Mircea Chivu
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 21, 1954 | ||
| Place of birth | Romania | ||
| Date of death | 1 April 1998 | ||
| Place of death | Reșița, Romania | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Universitatea Craiova | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1974 | Universitatea Craiova | ||
| 1975–1983 | CSM Reșița | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1992–1994 | TSV 1860 Munich amateurs | ||
| 1994–1996 | CSM Reșița | ||
| 1996–1997 | CSM Reșița (assistant) | ||
| 1998 | CSM Reșița (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mircea Chivu (21 August 1954 – 1 April 1998) was a Romanian football player and manager who spent most of his career with CSM Reșița. A defender, he also played for Universitatea Craiova in the early 1970s and was part of the squad that won the 1973–74 Divizia A title, the first Romanian league championship in the history of the club.[1]
After returning to Reșița, Chivu became an important member of the club's team during the second half of the 1970s and early 1980s. He later moved into coaching and worked with TSV 1860 Munich in Germany before returning to CSM Reșița, where he served as both head coach and assistant coach. He was also involved in the development of his son, Cristian Chivu, who began his senior career at Reșița in the 1990s.[2]
Early life and playing career
[edit]Mircea Chivu was born on 21 August 1954. A contemporary football publication listed him among the promising Romanian players of his generation and recorded his involvement with Universitatea Craiova.[3]
Chivu came through the football system in Craiova and made his first-division debut for Universitatea Craiova during the 1973–74 season. He made one league appearance during the campaign, when Universitatea won the Romanian championship for the first time.[1][4]
The championship-winning squad included a number of players who later became prominent figures in Romanian football, including Ilie Balaci, Ion Oblemenco, Costică Ștefănescu and Alexandru Boc. Chivu was one of the less frequently used members of the squad, making one league appearance during the title-winning season.[1]
CSM Reșița
[edit]In 1975, Chivu moved to CSM Reșița, where he would spend the most important part of his playing career. He became a regular defender for the club and was part of the Reșița side during its extended spell in the top division.
Chivu appeared in the club's starting line-up during the 1975–76 Divizia A season. Historical records of the Reșița team list him alongside players such as Aurică Beldeanu, Grigore Bora, Ion Atodiresei and Ion Florea.[5]
He remained a regular in the following campaign. In the 1976–77 season, Chivu was again listed in the starting line-up, playing in defence as Reșița competed in the Romanian top flight.[5]
CSM Reșița were relegated at the end of the 1977–78 season, ending a six-season consecutive run in the top division. Chivu remained associated with the club and continued his career in Reșița before eventually moving into coaching.[5]
Coaching career
[edit]After ending his playing career, Chivu moved into management. Between 1992 and 1994 he worked in Germany with the amateur side of TSV 1860 Munich. Contemporary Romanian reports later described his German experience as an important part of his development as a coach.[6]
Chivu returned to Reșița in the 1990s and became involved with the senior team. During the 1994–95 season he worked on the coaching staff before taking over as head coach. He remained in charge during the following season, when CSM Reșița continued to develop a number of young local players.[5]
His work with the club continued into the 1996–97 season, when he served as assistant to Victor Roșca. Reșița subsequently won promotion to the top division after finishing the season successfully in Divizia B. Historical accounts of the club credit Chivu with an important role in the team's physical preparation and development during this period.[7]
The promotion campaign also coincided with the emergence of Chivu's son, Cristian, who was promoted from the youth system and made his senior debut for Reșița during the 1996–97 season.[5]
Final years
[edit]At the beginning of 1998, Chivu was serving as assistant coach to Ioan Sdrobiș at CSM Reșița. When Sdrobiș left the club shortly before the match against Gloria Bistrița, Chivu took charge despite being seriously ill. He left hospital to sit on the bench and lead the team in the match, which Reșița won 3–1.[2]
His health continued to deteriorate. Chivu was suffering from a serious illness and died on 1 April 1998 at the age of 43 or 44, with contemporary reports giving his age as 44.[2][6]
His death occurred on the same day as a league match between CSM Reșița and Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț. His son Cristian, then 17, played in the match and scored in Reșița's 5–1 victory. The game became closely associated with the Chivu family's history at the club.[8]
Legacy
[edit]Mircea Chivu remains closely associated with the football history of Reșița. The stadium in the Valea Domanului district, the traditional home of CSM Reșița, was renamed the Stadionul Mircea Chivu in his memory. The venue has been the home ground of Reșița's senior and youth teams for decades.[6][9]
A bust of Chivu was later installed at the stadium. It was unveiled in 2010 in the presence of his son Cristian, who had by then become one of Romania's most successful footballers.[10]
Chivu's influence on his son was also significant. Cristian Chivu began his football development at CSM Reșița and was coached by his father during his formative years. Cristian subsequently played for Universitatea Craiova, Ajax, Roma and Internazionale and won the UEFA Champions League with Internazionale in 2010.[11]
Honours
[edit]Player
[edit]Universitatea Craiova
Manager
[edit]CSM Reșița
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Componența lotului Universitatea Craiova în anul competițional 1973/1974". Primăria Craiova. 2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - 1 2 3 "A decedat Mircea Chivu". Ziarul de Iași. 1 April 1998.
- ↑ "Sportul, 11 November 1972". Biblioteca Digitală a Deva. 11 November 1972.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ↑ "Se împlinesc 40 de ani de la primul trofeu al Universităţii". Gazeta de Sud. 6 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "La ceas aniversar... CSM REȘIȚA!". Caon.ro. 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - 1 2 3 "Au trecut 18 ani de la decesul regretatului om de sport Mircea Chivu". Radio România Reșița. 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "Istoria C.S.M. Reșița". Istoria Banatului. 2010.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ↑ "Chivu, din nou acasă". Gazeta Sporturilor. 2010.
- ↑ "Plânge Valea Domanului – Stadionul „Mircea Chivu"". Gazeta Sporturilor. 18 May 2021.
- ↑ "Chivu, din nou acasă – Asistă azi la dezvelirea bustului tatălui său". Gazeta Sporturilor. 2010.
- ↑ "Cristian Chivu". Inter.it.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ↑ "Universitatea Craiova - Istorie". Universitatea Craiova.
- ↑ "Istoria C.S.M. Reșița". Istoria Banatului.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help)