Florentin Matei

Florentin Matei (Romanian pronunciation: [florenˈtin maˈtej]; born 15 April 1993) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays mainly as an attacking midfielder for Apollon Limassol.

Florentin Matei
Matei playing for Volyn Lutsk in 2015
Personal information
Full name Florentin Matei
Date of birth (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993
Place of birth Bolintin-Vale, Romania
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Apollon Limassol
Number 93
Youth career
2005–2011 Steaua București
2011–2012 Cesena
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Steaua II București 2 (0)
2010–2011 Steaua București 2 (0)
2010 → Unirea Urziceni (loan) 5 (0)
2011–2013 Cesena 0 (0)
2013–2016 Volyn Lutsk 54 (10)
2016–2018 Rijeka 39 (4)
2018 → Astra Giurgiu (loan) 13 (4)
2018–2019 Ittihad Kalba 4 (1)
2019 FCSB 6 (0)
2019–2020 Astra Giurgiu 13 (0)
2020– Apollon Limassol 26 (8)
National team‡
2010 Romania U17 2 (0)
2011 Romania U19 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2011

He began his football career at Steaua București, before leaving his native country in 2011 to play for Cesena. He then had spells with Volyn Lutsk and Rijeka, winning two domestic trophies in Croatia with the latter. At the beginning of 2018, Matei returned to Romania on loan with Astra Giurgiu, but then joined Ittihad Kalba in the summer of the same year. After being released by the Emirati side in January 2019, he was resigned by his boyhood club FCSB.

Matei represented Romania at under-17 and under-19 level.

Club career

Steaua București

Born in Bolintin-Vale, Giurgiu County, Matei came through FC Steaua București's youth ranks, and in 2009 he was named the best player of the "Iulian Manzarov – International Football Tournament for Juniors" in Bulgaria.[1] On 16 May 2010 he made his Liga I debut for the senior team, in a 2–0 victory against FC Universitatea Craiova where he came on as a substitute for Romeo Surdu in the 82nd minute;[2] in September, he was sent on loan at fellow league side Unirea Urziceni along with several other teammates from Steaua's reserves.[3]

The following year, Matei terminated his contract with the capital-based club. As a result, Steaua owner George Becali criticised the youngster, stating in a controversial manner that he would never become an above average player.[4]

Cesena

After eight months as a free agent, Matei signed with A.C. Cesena from Italy on 11 September 2011.[5] He was released only a year later.

Volyn Lutsk

In the autumn of 2013, Matei agreed to a three-year deal with Ukrainian side Volyn Lutsk,[6] having been previously close to joining Dinamo București, the historical rival of his former club Steaua.[7][8] During his spell with "the Crusaders" he made 61 appearances all competitions comprised, and scored 12 goals.

Rijeka

On 2 February 2016, HNK Rijeka announced they had signed Matei on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[9] He was given the number 10 jersey and made his debut a week later, as an 85th-minute substitute in a 2–0 home win over NK Lokomotiva.[10] He scored his first goal for his new team in the first leg of the Croatian Cup semi-final, helping to a 2–1 defeat of Slaven Belupo.[11]

On 9 January 2018, Rijeka loaned Matei to Astra Giurgiu in Romania until the end of the campaign.[12][13]

Ittihad Kalba

In May 2018, after his loan at Astra Giurgiu expired, he moved to Emirati club Ittihad Kalba for a transfer fee of €500,000.[14] He netted his first goal on 28 September, in a 3–1 victory over Al-Nasr.[15]

Return to FCSB

Matei returned to his boyhood club Steaua București—now renamed FCSB—on 4 January 2019,[16][17] seven years after stating that he did not regret leaving the Roș-albaștrii and being subsequently criticised by owner Gigi Becali.[18]

Return to Astra Giurgiu

On 19 June 2019 he signed a 1-year contract with Liga I side Astra Giurgiu.[19]

International career

Matei earned caps for Romania's under-17 and under-19 teams.[20] In early 2016, Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu regarded him as a player who would deserve to be selected for the full side.[21]

Career statistics

Club
As of 23 August 2019[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Steaua București II 2009–10 Liga II 30–––30
2010–11 20–––20
Steaua București II total 50––––––50
FCSB 2009–10 Liga I 20–––20
2018–19 60–––60
FCSB total 80––––––80
Unirea Urziceni (loan) 2010–11 Liga I 5020––70
Volyn Lutsk 2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League 18210––192
2014–15 20230––232
2015–16 15632––188
Volyn Lutsk total 531072––––6012
Rijeka 2015–16 Croatian First League 13121––152
2016–17 1823020–232
2017–18 811052–143
Rijeka total 3946172––527
Astra Giurgiu 2017–18 Liga I 13410––144
2019–20 7000––70
FCSB total 20410––––214
Ittihad Kalba 2018–19 UAE Pro-League 41–––41
Career total 1341916372––15724

Honours

Club
Rijeka[22]

References
  1. "Junior stelist premiat" [Steaua junior receives medal] (in Romanian). Steaua București. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  2. "Steaua trimite Universitatea Craiova spre Liga 2" [Steaua sends Universitatea Craiova to Liga 2] (in Romanian). Ziare. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. "EXCLUSIV – Florentin "Messi" Matei va juca la Urziceni! Vezi aici cine a refuzat "exilul" la Unirea!" [EXCLUSIVE – Florentin "Messi" Matei will play for Urziceni! See here who refused the Unirea "exile"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. "Fl. Matei: "Am dat mulţi bani ca să plec de la Steaua. Becali s-a simţit jignit"" [Fl. Matei: "I paid a lot of money to leave Steaua. Becali felt offended"] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. "Mijlocaşul Florentin Matei a semnat un contract pe cinci ani cu Cesena" [Midfielder Florentin Matei signed a five-year contract with Cesena] (in Romanian). Mediafax. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  6. ""Micul Messi" şi-a găsit în sfîrşit echipă » Florentin Matei: "O iau de jos, vreau să ajung unde îmi doresc dintotdeauna"" ["Little Messi" finally found a team » Florentin Matei: "I'm starting from the bottom, I want to be where I always wanted"] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  7. "Prima promisiune făcută de Florentin Matei dinamoviştilor: "Vă aduc victoria cu Steaua"" [Florentin Matei's first promise to Dinamo fans: "I'll bring you the victory against Steaua"] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  8. "EXCLUSIV – Dinamo a renunţat la Florentin Matei" [EXCLUSIVE – Dinamo dropped Florentin Matei] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  9. "Florentin Matei potpisao za Rijeku i zaradio pljesak publike" [Florentin Matei signed for Rijeka and earned applause] (in Croatian). HNK Rijeka. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  10. "Rijeka – Lokomotiva 2:0" (in Croatian). Croatian First Football League. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  11. "Rijeka – Slaven Belupo 2:1" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  12. "S-a făcut! Astra a reuşit două transferuri excelente pentru a rămâne pe loc de play-off" [Done deals! Astra made two excellent transfers to maintain its position in the championship play-off] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  13. "Şi Florentin Matei a semnat cu Astra Giurgiu" [Florentin Matei also signed for Astra Giurgiu] (in Romanian). News.ro. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  14. "Florentin Matei a semnat cu Al-Ittihad Kalba! Gigi Becali a ratat doi jucători într-o zi" [Florentin Matei signed with Al-Ittihad Kalba! Gigi Becali missed on two players in one day]. Libertatea (in Romanian). 25 May 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  15. "Primul gol pentru Florentin Matei în Emirate! Reuşită împotriva echipei la care joacă Alvaro Negredo" [The first goal for Matei in the United Arab Emirates! He scored against the team where Álvaro Negredo plays] (in Romanian). Telekom Sport. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  16. "Bine ai venit, Florentin Matei!" [Welcome, Florentin Matei!] (in Romanian). FCSB. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  17. "OFICIAL | Florentin Matei a fost prezentat de FCSB: "E o provocare". Teja a cerut alt jucător, dar Becali a insistat pentru mijlocaş: "E şapte clase peste ce a vrut el"" [OFFICIAL | Florentin Matei was presented by FCSB: "It's a challenge". Teja had requested another player, but Becali insisted for the midfielder: "He is seven classes above what he wanted"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  18. ""Dacă ajunge fotbalist, îmi tai capul!" / "Bine că am scăpat de acolo!" Becali l-a dat afară cu scandal, acum îl vrea înapoi" ["If he becomes a footballer, I'll cut my head off!" / "I feel so good for escaping there" Becali kicked him out with a fuss, now he wants him back] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. "Trei noutăți sub comanda lui Alexa" [Three new players under Alexa's command] (in Romanian). afcastragiurgiu.ro. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  20. "România U17, învinsă la Mogoşoaia de Germania, scor 1–3" [Romania U17, beaten by Germany at Mogoșoaia, 1–3] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  21. "Mircea Lucescu crede că și Florentin Matei merită o șansă la națională: "Înseamnă foarte mult"" [Mircea Lucescu believes that Floretin Matei deserves a chance too at the national team: "It means a lot"] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  22. Florentin Matei at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
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