Cristian Valentin Muscalu (born 3 October 1989) is a Romanian professional football midfielder.

Cristian Muscalu
Personal information
Full name Cristian Valentin Muscalu
Date of birth (1989-10-03) 3 October 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Position(s) Left winger / Midfielder
Youth career
1995–2003 Steaua București
2004–2005 Şcoala de Fotbal Gică Popescu
2005–2006 CSŞ Nucet
2006–2007 FC Köln
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Jiul Petroșani 0 (0)
2008 Sint-Truidense 1 (0)
2009 Slavija Sarajevo 9 (0)
2009–2010 FK Baku 2 (0)
2010Chernomorets Burgas (loan) 8 (0)
2010 Tur Turek 2 (0)
2011 Borac Čačak 0 (0)
2011–2012 Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ 15 (1)
2013 Voždovac 1 (0)
2014 Beira-Mar 4 (0)
2014–2015 Caransebeș 0 (0)
2015–2016 Metalul Frăsinet ? (?)
2016–2017 Poole Town 2 (0)
2017 Rapid București 1 (0)
International career
2008 Romania U-19 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 January 2018
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 July 2008

Club career edit

Muscalu started his youth career at Steaua spending 8 years, before separating from the club, he joined Gică Popescu's football academy playing there for a year, as well for CSŞ Nucet.[1] During 2006 he got noticed by youth coach Marcel Răducanu who sees him linked with a move to 1. FC Köln.[1] During his early career, Muscalu was for a few weeks on trial at Osasuna, Hertha Berlin and TSV 1860 Munich.[2][3][4]

Muscalu started as senior playing the first half of the 2007–08 season with Romanian second-level side CSM Jiul Petroșani. During winter-break he moved abroad to Belgium and signed with Sint-Truidense.[5] He made his official debut for Sint-Truidense on 12 April 2008 in the Belgian Pro League in a 2–0 loss to Westerlo. However, a year later he was transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina's FK Slavija to gain more experience, where he won a national cup. On 13 July 2009, he signed for FK Baku in Azerbaijan. After not having many chances, he played the last six months of that season loaned out to Chernomorets Burgas playing in the Bulgarian First League.[6] After summer 2010, Muscalu had a short spell with Polish second league club Tur Turek which lasted until October.[7] Before joining with Turek, he was also on trial with Lech Poznań[8] and Croatian club Istra 1961.[9]

In early 2011, he joined on a free transfer Serbian side FK Borac Čačak, but didn't play any game.[10] In the summer of 2011, he was close to sign for Swiss club SC Kriens however, the contract did not materialize.[11] On July, Muscalu returned to his home country to play in Liga I with newly promoted team Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ.[12]

He was regarded as a good talent of Romania, but he was affected by numerous injuries.[1]

In the summer 2013, Cristian Muscalu joined newly promoted Serbian SuperLiga side FK Voždovac.[13] In February 2014, Muscalu signed with Beira-Mar of Portugal.

In summer 2014 Muscalu returned to Romania and has played with lower-league sides FC Caransebeș and Metalul Frăsinet.[5]

International career edit

Muscalu was a member of the Romanian under-19 national team.

Honours edit

Slavija Sarajevo

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "La 20 de ani a jucat în cinci campionate diferite! Muscalu, globetrotterul fotbalului românesc" (in Romanian). asport.ro. Retrieved 5 May 2010.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Muscalu, "engañado " por su representante" (in Spanish). diariodenavarra.es. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  3. ^ "Kommt Muscalu zu Hertha?" (in German). bz-berlin.de. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Neuer Rumäne für Lienen?" (in German). fussball-vorort.de. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  5. ^ a b Muscalu at foradejogo.net
  6. ^ Budakov, Valentin (13 May 2010). "Черноморец" маха чужденци. Пламен Крумов и Николай Кръстев също напускат отбора (in Bulgarian). 7sport.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Muscalu nie jest już piłkarzem Tur Turek" (in Polish). mksturturek.pl. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Cristian Muscalu na testach w Lechu" (in Polish). sports.pl. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Cristian Muscalu na probi u Istri 1961" (in Croatian). nkistra1961.hr. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Cristian Muscalu odchodzi do FK Borac" (in Polish). 90minut.pl. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  11. ^ "News Sportclub Kriens" (in German). sck.ch. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  12. ^ "De la Tur Turek, la Ceahlăul" (in Romanian). digisport.ro. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  13. ^ Rumun Muskalu u Voždovcu at Sportski žurnal, 21-8-2013 (in Serbian)

External links edit