Edward Iordănescu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈedu.ard jordəˈnesku]; born 16 June 1978), sometimes known as Iordănescu Jr., is a Romanian former footballer who played as a midfielder, and the current manager of the Romania national team.
![]() Iordănescu with Romania in 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (1978-06-16) 16 June 1978 (age 44) | ||
Place of birth | Bucharest, Romania | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Romania (manager) | ||
Youth career | |||
1984–1996 | Steaua București | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996 | Steaua București | 1 | (0) |
1997–1998 | Sportul Studențesc | 0 | (0) |
1998–1999 | Panionios | 2 | (0) |
1999–2000 | Diplomatic Focșani | 2 | (1) |
2000–2001 | Rapid București | 0 | (0) |
2001 | → Rocar București (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2001–2002 | Alki Larnaca | 5 | (0) |
2002–2003 | Petrolul Ploiești | 8 | (0) |
2003–2004 | Vaslui | 8 | (0) |
Total | 43 | (1) | |
Teams managed | |||
2010 | Steaua București (assistant) | ||
2010 | Steaua București (caretaker) | ||
2011–2012 | Steaua București (assistant) | ||
2012 | FC Vaslui (assistant) | ||
2012 | FC Vaslui (caretaker) | ||
2013 | Fortuna Brazi | ||
2013 | ASA Târgu Mureș | ||
2014–2016 | Pandurii Târgu Jiu | ||
2016 | CSKA Sofia | ||
2017–2018 | Astra Giurgiu | ||
2018 | CFR Cluj | ||
2019–2020 | Gaz Metan Mediaș | ||
2020–2021 | CFR Cluj | ||
2021 | FCSB | ||
2022– | Romania | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
He represented nine teams during a rather uneventful playing career, of which Panionios and Alki Larnaca abroad. Like his father Anghel, he started both his playing and coaching career at Steaua București.[1][2]
Iordănescu has found more success after his retirement as a player, earning a reputation in his country of being a studious manager who prepares matches in great detail.[3] During his two stints at CFR Cluj he guided the team to three domestic trophies, and in 2022 was appointed at the helm of the Romania national team.
Iordănescu's connection with Steaua București began in early 1984, at the age of six. His father Anghel Iordănescu, who was an assistant coach at the time, took him along with him to attend games on the Ghencea Stadium. He sat next to Alin Stoica, also the son of a club legend, and they began playing together during warm ups and half-time breaks. After playing for Steaua's youth teams, Iordănescu was promoted to the first team in 1996 along with Stoica.
He failed to impose himself at the Roș-albaștrii and left for Sportul Studențesc in 1997. Iordănescu spent the rest of his career with several teams in Romania—Unirea Focșani, Rapid București, Rocar București, Petrolul Ploiești and Vaslui. He also had spells abroad in Greece and Cyprus with Panionios and Alki Larnaca, respectively.
Iordănescu retired from playing football in 2004, in order to begin his managerial studies. He took courses in Italy, Spain and England. In 2010, after Ilie Dumitrescu announced his resignation from his role as Steaua București manager, Iordănescu took over as interim coach.
On 20 June 2013, Iordănescu signed a contract with Liga II side ASA Târgu Mureș with the clear target to promote to Liga I. In October 2013, he resigned. In December 2014, Iordănescu was named head coach of Pandurii Târgu Jiu. He guided his side to the final of the 2014–15 Cupa Ligii competition. On 24 August 2016, Iordănescu was unveiled as the new head coach of Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia.[4] Polish side Lech Poznań were also interested in hiring Iordănescu.[5] On 27 November 2016, following a 1–1 home draw against Vereya, he resigned from his duties.[6]
On 8 June 2017, he was appointed manager of Liga I club Astra Giurgiu.[7] On 2 April 2018, his contract with the club was terminated after a mutual agreement.[8] On 13 June 2018, Iordănescu signed a three-year deal with CFR Cluj, replacing Dan Petrescu who left for Guizhou Hengfeng.[9] He won his first trophy as a manager on 15 July, as his new side defeated Universitatea Craiova 1–0 in the Supercupa României.[10]
On 12 September 2021, Iordănescu coaching FCSB, managed the biggest score victory in the history of the Eternal derby, 6–0.
On 25 January 2022, Iordănescu was appointed as the new manager of the Romania national football team.[11]
Iordănescu dated Romanian singer-songwriter Delia Matache from 2005 to 2006.[12] He is now married to a woman with whom he has three children.[13]
Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | |||||||
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P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
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20 September 2010 | 27 September 2010 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 050.00 | |
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24 September 2012 | 27 September 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 000.00 | |
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11 January 2013 | 13 May 2013 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 6 | +19 | 080.00 | |
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20 June 2013 | 9 October 2013 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | +0 | 033.33 | |
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16 December 2014 | 20 June 2016 | 59 | 27 | 17 | 15 | 83 | 62 | +21 | 045.76 | |
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25 August 2016 | 29 November 2016 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 041.67 | [14] |
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8 June 2017 | 2 April 2018 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 042.86 | [14] |
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13 June 2018 | 26 July 2018 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 033.33 | [14] |
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7 January 2019 | 1 June 2020 | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 54 | 43 | +11 | 042.86 | [15] |
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4 December 2020 | 2 June 2021 | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 49 | 15 | +34 | 070.00 | [14] |
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18 August 2021 | 15 November 2021 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 11 | +13 | 072.73 | [14] |
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25 January 2022 | present | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 022.22 | [14] |
Total | 220 | 108 | 56 | 56 | 315 | 204 | +111 | 049.09 | — |
Steaua București
Petrolul Ploiești
Pandurii Târgu Jiu
CFR Cluj
Individual
Current managers of UEFA national teams | |
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