The goalkeeper from the first title of the University of Craiova has died

The former great goalkeeper Florin Oprea died at the age of 76. He defended the team’s goals in the first championship title of the University of Craiova, in the 1973-1974 season.

Oprea, born on January 2, 1948, defended the goal of the team from Bănie between 1967 and 1975, after which he played for Dinamo Slatina.

Florin Oprea obtained the title of “Honorary Citizen of Craiova” last year. He received the role of “ambassador of the University of Craiova” and kicked off the match in the last stage of the last season, with Sepsi. He was runner-up in 1973, played in the Romanian Cup final in 1975 and was captain of the U21 national team. He was also part of the Romanian Olympic team.

Craiova dramatically lost the title in 1973, but a year later they “broke the ice” and obtained the first trophy in history. Ilie Balaci, nicknamed the “Blond Wonder”, was a colleague of Florin Oprea.

The people of Olten made the sad announcement through social networks.

“Florin Oprea, the former great goalkeeper of the “Champion of Great Love” and ambassador of Science, left us this morning. We will never forget the goalkeeper who defended the goal of Science at the first championship title. The University of Craiova is with the bereaved family. May God forgive him!”, is the statement from the University of Craiova.

Craiova University team in the 1973 – 1974 season

Goalkeepers: Florin Oprea (23), Paul Manta (12 matches);

Field players: Petre Deselnicu (33 matches, 2 goals), Lucian Strâmbeanu (33), Alexandru Boc (32, 1), Ion Bălan (32, 19 – the team’s top scorer), Teo Ţarălungă (31, 11), Ion Oblemenco (29, 14 – team captain), Ion Nita (29, 2), Victor Niculescu (28), Ilie Balaci (27, 3), Dragu Bădin (25), Dumitru Marcu (25, 7), Cornel Berneanu (23) , Costică Ştefănescu (20), Ion Velea (14, 1), Nicolae Ivan (9, 2), Ion Stăncescu (3), Ioan Kiss (2), Mircea Chivu (1), Ion Constantinescu (1), Nicolae Negrilă ( 1), Constantin Pană (1).

Trainers: Constantin Cernăianu, Constantin Oțet. Doctor: Vasile Franculescu.