Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Thursday, 30 April 2026 22:37 / Updated on Thursday, 30 April 2026 22:42
The University Family Cluj is in mourning. The Transylvanian club announced the death of Ioan Ciocan, one of the most important players in the team's history, who died at the age of 74.
The people of Cluj announced the death through the official pages. The club sent a message of condolences and underlined the former defender's important contribution to the history of the Red Caps.
Cluj University is in mourning: Ioan Ciocan passed away
The “red caps” posted a message on social media saying goodbye to Ioan Ciocan, one of the club's iconic players. Cluj University officials emphasized that the former defender was a pillar of the team's defense for almost a decade.
Today we say goodbye to Ioan Ciocan, one of the great players in the history of Cluj University.
Arriving at “U” in the 1978/1979 season, Ioan Ciocan was a pillar of the “students” defense until the end of 1987, performing constantly both in the first division and in the second echelon.
During his career in black and white, he made 313 appearances for the University and scored four goals.
God rest him in peace! Our sincere condolences to the bereaved family.
– transmitted by the University of Cluj
Cluj University is in mourning: Ioan Ciocan passed away // PHOTO: Facebook
313 matches for “U” Cluj
Ioan Ciocan collected a total of 313 official matches in the Cluj University jersey, in which he scored 8 goals.
Distribution by competitions:
-
League 1: 179 matches / 4 goals
-
League 2: 127 matches / 4 goals
-
Romanian Cup: 7 matches / 0 goals
The career of Ioan Ciocan
The former defender started his career at Arieseșul Turda in 1961, making his senior debut in 1969, at just 17 years old.
He arrived at Cluj University at the beginning of the 1978-1979 season, in Division B, and established himself as a starter from the very first match, won 3-0 against CSM Reșita. In the same season, he also scored the first goal, in the second leg with CFR, score 4-1, so that, in the next stage, he scored spectacularly in a categorical victory, 8-0, against the Dacia Orăștie team. At the end of the season, “U” promoted to Division A.
From 1982, the team returned to Division B, but the defender remained an undisputed starter, missing only five games in three seasons. In the 1984-1985 edition, the University again succeeded in promotion.
He was also a regular in Division A from 1985-1987, when he made 65 appearances and scored three times. The 1987-1988 season started excellently for Ciocan, who scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, in the match against Olt Scornicesti (1-0). After another 15 games, he made his last appearance for “U” on December 12, 1987, in a match lost 1-2 against Corvinul Hunedoara. Later, he returned to Arieseșul Turda, where he ended his playing career.
