Article by Remus Dinu, Cezar Titor – Published Thursday, December 25, 2025 5:07 p.m. / Updated Thursday, December 25, 2025 5:29 p.m.
Ivan Martic, ex-University of Craiova and U Cluja Swiss with more than 100 games accumulated in Romania, retired from football in 2025 at the age of 35, after a last checkered experience in the lower leagues of his native country. The former Juve defender spoke with gratitude about the time he spent in our country, in an interview with GSP.ro reporters.
He spent more than four years in Bănie, and Craiova entered his heart definitively and irrevocably. Ivan Martic, the defender who “served” Olteni for many seasons, did not forget either the club that adopted him as one of his “home”, nor Romania and the memories collected here.
The former defender of Craiova confessed in the interview given to Gazeta that he remained connected to the events in the Superliga, reaffirming his attachment to the team with which he won the Cup in 2018.
Ivan Martic remained in love with Romania: “My second home! I miss the moments spent there”
“Of course, I follow the Romanian championship. I played for many years in that championship, so, for me, Romania is like a second home. I loved living there and I miss your countrybecause I met a lot of quality people.
The country is impressive and, as I said, I miss the moments I spent in Romania.
I hope I can return there, maybe as a coach, but definitely as a tourist, because I will return with an open heart, I have many memories from there”, said Martic, in dialogue with GSP.ro.
The Swiss native of the canton of St. Gallen. continued with a declaration of love for the University:
“I liked it in Craiova, I loved playing there, I liked the people, I liked the atmosphere. Here, in Switzerland, you can't feel what you feel in Romania at the level of the fans, it's impossible. The fan culture in Romania is incredible!
(…) The university is a healthy club, with a lot of potential, special fans, a very beautiful stadium and an excellent football culture”.
What is Martic doing today?
“At the moment I'm working on getting my diplomas, now I'm certified for the UEFA B license, I'm following the process and hopefully one day I'll be able to become a professional coach. I feel good, even if I'm missing my playing career, it was something different.”
I hope that one day I will enjoy the Romanian championship again… Many players ask me: «Ivan, how is it in Romania? Can I sign there, how is the country, how is football?». I can only say good things about Romania, about this country, about people, about football and that I am proud to have been part of the history of Romanian football
– Ivan Martic, former defender University of Craiova
5 goalsand Ivan Martic managed 8 assists for Craiova, in 88 appearances
