Ion Oblemenco
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ion Oblemenco | ||
| Date of birth | 13 May 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Corabia, Romania | ||
| Date of death | 1 September 1996 (aged 51) | ||
| Place of death | Agadir, Morocco | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1958-1960 | Progresul Corabia | ||
| 1960-1962 | Electroputere Craiova | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1962-1964 | CS Craiova | 0 | (0) |
| 1964-1966 | Rapid Bucureşti | 8 | (3) |
| 1966-1977 | Universitatea Craiova | 264 | (167) |
| 1977-1978 | FCM Galaţi | 10 | (15) |
| Total | 272 | (170) | |
| National team | |||
| 1967-1970 | Romania Olympic U-23 | 12 | (5) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1979-1980 | Universitatea Craiova (assistant) | ||
| 1980-1982 | Universitatea Craiova | ||
| 1982-1985 | Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea | ||
| 1985 | Olt Scorniceşti | ||
| 1992-1993 | Universitatea Craiova | ||
| 1996 | Hassania Agadir | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Ion Oblemenco (13 May 1945 – 1 September 1996) was a Romanian football striker who spent the majority of his career playing for Universitatea Craiova. He is the club's all-time top goalscorer with a total of 167 goals, and the club's stadium is named in his honour.[1]
Early years
Oblemenco was born in Corabia, Olt County. He began his junior career in 1958 at the of age 13 at Progresul Corabia, where he played till 1960, when he moved to Electroputere Craiova for two years.
Club career
Oblemenco aged 19, was bought from CS Universitatea Craiova by Valentin Stănescu to Rapid Bucharest, where he made his senior professional career debut in the 1963-64 season on 5 July 1964, against his soul love Universitatea Craiova he scored a goal on his debut but Rapid lose 3-1, he made only one appearance during that season, the next season 1964-65 he made four appearances and scored two goals. Sitting more on bench, because of that time, the famous tandem (Emil Dumitriu II and Ion Ionescu), dominated and was hard to make room on the team. He left Rapid in Summer of 1966, and returned to his soul Universitatea Craiova.
Universitatea Craiova
Here Oblemenco is allowed to play now, after spending so much time sitting on the benches at Rapid. He debuted in a match against Dinamo Bucharest on 21 August 1966 where his team lose, the following game he scored twice with Jiul Petroşani winning 3-2 at first sight in front of an audience in Craiova winning the hearts of ardent fans of Oltenia. In his first season he was the top scorer in Liga I in 1966-67 with 17 goals in 23 matches, and repeats the same performance three times in (1969-1970 - 19 goals), (1971-1972 - 19 goals) and (1972-1973 - 21 goals) being, along with Ştefan Dobay and Dudu Georgescu, the only players who obtained this performance in Liga I. His developments on the field, coupled with its particular nature and attachment towards the team total, makes him quickly leader and team captain. He became the most adored star among the club's fans, and over the years he elevated the team to the most successful era in its history, helping his team winning its first championship league title for an unknown team in those years 1973–74, over teams like Steaua or Dinamo. He was called "The Gunner" because he scored many times for Universitatea Craiova. His former colleague, Petre Deselnicu said: "I've kissed Oblemenco more than my wife, because he scored so many goals for our team". He retired in 1978 where he played for FCM Galaţi in the Liga II. However his biggest regret was that he did not play for the Romania national team.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player in 1979-80, he attempted to work as an assistant coach for Universitatea Craiova to gain experience from Valentin Stănescu, together they managed to win the League title during the 1979–80 season, this was their second title in the history of U Craiova.
Oblemenco was then named head-coach for two years on U Craiova. He continued to enjoy success, winning again in his first season the League title in 1980–81 making this their third in the history of Craiova, adding as well the Romanian Cup trophy for the club in the same year, and reaching with Craiova the European Cup Quarter-finals. The next season he placed second place in the league during 1981-82.
He also went on to coach Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea, Olt Scorniceşti and Hassania Agadir in Morocco.
Life and death
On October 28, 1972, during the 1972-1973 season, Oblemenco was diagnosed with peptic ulcer. He was successfully operated twice in October 1972. He returned to the pitch in March 1973, in a match between Rapid Bucharest and Universitatea Craiova, in which he scored three goals.
Oblemenco died of heart attack in a friendly between the team he was managing, Hassania Agadir, and Union Sidi Kacem on 1 September 1996, aged 51.
Records
- Total matches played in Romanian First League: 272 matches - 170 goals
- Topscorer of Romanian First League: 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973
- European Cups: 9 matches - 4 goals
- U-23 national team: 12 matches - 5 goals
- He has scored 170 goals in Liga I, being ranked 5th in the all time scoring table, but he has never been capped for Romania.
Books about Ion Oblemenco
- Marius Popescu, Ion Oblemenco și campioana unei mari iubiri, Scrisul Românesc, 1975
References
- ↑ Jianu, Ion (2010-05-13). "Oblemenco, nemuritorul" (in Romanian). Gazeta de Sud.
External links
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