Biography
Who is Anghel Iordănescu?
Playing career
Anghel Iordănescu began his path in football as a junior at Steaua București in 1960. He made his debut in the top division on November 17, 1968, during a match against Politehnica Iași. Throughout his time with the club, he helped them secure multiple Romanian League titles and Cupa României trophies. He was a productive goalscorer, finishing as the top scorer in the league for the 1981–82 season with 20 goals.
In 1982, Anghel left his home country to play for OFI Crete in Greece. He spent two seasons there, making 54 appearances in the Alpha Ethniki league and scoring seven goals. He eventually returned to Steaua București in 1984, where he transitioned into coaching while maintaining his ability to compete on the pitch. He came out of retirement to play in the 1986 European Cup final against Barcelona, helping his team secure a victory after a penalty shoot-out.
International football
Anghel Iordănescu represented Romania on the international stage 57 times. He made his debut on September 22, 1971, in a match against Finland during the Euro qualifiers. Over the course of his international career, he scored 21 goals for his country. He also served as the team captain on nine occasions.
He participated in several qualifying campaigns for the World Cup and European Championships. His contributions included scoring a hat-trick against Yugoslavia to help Romania win the Balkan Cup in the late 1970s. He also scored a decisive goal in a 2–1 victory over England during the qualifiers for the 1982 World Cup.
Coaching and management
After his playing days, Anghel became a highly successful coach. He led Steaua București to four Romanian League championships and two Cupa României trophies. Under his guidance, the club also won the 1986 European Super Cup. His managerial career extended beyond Romania as he also coached the club Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus.
Anghel also took the helm of the Romania national team multiple times. He led the squad during the 1994 World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals. He was also in charge during Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2016. Also, he achieved success abroad, winning the AFC Champions League in 2000 with Al-Hilal and in 2005 with Al-Ittihad.
Personal life
Anghel Iordănescu was born in Bucharest, Romania, and grew up in the Giulești neighborhood. He is known for his dedication to football throughout his life, transitioning from a junior fan to a professional player and then to a manager. He has one child, Edward Iordănescu, who has followed in his footsteps within the football world. He holds the Sport Merit Order in recognition of his contributions to the sport.
Birthday and age
Anghel Iordănescu was born on May 4, 1950, which makes Anghel 76 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Anghel shares the date with 57 other famous people.
Explore more
