said to me in the interview after the awarding of the trophy?
– That it is the most important (trophy) for me that year. And I had won something (laughs).

– “The trophy of life”, that's exactly what you said. Why was it so important to be the Romanian footballer of the year in Gazeta Sporturilor's investigation?
– It is not easy to win a trophy that Romania's great footballers have won in the past. I also had favorite footballers, like Ilie Dumitrescu… Did he really win the trophy?
– No.

Ionel Danciulescu won the big trophy in 2004, followed by Adrian Neaga, Mirel Rădoi, Daniel Niculae, Florentin Petre and Tiberiu Ghioane

– Look! Then, I also liked Rodion Cămătaru and Dorin Mateuț. Did they win?
– Yes, Matteo in 1988 when he was also the Golden Shoe of Europe. See! We are talking about great footballers. Some did not have the opportunity to put their name on a prestigious trophy. (laughing) Okay, there was also the period when Gică Hagi was at a high level and won trophy after trophy. Plus we had a lot of big, huge footballers.

I won in 2004 and because I was playing ultra-offensive football at Dinamo. With many goals. I remember making a perfect pair with Claudiu Niculescu. We played an ultra-offensive 3-4-3, it was a dream season
Ionel Danciulescu

Ionel Danciulescu on the best Romanian footballer of 2025: “Maybe Rațiu”

– What is your opinion about the best Romanian footballer of 2025?
– It is clear that you have to take the performances of both the club team and the national team, not just what one or the other did personally. It's hard to say who was the best, it wasn't that obvious. Maybe Rațiu… Good form in the national team, La Liga player.

– Who else would complete the top?
– Besides Rațiu, I would also mention Man, Ianis Hagi, Olaru and Răzvan Marin. There are other good ones too, but it's like they somehow made the difference.

8selections and two goals (against Germany, 5-1 in a friendly from 2004) Danciu managed a goal for the first representative

Ionel Danciulescu on the best Romanian coach of 2025: “I see Cristi Chivu”

– What are your options for the Romanian coach of the year?
– The coach would be Cristi Chivu. I don't know if it's the “clean” 1st place, one hundred percent, but it's “there” in the top-top. There are also Răzvan Lucescu, Zeljko Kopic, Costel Gâlcă and Leo Grozavu. The last two have done very good things at club teams that are impressing in League 1. And there is also Kopic, who we all see what he is doing at Dinamo. Răzvan Lucescu continues to be high abroad, where it is difficult, at PAOK Thessaloniki. And Chivu performs at the highest level, in Italy.

– Foreigner of the year 2025?
– The top five would be Cisotti, Gnahore, Boateng, Emërllahu and Caio.