Dan Nistor, at 38, has officially become the player with the most matches in Romanian football history. With his appearance in the match against UTA Arad, he reached his 516th game in the Superliga, surpassing the legendary Ionel Dănciulescu.
This moment marks a historic milestone for Romanian football and for Dan Nistor. The midfielder of Universitatea Cluj started as a starter in the home match against UTA Arad, officially becoming the player with the highest number of appearances in the Superliga.
The record of 515 matches was previously held by Ionel Dănciulescu, who reached that milestone on October 6, 2013, during his final match in the Superliga, a game between Dinamo and Ceahlăul Piatra-Neamț that ended in a 1-1 draw.
After 13 years, Nistor has eclipsed Dănciulescu’s record. He made his Superliga debut nearly 16 years ago, on July 23, 2010, in a match between Pandurii and Unirea Urziceni that ended 0-0, under the management of Ionuț Badea.
Throughout his career, Nistor has played for Pandurii Târgu Jiu, Universitatea Cluj, Dinamo, and CFR Cluj, where he became champion in the 2017-2018 season, as well as Universitatea Craiova.
Ionel Dănciulescu: “I’m Happy Dan Surpassed Me! I Hold Him in High Regard”
With this achievement, Dan Nistor enters the history books of Romanian football, and Ionel Dănciulescu shared his thoughts on this special moment in an exclusive interview.
“Firstly, every record is meant to be broken. I am very pleased that it was Dan Nistor who did it, a guy I hold in high regard. I admire him especially for being tough, hardworking, and serious, achieving this impressive number. It’s commendable that he continues to play football at such a high level,” stated the former great striker.
When asked about the secret to their successful careers, Dănciulescu emphasized discipline: “I believe it’s about maintaining a focused life outside of sports. We focused solely on football. There were no compromises in our pursuit of success. We led an organized life, as any football player should. I think that’s why we reached such impressive figures. I believe he will keep playing for another two years. Unfortunately, I had to retire earlier, but I am satisfied with what I accomplished in football,” he added.
“I Was Devoted to Dinamo and Its Colors”
Both Ionel Dănciulescu and Dan Nistor spent a large part of their careers at Dinamo, serving as exemplary figures for players and fans alike.
“I cannot say if we were the most beloved players. I want supporters to remember me as someone devoted to the club and its colors. I demonstrated this through my actions on the pitch. I hope to be one of the appreciated players by those who love Dinamo,” said Dănciulescu.
He reminisced about a moment featuring Dan Nistor when the midfielder scored and revealed a shirt that read, “Danciu, stay with us!” following a 3-1 victory in the Romanian Cup against Dacia Unirea Brăila.
“I certainly remember that moment… When I first left Dinamo. It was emotional. I thank him and the entire team that was there at that time,” concluded Dănciulescu.
I never thought this would happen, to be honest. I started playing football at 19. Before that, I worked at a hotel in Rucăr. My parents always urged me to focus on having a steady job. I really didn’t expect this,
Dan Nistor, Universitatea Cluj midfielder
Top 10 All-Time Appearances in Superliga
- 1. DAN NISTOR – 516
- 2. Ionel Dănciulescu – 515
- 3. Costică Ștefănescu – 490
- 4. Florea Ispir – 485
- 5. Ladislau Boloni – 484
- 6. Costel Câmpeanu – 470
- 7. Petre Marin – 468
- 8. Paul Cazan – 465
- 9. Cornel Dinu – 454
- 10. Constantin Stancu – 447
Thirty footballers in the history of Romanian football have played over 400 matches in the Superliga, with three still active: Dan Nistor (U Cluj), Mario Camora (CFR Cluj), and Ionuț Larie (Farul).
