1. Dan Petrescu earned 95 caps for the Romania national team, being selected in two World Cup squads, in 1994 and 1998, and in two European Championships, in 1996 and 2000.
36 Facts About Dan Petrescu
1. 2.
Dan Petrescu became player-assistant manager to Walter Zenga at National Bucuresti towards the end of his playing career, and has since had an extensive career as a head coach in Poland, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, China, Turkey, and South Korea, in addition to his native country.
3.
Dan Petrescu has won domestic honours with Unirea Urziceni, Kuban Krasnodar, ASA Targu Mures, Jiangsu Suning, and CFR Cluj.
4.
Dan Petrescu is the second-most successful manager in Romania, tied with Emerich Jenei, winning the league on six occasions, and was named Romania Coach of the Year a record five times, tied with Mircea Lucescu.
5.
Dan Petrescu was part of the Steaua squad that reached the European Cup semi-finals and the final.
6.
In 1991, Petrescu was bought by Italian club Foggia in a period when the club saw promotion to Serie A In 1993, he moved to Genoa.
7.
Dan Petrescu signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 1994 from Genoa, after a successful 1994 World Cup for Romania.
8.
Dan Petrescu initially settled in well at The Dell, scoring against Leicester City and Manchester City in his first few matches.
9.
Dan Petrescu returned to his native Bucharest for a last season as a footballer, with National Bucuresti.
10.
Dan Petrescu registered 95 caps for the senior Romania national team.
11.
Dan Petrescu made his debut in 1989 and played at four major tournaments: the 1994 World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2000.
12.
In 1994, Dan Petrescu played in his first World Cup, held in the United States.
13.
Dan Petrescu scored the only goal in a win against the United States which saw Romania qualify for the second round as group winners.
14.
At the 1998 World Cup in France, Dan Petrescu raced past his Chelsea teammate Graeme Le Saux and scored the winning goal against England, which effectively won them the group and ensured they would not have to face Argentina in the second round.
15.
Dan Petrescu became the second Romanian player to score in two different World Cups after Stefan Dobay.
16.
Dan Petrescu was an important piece of the Romanian team at Euro 2000, where they survived a group with Portugal, Germany and England.
17.
Dan Petrescu began his managerial career in July 2003 with second division side Sportul Studentesc, whom he led to promotion before taking over at Rapid Bucharest in December, but stepped down in April 2004, after only six games and four months at the helm.
18.
About one week after his termination, Dan Petrescu was appointed as manager of Romanian Liga I newly promoted club Unirea Urziceni, with which he had considerable leading.
19.
Dan Petrescu was considered for the vacant manager's position at his former club Steaua Bucuresti after Marius Lacatus' resignation in October 2008.
20.
Dorinel Munteanu was appointed instead, but Dan Petrescu has not ruled out a future role at the club.
21.
Dan Petrescu resigned as manager of Unirea Urziceni in December 2009.
22.
Dan Petrescu managed to gain promotion to the Russian Premier League in his debut season, winning the 2010 Russian First Division with a total of 80 points, nine clear of second place.
23.
Dan Petrescu's team conceded only 20 goals in 38 matches.
24.
On 14 August 2012, it was announced that Dan Petrescu had resigned as Kuban Krasnodar manager, citing the need for a new challenge.
25.
In June 2014, Dan Petrescu agreed to coach Qatari side Al-Arabi.
26.
On 10 June 2015, Dan Petrescu was announced as the new manager of Liga I runner-up ASA Targu Mures.
27.
Dan Petrescu resigned the next day, to take up a lucrative contract with Chinese side Jiangsu Suning.
28.
On 9 July 2015, Dan Petrescu left Targu Mures, claiming his decision was due to the club's growing financial problems, though he was immediately hired as manager of Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning on a lucrative deal.
29.
On 14 June 2016, Dan Petrescu signed a two-year contract with Kuban Krasnodar, after the club was relegated to the second-tier Russian National Football League.
30.
On 29 October 2016, Dan Petrescu was announced as the manager of Emirates Arabian Gulf League side Al-Nasr until the end of the season.
31.
Dan Petrescu led the club to the final match of the UAE President's Cup but was defeated by Al-Wahda in his last game in charge.
32.
On 22 March 2019, Dan Petrescu returned as manager of CFR Cluj after the club had experienced a string of poor performances in the league.
33.
On 28 August 2021, after a weak European campaign which saw the club fail to qualify for the Europa League, CFR Cluj's owner Nelutu Varga dismissed Marius Sumudica, and after few days of negotiations, Dan Petrescu signed a contract on 31 August for a third stint at CFR Cluj.
34.
On 9 June 2023, Dan Petrescu was appointed as the head coach of K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
35.
On 15 April 2024, Dan Petrescu agreed to return to CFR Cluj on a three-year contract, with an effective start in the summer of 2024, citing desire to rest after his spell in South Korea.
36.
Dan Petrescu named one of his daughters "Chelsea" in honour of one of his former clubs.