Paul Constantin Codrea (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈpa.ul ˈkodre̯a]; born 4 April 1981) is a Romanian football manager and former player, currently in charge of Liga III club ASU Politehnica Timișoara.

Paul Codrea
Codrea in 2009
Personal information
Full name Paul Constantin Codrea
Date of birth (1981-04-04) 4 April 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Timișoara, Romania
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
ASU Politehnica Timișoara (head coach)
Youth career
0000–1996 LPS Banatul Timișoara
1996–1997 Dinamo București
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Dinamo București 2 (0)
1997–1999Politehnica Timișoara[a] (loan) 30 (2)
1999–2000Argeș Pitești (loan) 34 (1)
2001–2003 Genoa 50 (2)
2003–2006 Palermo 32 (2)
2004Perugia (loan) 12 (1)
2004–2005Torino (loan) 35 (1)
2006–2012 Siena 109 (2)
2011Bari (loan) 6 (0)
2012 Rapid București 11 (0)
2013 ASU Politehnica Timișoara 2 (0)
Total 323 (11)
International career
2000 Romania U21 3 (0)
2000–2010 Romania 44 (1)
Managerial career
2013–2014 ASU Politehnica Timișoara
2015–2017 Ghiroda
2017–2018 Ripensia Timișoara
2019–2020 Ghiroda
2020–2023 ASU Politehnica Timișoara (youth)
2023 ASU Politehnica Timișoara (sporting director)
2023– ASU Politehnica Timișoara
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

Club edit

Paul Codrea started playing football in his hometown at the LPS Banatul Timișoara club.[1][2] He went to play for Dinamo București, making his Divizia A debut on 1 March 1997 when he came as a substitute and replaced Cătălin Hîldan in a 1–0 loss against Gloria Bistrița.[1][2][3] After playing one more game in Divizia A for Dinamo, the club loaned him to play for Politehnica Timișoara in Divizia B.[1][2] Two seasons later, he returned to play in Divizia A this time, being loaned by Dinamo at Argeș Pitești.[1][2][4] In 2001, Codrea moved abroad, signing with Serie B club Genoa for a transfer fee of 2.75 million $, being teammates with fellow Romanians Claudiu Niculescu, Adrian Mihalcea and Valentin Năstase.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10] He later joined Palermo for a transfer fee of approximate €2.5 million plus the forward Giuseppe Mascara, reuniting at The Eagles with Valentin Năstase, in the first half of the 2003–04 Serie B season helping the team win the Serie B title, thus gaining promotion to Serie A.[1][2][3][11][12][13] In January 2004 he was loaned by Palermo together with Franco Brienza at Serie A team Perugia in exchange for the transfer of Fabio Grosso.[1][2][14] He was loaned once again by Palermo at Torino for the 2004–05 Serie B season in which he scored one goal in 35 appearances, helping the team gain promotion to Serie A, which was later revoked because of the club's financial problems.[1][2][15] Codrea definitively left Palermo when he signed with Serie A club Siena in 2006, where he had the most successful spell of his career, as played in over 100 Serie A matches until 2012, with an interruption of a half a year in 2011 when he was loaned at Bari, also for a short while he had compatriot Cosmin Moți as teammate.[1][2][3][16][17][18] In July 2012, he returned to Romania and joined Rapid București and in the winter of 2013, he returned home at Politehnica Timișoara being a player-manager.[1][2][3][19][20] Codrea has a total of 133 matches and three goals scored in Serie A, 111 matches and six goals scored in Serie B, 47 games and one goal scored in Divizia A and 6 games played for Palermo in the 2005–06 UEFA Cup.[1][3]

International career edit

Paul Codrea played 44 games and scored one goal at international level for Romania, making his debut on 15 November 2000 under coach László Bölöni in a friendly which ended with a 2–1 victory against FR Yugoslavia.[21][22] He scored his only goal for the national team on his fourth appearance in a friendly against Lithuania which ended with a 3–0 victory.[21] He played four games at the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, five at the Euro 2004 qualifiers and two at the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.[21] Codrea played 8 games at the successful Euro 2008 qualifiers.[21] He was used by coach Victor Pițurcă in all three games in the group stage at the Euro 2008 final tournament, in the first one which was a 0–0 against France he came as a substitute and replaced Răzvan Cociș in the 64th minute, in the second one he played the whole game of the 1–1 against Italy and in the third game he played as a starter and was replaced in the 72nd minute by Nicolae Dică in the 2–0 loss against Netherlands.[21][23][24][25] Paul Codrea went to play four games at the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and made his last appearance for the national team on 3 March 2010 in a friendly which ended with a 2–0 loss against Israel.[21]

On 25 March 2008, Codrea was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu, for his performance in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group G, where Romania managed to qualify to UEFA Euro 2008 Group C. He received Medalia "Meritul Sportiv" – ("The Sportive Merit" Medal) class III.[26][27]

International stats edit

Romania[21]
Year Apps Goals
2000 3 0
2001 6 1
2002 6 0
2003 3 0
2004 1 0
2005 1 0
2006 3 0
2007 9 0
2008 5 0
2009 6 0
2010 1 0
Total 44 1

International goals edit

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 28 February 2001 GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus   Lithuania 0–3 0–3 Friendly[21]

Coaching career edit

He signed with fifth league team ASU Politehnica Timișoara in 2013, replacing Antonio Foale who became General Manager.[20][28] He debuted with a 3–0 victory over Gran-Plaz Liebling on 18 March 2013.[29] He resigned on 29 November 2014.[30]

Honours edit

Player edit

Palermo

Coach edit

Ghiroda

Notes edit

  1. ^ The statistics for the 1997–98 Divizia B season are unavailable.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Paul Codrea at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i ""Căci alb îmi este sufletul, violetă inima"... Paul Codrea, antrenorul sufletelor noastre" ["Because my soul is white, my heart is purple" ... Paul Codrea, the coach of our souls] (in Romanian). Ziarultimisoara.ro. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Paul Codrea, interviu incomod despre problemele fotbalului românesc: "Nu puteam accepta ca oamenii puși politic la un club să-mi spună ce să fac!" + povești savuroase din Italia" [Paul Codrea, awkward interview about the problems of Romanian football: "I couldn't accept that people put politically in a club would tell me what to do!" + delicious stories from Italy] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Stroe: FC Argeș nu a fost implicat în transferul lui Codrea la Genoa" [Stroe: FC Argeș was not involved in Codrea's transfer to Genoa] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. ^ "LPS Timișoara cere clubului Dinamo 275.000 de euro din transferul lui Paul Codrea la Genoa" [LPS Timișoara demands from the Dinamo club 275,000 euros from the transfer of Paul Codrea to Genoa] (in Romanian). Realitatea.net. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Cele 12 transferuri care au luat milioane de la stat. Borcea, Meme, Copos si fratii Becali, ani grei de inchisoare! Ce suma uriasa trebuie recuperata" [The 12 transfers that took millions from the state. Borcea, Meme, Copos and the Becali brothers, hard years in prison! What a huge amount to recover] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Debut nefercit pentru Claudiu Niculescu" [Unlucky debut for Claudiu Niculescu] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 15 September 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Nastase si Codrea raman la Genoa" [Nastase and Codrea stay in Genoa] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 19 July 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Genoa a pus ochii pe Claudiu Niculescu" [Genoa set their sights on Claudiu Niculescu] (in Romanian). Ziaruldeiasi.ro. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Codrea este un jucator genial" [Codrea is a brilliant player] (in Romanian). Ziaruldeiasi.ro. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Paul Codrea a fost transferat la Palermo" [Paul Codrea was transferred to Palermo] (in Romanian). Curentul.info.ro. 3 February 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Claudiu Niculescu si Adrian Mihalcea se lupta cu Paul Codrea si Vali Nastase" [Claudiu Niculescu and Adrian Mihalcea are fighting with Paul Codrea and Vali Nastase] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 10 May 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Codrea a primit note mai mari decat Chivu dupa meciul AS Roma - Palermo" [Codrea received higher grades than Chivu after the AS Roma - Palermo match] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 6 December 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Paul Codrea a fost împrumutat la Perugia" [Paul Codrea was loaned to Perugia] (in Romanian). Apropo.ro. 30 January 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Codrea a retrogradat" [Paul Codrea relegated] (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Paul Codrea, împrumutat la Bari" [Paul Codrea, loaned at Bari] (in Romanian). Romanialibera.ro. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Moti va purta tricoul cu numarul 16 la Siena!" [Moti will wear shirt number 16 in Siena!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 4 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Moti spectator si Codrea titular in Siena 1-0 Roma!" [Moti spectator and Codrea starting in Siena 1-0 Roma!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Codrea a semnat cu Rapid! Vezi termenii înțelegerii" [Codrea signed with Rapid! See the terms of the agreement] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Paul Codrea, antrenor-jucător la ASU Poli Timişoara" [Paul Codrea, coach-player at ASU Poli Timişoara] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "Paul Codrea". European Football. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Romania – FR Yugoslavia 1:1". European Football. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Romania 1-1 France". European Football. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Italy 1-1 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Netherlands 2-0 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  26. ^ "DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv" (PDF). Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241. 28 March 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc". Administrația Prezidențială. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Codrea, prezentat oficial ca antrenor al ASU Politehnica: "Vreau să creștem împreună"" [Codrea, officially presented as coach of ASU Politehnica: "I want us to grow together"] (in Romanian). Liga2.prosport.ro. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Codrea a câștigat primul meci pentru ASU Politehnica Timișoara" [Codrea won the first match for ASU Politehnica Timișoara] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Paul Codrea, antrenor principal la CS Ghiroda. Prim meci acasă, în etapa 8, cu Lorena, nu în Plopi, ci la Ghiroda: revenire Mateescu" [Paul Codrea, head coach at CS Ghiroda. First match at home, in the 8th round, with Lorena, not in Plopi, but in Ghiroda: Mateescu returns] (in Romanian). Sporttim.ro. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2022.

External links edit