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by | Mar 29, 2018 | Vernonia

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

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

Ionescu switched clubs and countries in August and signed for Indian I-League club Aizawl FC.[8][9] 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. ^ a b c d "Profile of Andrei Ionescu". UEFA. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. 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” Archived 22 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine. 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. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  5. ^ "Ionescu at Ferencváros" (in Hungarian). 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. 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. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. 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. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Aizawl FC signs striker from Romanian top division club!". Superpower Football. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  9. ^ Parasar, Swapnaneel (27 August 2017). "I-League: Aizawl FC bolster squad by signing Romanian striker Andrei Ionescu". Goal.com. Goal. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.

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