Adrian Mutu facts for kids
Mutu playing for Fiorentina in 2007
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 January 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Călinești, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.81 m | ||
| Playing position | Forward, attacking midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Petrolul Ploiești (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1996 | Argeș Pitești | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1996–1998 | Argeș Pitești | 41 | (11) |
| 1998–1999 | Dinamo București | 33 | (22) |
| 1999–2000 | Inter Milan | 10 | (1) |
| 2000–2002 | Hellas Verona | 57 | (16) |
| 2002–2003 | Parma | 31 | (18) |
| 2003–2004 | Chelsea | 27 | (6) |
| 2005 | Livorno | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Juventus | 33 | (7) |
| 2006–2011 | Fiorentina | 112 | (54) |
| 2011–2012 | Cesena | 28 | (8) |
| 2012–2014 | Ajaccio | 37 | (11) |
| 2014 | Petrolul Ploiești | 14 | (4) |
| 2015 | Pune City | 10 | (4) |
| 2016 | ASA Târgu Mureș | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 437 | (161) | |
| National team | |||
| 1995 | Romania U16 | 2 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | Romania U18 | 14 | (8) |
| 1998–2000 | Romania U21 | 12 | (6) |
| 2000–2013 | Romania | 77 | (35) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2016 | ASA Târgu Mureș (player/assistant) | ||
| 2016–2017 | Dinamo București (general manager) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Romania (sporting director) | ||
| 2018 | Voluntari | ||
| 2018–2019 | Al Wahda U21 | ||
| 2020–2021 | Romania U21 | ||
| 2021 | FC U Craiova | ||
| 2022–2023 | Rapid București | ||
| 2023 | Neftchi Baku | ||
| 2024 | CFR Cluj | ||
| 2024– | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
|
|||
Adrian Mutu, born on January 8, 1979, is a famous Romanian football manager and former player. He is currently the head coach for Liga I club Petrolul Ploiești. During his time as a player, he was known for playing as a forward or an attacking midfielder.
Mutu began his career in Romania with Argeș Pitești and Dinamo București. He then moved to Italy, joining Inter Milan in 1999. After playing for Hellas Verona and Parma, where he scored many goals, he transferred to Chelsea in England. Later, he returned to Italy to play for Juventus and Fiorentina. He also played for Cesena and French club Ajaccio, before returning to Romania with Petrolul Ploiești. He ended his playing career in 2016 after short spells with Pune City and ASA Târgu Mureș.
Adrian Mutu played 77 matches for the Romania national team and scored 35 goals. This is a record he shares with Gheorghe Hagi. He played for Romania in the UEFA European Championship in 2000 and 2008. He won the Romanian Footballer of the Year award four times. Only Gheorghe Popescu and Gheorghe Hagi have won it more often.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Early Days in Romania
Mutu started his professional football journey with Argeș Pitești. He then moved to Dinamo București.
Time in Italy with Verona
In 2000, Mutu joined Verona in Italy. He helped the team avoid relegation in his first season by scoring two important goals in a match against Bari. Verona bought him fully in June 2001.
Moving to Chelsea
On August 12, 2003, Chelsea bought Mutu for a large sum of money. He quickly made an impact, scoring goals in his first few games. He scored the winning goal in his debut match against Leicester City. He also scored two goals in a 4–2 win against Tottenham Hotspur.
During the 2004–05 season, Mutu had some disagreements with Chelsea's manager, José Mourinho. After some difficulties, he left Chelsea.
Joining Juventus
Mutu signed a five-year contract with Italian club Juventus on January 12, 2005. He joined Juventus even though he was not allowed to play until May of that year.
Success at Fiorentina
On July 8, 2006, Fiorentina signed Mutu. He became a very important player for them over the next five years. In July 2008, A.S. Roma tried to sign him, but Mutu decided to stay with Fiorentina and signed a new contract until 2012.
In January 2010, Mutu faced a difficult situation when a test showed an issue after a Coppa Italia match. He received a ban, which was later reduced. After his ban ended, he was briefly suspended by his club. Mutu publicly apologized and was allowed to rejoin the team.
Later Career Clubs
On June 23, 2011, Cesena signed Mutu on a two-year contract. He reached a milestone of 101 goals in Serie A while playing for Cesena. After Cesena was relegated from Serie A, Mutu left the club.
In the summer of 2012, Mutu signed with AC Ajaccio in France. He said he liked the Italian culture in Corsica and was determined to score many goals. He played 28 games and scored 11 goals in his first season there. He left Ajaccio in January 2014.
Later that day, he joined Petrolul Ploiești in Romania. He scored important goals for them in the UEFA Europa League. In September 2014, he left Petrolul.
On July 30, 2015, Mutu signed with Indian Super League club FC Pune City. In January 2016, he returned to Romania to play for ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș. He retired from professional football in 2016.
International Matches for Romania
UEFA Euro 2000
Adrian Mutu played in three out of four matches for Romania at the 2000 UEFA Euro. Romania reached the quarterfinals for the first time in this tournament.
UEFA Euro 2008
Mutu scored Romania's only goal in Euro 2008. This goal came in the 55th minute of their match against Italy. However, in the same game, the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved his penalty kick. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.
After 2009, Romania's national team coach, Răzvan Lucescu, was hesitant to call Mutu up for games. However, due to poor results and fan pressure, Lucescu brought him back. Mutu scored two goals in his first game back against Luxembourg in March 2011. He also scored once in the next game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
National Team Challenges
On August 11, 2011, Mutu and his teammate Gabriel Tamaş were removed from the Romania national team. This happened after they were found out late at night while their teammates were playing a friendly match. Their suspension was lifted after only three games. On November 21, 2013, Mutu was again prevented from playing for the national team. This was because he posted a funny image of the manager, Victor Piţurcă, on Facebook.
How Adrian Mutu Played
Adrian Mutu was a very skilled and creative player who could score goals. He could play in many attacking positions, like a supporting forward, a main striker, a winger, or an attacking midfielder. This was because he was good at both scoring and assisting goals.
People often compared him to his fellow Romanian player, Gheorghe Hagi. When he was at his best, Mutu was fast and agile. He had excellent technical skills and was great at dribbling the ball. He was also accurate with free kicks and penalty kicks. Despite his talent, he sometimes had injuries and was seen as inconsistent. Some people felt he didn't reach his full potential because of these issues.
Managerial Career
Mutu started his career as a football manager in April 2018. He was appointed manager of Romanian club Voluntari. He signed a two-year contract. However, he only stayed for two months. Even though he helped the club avoid relegation, the board decided to let him go.
In July 2018, Mutu became the manager of the reserve team for Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates.
On July 11, 2023, Neftçi announced Mutu as their new Head Coach. He left this role on December 24, 2023.
On January 24, 2024, Mutu was appointed manager of CFR Cluj in Romania. He resigned from this position on April 3, 2024.
Personal Life
Adrian Mutu has been married three times. From 2001 to 2003, he was married to Romanian actress Alexandra Dinu. They have a son named Mario, born in 2002.
In 2005, he married Consuelo Matos Gómez, a model from the Dominican Republic. They have two daughters, Adriana (born 2006) and Maya Vega (born 2008). They divorced in 2015.
In 2016, he married Sandra Bachici, a former model. They have a son named Tiago Adrian Mutu, born in 2017.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Argeș Pitești | 1996–97 | Divizia A | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 1997–98 | 21 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 4 | ||||||
| 1998–99 | 15 | 7 | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | 21 | 10 | |||||
| Total | 41 | 11 | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | 47 | 14 | |||||
| Dinamo București | 1998–99 | Divizia A | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 4 | |||
| 1999–2000 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 25 | 25 | ||||
| Total | 35 | 22 | 3 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 42 | 29 | ||||
| Inter Milan | 1999–2000 | Serie A | 10 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| Hellas Verona | 2000–01 | Serie A | 25 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 26 | 6 | |||
| 2001–02 | 32 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 12 | |||||
| Total | 57 | 17 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 60 | 18 | |||||
| Parma | 2002–03 | Serie A | 31 | 18 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 36 | 22 | ||
| Chelsea | 2003–04 | Premier League | 25 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 36 | 10 | |
| 2004–05 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 27 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 38 | 10 | |||
| Juventus | 2004–05 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2005–06 | 32 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 11 | |||
| Total | 33 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 11 | |||
| Fiorentina | 2006–07 | Serie A | 33 | 16 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 35 | 17 | |||
| 2007–08 | 29 | 17 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 6 | — | 40 | 23 | ||||
| 2008–09 | 19 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 2 | — | 29 | 15 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | — | 6 | 3 | — | 19 | 11 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 20 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 4 | ||||||
| Total | 112 | 54 | 6 | 5 | — | 25 | 11 | — | 143 | 70 | ||||
| Cesena | 2011–12 | Serie A | 28 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 8 | |||
| Ajaccio | 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 11 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 37 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 11 | ||||||
| Petrolul Ploiești | 2013–14 | Liga I | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 13 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 21 | 6 | ||||
| Pune City | 2015 | Indian Super League | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 10!!4 | |||||
| ASA Târgu Mureș | 2015–16 | Liga I | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 439 | 160 | 27 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 528 | 203 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 2000 | 11 | 1 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 10 | 7 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2007 | 9 | 6 | |
| 2008 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 77 | 35 | |
- Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mutu goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 April 2000 | Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania |  Cyprus |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 17 April 2002 | Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak Stadium, Bydgoszcz, Poland |  Poland |
2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 29 March 2003 | Stadionul Național, Bucharest, Romania |  Denmark |
1–0 | 2–5 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 4 | 7 June 2003 | Stadionul Ion Oblemenco, Craiova, Romania |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 5 | 20 August 2003 | Shakhtar Stadium, Donetsk, Ukraine |  Ukraine |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 2–0 | |||||
| 7 | 6 September 2003 | Astra Stadium, Ploiești, Romania |  Luxembourg |
1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 8 | 10 September 2003 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | Denmark |
1–1 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 9 | 11 October 2003 | Stadionul Dinamo, Bucharest, Romania |  Japan |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 10 | 18 February 2004 | GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus |  Georgia |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2–0 | |||||
| 12 | 18 August 2004 | Stadionul Giulești, Bucharest, Romania |  Finland |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 4 September 2004 | Stadionul Ion Oblemenco, Craiova, Romania |  Macedonia |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 17 August 2005 | Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania |  Andorra |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 2–0 | |||||
| 16 | 3 September 2005 | Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania |  Czech Republic |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 2–0 | |||||
| 18 | 8 October 2005 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland | Finland |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19 | 16 August 2006 | Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania |  Cyprus |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 20 | 6 September 2006 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania |  Albania |
2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 21 | 7 October 2006 | Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania |  Belarus |
1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 22 | 7 February 2007 | Stadionul Național, Bucharest, Romania |  Moldova |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 23 | 28 March 2007 | Stadionul Ceahlăul, Piatra Neamț, Romania | Luxembourg |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 24 | 6 June 2007 | Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu, Timișoara, Romania |  Slovenia |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 25 | 22 August 2007 | Stadionul Național, Bucharest, Romania |  Turkey |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 26 | 8 September 2007 | Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus | Belarus |
1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 27 | 3–1 | |||||
| 28 | 31 May 2008 | Stadionul Național, Bucharest, Romania |  Montenegro |
1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 29 | 13 June 2008 | Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland |  Italy |
1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 |
| 30 | 29 March 2011 | Stadionul Ceahlăul, Piatra Neamț, Romania | Luxembourg |
1–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 31 | 2–1 | |||||
| 32 | 3 June 2011 | Stadionul Giulești, Bucharest, Romania | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 33 | 7 October 2011 | Stadionul Național, Bucharest, Romania | Belarus |
1–0 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 34 | 2–1 | |||||
| 35 | 22 March 2013 | Ferenc Puskás Stadium, Budapest, Hungary |  Hungary |
1–1 | 2–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
 Voluntari |
15 April 2018 | 14 June 2018 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 14 | +0 | 36.36 |
| Romania U21 |
14 January 2020 | 16 April 2021 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 42.86 |
| FC U Craiova |
29 May 2021 | 5 October 2021 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 25.00 |
| Rapid București |
2 March 2022 | 7 July 2023 | 54 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 87 | 56 | +31 | 50.00 |
 Neftchi Baku |
11 July 2023 | 24 December 2023 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 43.48 |
| CFR Cluj |
24 January 2024 | 3 April 2024 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 45.45 |
| Petrolul Ploiești |
31 December 2024 | present | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0.00 |
| Total | 118 | 51 | 30 | 37 | 168 | 127 | +41 | 43.22 | ||
Honours
Player
Dinamo București
- Divizia A: 1999–2000
- Cupa României: 1999–2000
Inter Milan
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 1999–2000
Juventus
- Serie A: 2004–05, 2005–06 (both revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal)
- Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 2005
Individual
- Gazeta Sporturilor Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008
- Guerin d'Oro: 2007
- Coppa Italia top scorer: 2009–10
- Fiorentina All-time XI
Records
- The second player to score in European competitions with seven different teams.
Manager
- Gazeta Sporturilor Romania Coach of the Month: April 2022
See also
In Spanish: Adrian Mutu para niños
