Alexandru Epureanu
 Epureanu with Anzhi Makhachkala in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 September 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Chișinău, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1998 | Hoverla Uzhhorod | ||
| 1998–2002 | Zimbru Chișinău | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Zimbru Chișinău | 29 | (2) |
| 2004–2006 | Sheriff Tiraspol | 66 | (3) |
| 2007–2009 | Moscow | 72 | (3) |
| 2010–2014 | Dynamo Moscow | 44 | (3) |
| 2012 | → Krylia Sovetov (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2013 | → Anzhi Makhachkala (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2014 | Anzhi Makhachkala | 10 | (2) |
| 2014–2023 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 214 | (14) |
| 2023 | Ümraniyespor | 13 | (0) |
| Total | 469 | (28) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2002–2005 | Moldova U19 | ||
| 2005–2007 | Moldova U21 | 18 | (0) |
| 2006–2022 | Moldova | 100 | (7) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 June 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2024 | |||
Alexandru Epureanu (born 27 September 1986) is a Moldovan former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for the Moldova national team.
Club career
[edit]Born in Chișinau, Epureanu joined FC Sheriff Tiraspol in summer 2004.[2]
He has won Moldovan Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2018. Since playing for FC Sheriff Tiraspol, he has gone on to play for Dinamo Moscow.
On 2 July 2014, Epureanu signed for İstanbul Başakşehir.[3] He made his league debut for the club on 30 August 2014 in a 1–1 home draw with Kasımpaşa, playing all ninety minutes of the match.[4] He scored his first league goal for the club on 5 October 2014 in a 4–0 home victory over Akhisarspor. His goal, scored in the sixth minute, made the score 1–0 to İstanbul BB.[5]
In January 2023, Epureanu departed Başakşehir[6] and subsequently joined Ümraniyespor until the end of the season.[7] On 25 March 2024, he confirmed that he retired from football.[8]
International career
[edit]Epureanu made his international debut in a 2–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying loss against Norway on 6 September 2006, and has since been a regular in the national team, wearing the captain's armband on several occasions.[9] In September 2019, Epureanu retired from the national team due to a knee injury.[10] However, he returned in August 2020.[11] He ranks first in terms of all-time appearances for Moldova.[12] On 31 March 2021, he made his 100th and last appearance for Moldova in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Israel.[13]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Zimbru Chișinău | 2002–03 | Moldovan National Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2003–04 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | |||||
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2004–05 | Moldovan National Division | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |||
| 2005–06 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 31 | 4 | |||||
| 2006–07 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 66 | 3 | 8 | 2 | — | 74 | 5 | |||||
| FC Moscow | 2007 | Russian Premier League | 23 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2008 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | |||
| 2009 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 78 | 4 | |||
| Dynamo Moscow | 2010 | Russian Premier League | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 44 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 3 | ||||
| Krylia Sovetov (loan) | 2012–13 | Russian Premier League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 19 | 2 | ||
| Anzhi Makhachkala (loan) | 2013–14 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 12 | 1 | ||
| Anzhi Makhachkala | 2013–14 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2014–15 | Süper Lig | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 4 | ||
| 2015–16 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | 42 | 6 | |||
| 2018–19 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 25 | 3 | |||
| 2019–20 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2021-22 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2022-23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 211 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 262 | 15 | ||
| Career total | 456 | 28 | 32 | 3 | 48 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 540 | 34 | ||
- ^ Appearance in Turkish Super Cup.
International
[edit]- As of match played 31 March 2021[9]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldova | 2006 | 3 | 0 |
| 2007 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | 7 | |
- Scores and results list Moldova's goal tally first.[9]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 March 2007 | Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău |  Malta |
1–1 | 1–1 | Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 2 | 12 August 2009 | Republican Stadium, Yerevan |  Armenia |
4–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 3 March 2010 | Antalya Atatürk Stadium, Antalya |  Kazakhstan |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 16 October 2012 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle |  San Marino |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 World Cup qualifier |
| 5 | 5 March 2014 | Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella |  Andorra |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 3–0 | |||||
| 7 | 12 October 2014 | Otkrytie Arena, Moscow |  Russia |
1–1 | 1–1 | Euro 2016 qualifier |
Note: Some sources have credited Epureanu with scoring the second goal in a 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2014, however this was a penalty converted by Igor Picușceac.[16]
Honours
[edit]Club
[edit]Zimbru Chișinău
- Moldovan Cup: 2003–04
Sheriff Tiraspol
- Divizia Naţională: 2004–05, 2005–06
- Moldovan Cup: 2005–06
- Moldovan Supercup: 2005
Dynamo Moscow
- Russian Cup runner-up: 2011–12
İstanbul Başakşehir
Individual
[edit]- Moldovan Footballer of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018
- Süper Lig Defender of the Season: 2018–19[18]
- Süper Lig Team of the Season: 2018–19[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Alexandru Epureanu". İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Member associations". UEFA.com.
- ^ "Alexandru Epureanu va evolua din noul sezon la İstanbul BB". diez.md (in Romanian). 2 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ "Istanbul Basaksehir vs. Kasimpasa – 30 August 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Istanbul Basaksehir vs. Akhisarspor – 5 October 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "TEŞEKKÜRLER ALEXANDRU EPUREANU" [THANKS ALEXANDRU EPUREANU]. ibfk.com.tr (in Turkish). 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ @Umraniyespor (19 January 2023). "Hoş Geldin Epureanu! Kulübümüz, Başakşehir takımından 36 yaşındaki defans oyuncusu Alexandru Epureanu'yu sezon sonuna kadar renklerine bağladı. Epureanu'ya hoş geldin diyor, nice başarılar diliyoruz" [Welcome Epureanu! Our club has tied the 36-year-old defender Alexandru Epureanu from Başakşehir team to his colors until the end of the season. We welcome Epureanu and wish you good luck. #Ümraniyespor #SemtinTakımı] (Tweet) (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Alexandru Epureanu și-a agățat ghetele în cui". fmf.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Alexandru Epureanu". eu-football.info. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Căpitanul Alexandru Epureanu se retrage de la echipa națională a R. Moldova, invocând probleme la genunchi" (in Romanian). Agora. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ Grecu, Sandu (29 August 2020). "Alexandru Epureanu revine la Națională!" (in Romanian). Moldovan Football Federation. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Most Moldova caps". eu-football.info. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Contra Israelului Alexandru Epureanu a bifat meciul cu numărul 100 pentru naționala Moldovei" (in Romanian). Moldfootball. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ Alexandru Epureanu at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ Alexandru Epureanu at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "Saudi Arabia vs Moldova - Football Match Report - May 24th, 2014". ESPN.
- ^ "Istanbul's Medipol Başakşehir wins first ever Turkish Süper Lig title". Daily Sabah. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ Aslan, Erkan (3 May 2019). "2018-2019 Sezonunun Enleri "Futbolun Süperleri" Töreniyle Ödüllerine Kavuştu". ListeList (in Turkish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Aslan, Erkan (3 May 2019). "2018-2019 Sezonunun Enleri "Futbolun Süperleri" Töreniyle Ödüllerine Kavuştu". ListeList (in Turkish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- Alexandru Epureanu at Soccerway
- Alexandru Epureanu at EU-Football.info
- Alexandru Epureanu at National-Football-Teams.com
  | This biographical article relating to Moldovan association football is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1986 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Chișinău
- Moldovan men's footballers
- Moldovan expatriate men's footballers
- Moldova men's international footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Moldovan Super Liga players
- Russian Premier League players
- Süper Lig players
- FC Zimbru Chișinău players
- FC Sheriff Tiraspol players
- FC Moscow players
- FC Dynamo Moscow players
- PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara players
- FC Anzhi Makhachkala players
- İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. players
- Ümraniyespor footballers
- Moldovan expatriate sportspeople in Russia
- Moldovan expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
- Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
- Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
- FIFA Men's Century Club
- Moldovan football biography stubs