Andrei Ionescu

Andrei Ionescu (born 29 March 1988 in Craiova) is a Romanian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Metaloglobus București.[2]

Andrei Ionescu
Ionescu warming up for Steaua
Personal information
Full name Andrei Ionescu[1]
Date of birth (1988-03-29) 29 March 1988[1]
Place of birth Craiova, Romania
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Metaloglobus București
Number 18
Youth career
1995–2004 Universitatea Craiova
2004–2005 PSV Eindhoven
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Universitatea Craiova 55 (4)
2008–2011 Steaua București 16 (0)
2009–2011 Steaua II București 13 (0)
2010 → Politehnica Iași (loan) 8 (0)
2011–2012 Royal Antwerp 28 (1)
2012–2014 Ferencváros 19 (1)
2012–2013 Ferencváros II 4 (0)
2014–2015 Naft Al-Janoob 22 (1)
2016 FC Eindhoven 5 (0)
2016 ASIL Lysi 12 (0)
2017 Voluntari 3 (0)
2017–2018 Aizawl FC 16 (3)
2018 Voluntari 0 (0)
2019– Metaloglobus București 22 (1)
National team
2005–2006 Romania U-19 6 (0)
2006–2010 Romania U-21 17 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 December 2020

Club career

Universitatea Craiova

Ionescu is a product of Universitatea Craiova's youth system and has been a regular player for them. Rising through the ranks, he became captain of the side on several occasions. His talent caught the attention of Dutch club PSV in 2004, where he spent one season in their academy.[3] Ionescu has a lot of qualities his great passes and acceleration goes along with good dribbling attributes. He is also good-working player, who is battling for every ball in his reach.

He made his professional Liga I debut on 27 August 2006 in a 0–4 loss to Dinamo București. In his three seasons at Craiova, he played 54 matches and scored 4 goals.

Steaua București

On 24 August 2008, he signed a five-year contract with Steaua București. He is in co-ownership with Universitatea Craiova. The following two seasons saw Ionescu in and out of the squad, making only 18 league and cup appearances during the two years, mostly from the substitutes bench. After the arrival of new manager Cristiano Bergodi, Ionescu became a regular starter for Steaua in the 2009–10 Europa League season. He made his European debut on 16 July 2009 against Hungarian side Újpest in a 2–0 win.[1] Struggling for first team opportunities, Ionescu was sent out on loan to Politehnica Iaşi on 10 February 2010 until the summer.[4] During the 2010 summer transfer window, he was close to sign a loan deal with Turkish side Mersin İdmanyurdu. However, the transfer failed. In the winter of 2010–11 season, Ionescu was demoted to the B squad.

In June 2011, Ionescu left Steaua.

Royal Antwerp

On 31 August 2011, the free agent signed a two-year contract with Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

Ferencváros Budapest

On 30 August 2012 he signed a contract with the Hungarian record champion Ferencváros Budapest.[5]

Later years

In February 2016, 28-year-old Ionescu signed a four-month contract with Dutch Eerste Divisie club Eindhoven.[6] In January 2017, he returned to Romania after six years by penning a deal with Voluntari.[7]

Aizawl FC

Ionescu switched clubs and countries in August and signed for Indian club Aizawl F.C..[8] He scored a goal in the 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs against Zob Ahan and became the first player to score a goal for Aizawl in any continental competitions. Ionescu's powerful right-footer from the centre of the box beat Zob Ahan goalkeeper Mohammad Mazaheri after he connected cross delivered by Laldinliana Renthlei.

International career

Ionescu has played for Romania since the U-19 level and made his debut in September 2006 in a 4–2 win over Belgium.[1] On 22 February 2006, he made his debut for the Romania U-21 squad in a friendly against Turkey.

Honours
Steaua București
Ferencváros
Voluntari

References
  1. "Profile of Andrei Ionescu". UEFA. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  2. Metaloglobus atacă Mioveniul cu o nouă achiziţie, fostul stelist Andrei Ionescu. Balint: ”Va pune umărul serios pentru îndeplinirea obiectivului echipei”. liga2.prosport.ro (in Romanian)
  3. "Thursday morning training report". PSV.nl. 9 December 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  4. "Andrei Ionescu, imprumutat la Politehnica Iasi!" (in Romanian). SteauaFC.com. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  5. "Ionescu at Ferencváros" (in Hungarian). 30 August 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  6. "Andrei Ionescu a semnat un contract pe patru luni cu FC Eindhoven [Andrei Ionescu signed a four-month contract with FC Eindhoven]" (in Romanian). Prosport. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  7. "Andrei Ionescu, aproape să revină în Liga 1 după 6 ani [Andrei Ionescu return to Liga I after 6 years]" (in Romanian). GSP. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  8. "Aizawl FC signs striker from Romanian top division club!". Superpower Football. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
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