Virgil Dridea (17 November 1940 – 29 May 2022),[1] also known as Puiu Dridea, was a Romanian football player and manager. He played as a midfielder in 82 matches for Petrolul Ploiești and made his Divizia A debut on 24 August 1958 for the Yellow Wolves in a 3–0 victory against Jiul Petroșani.[2] In 1968, Dridea transferred to Metalul Plopeni, where in 1970 he started his football manager career, as the assistant coach of Gheorghe Bărbulescu.[2]
![]() Dridea in 1966 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Virgil Sebastian Dridea | ||
Date of birth | (1940-11-17)17 November 1940 | ||
Place of birth | Ploiești, Romania | ||
Date of death | 29 May 2022(2022-05-29) (aged 81) | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1950–1958 | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1958–1968 | Petrolul Ploiești | 82 | |
1959–1962 | → Știința București (loan) | ||
1968–1970 | Metalul Plopeni | ||
Teams managed | |||
1970–1978 | Metalul Plopeni (assistant) | ||
1978–1983 | Metalul Plopeni | ||
1983–1985 | Petro do Huambo | ||
1985–1988 | Prahova Ploiești | ||
1988–1992 | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
1992–1993 | Syria | ||
1994–1995 | Dacia Unirea Brăila | ||
1995–1996 | Metalul Plopeni | ||
1996–1997 | Al-Jaish | ||
1997–1999 | Midia Năvodari | ||
1999–2000 | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
2000–2001 | Midia Năvodari | ||
2001–2002 | Cimentul Fieni | ||
2002–2003 | Chindia Târgoviște | ||
2003–2004 | Metalul Plopeni | ||
2004 | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
"Puiu" Dridea was a well-known manager in Romania where he managed several clubs such as Metalul Plopeni, Petrolul Ploiești, Prahova Ploiești, Dacia Unirea Brăila and Chindia Târgoviște, among others. He also coached in Angola and Syria, where he managed Petro do Huambo, Al-Jaish and the Syria national team.[3][4]
His brother, Mircea Dridea, was also a footballer and manager.[5]
Petrolul Ploiești
Virgil Dridea managerial positions | |||||||||
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