Mugur Radu Gușatu (born 19 August 1969) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mugur Radu Gușatu | ||
| Date of birth | 19 August 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Cezieni, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| CSȘ Caracal | |||
| Recolta Stoicănești | |||
| FCM Caracal | |||
| Universitatea Craiova | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1992 | Constructorul Craiova | ||
| 1992 | Universitatea Craiova | 1 | (0) |
| 1993 | Constructorul Craiova | ||
| 1993–1995 | DSV Leoben | ||
| 1995–1997 | Politehnica Timișoara | 57 | (26) |
| 1997–1999 | Heerenveen | 43 | (7) |
| 1999 | Extensiv Craiova | 8 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | MTK Budapest | 14 | (8) |
| 2000–2002 | Bihor Oradea | 9 | (2) |
| Total | 132 | (43) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2013–2018 | Universitatea Craiova (youth) | ||
| 2016–2018 | Universitatea II Craiova (assistant) | ||
| 2018–2019 | Filiași | ||
| 2019 | Politehnica Timișoara | ||
| 2020 | Universitatea Craiova U17 | ||
| 2021 | Universitatea II Craiova | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editGușatu was born on 19 August 1969 in Cezieni, Romania and began playing junior-level football at local club CSȘ Caracal.[1][2] He completed his youth development with spells at Recolta Stoicănești, FCM Caracal and Universitatea Craiova, winning a national junior championship with the latter in 1991.[1][3] He started his senior career by playing for Constructorul Craiova during the 1991–92 Divizia C season.[3] Subsequently, Gușatu returned to "U" Craiova, making his Divizia A debut under coach Ion Oblemenco on 2 December 1992 in a 2–1 home win over Rapid București.[1][2][3][4] However, shortly afterwards, Oblemenco was replaced by Marian Bondrea, who sent Gușatu back to Constructorul.[3]
In 1993, Gușatu went to play for DSV Leoben in the Austrian second division.[1][2][3] In the middle of the 1994–95 season, he joined Divizia B club Politehnica Timișoara, scoring 12 goals in 11 matches until season's end to help his side earn promotion to the first league.[1][2][3] Subsequently, he netted a personal record of 17 league goals during the 1996–97 season, including one in a 1–0 home win over eventual champions Steaua București.[1][2][5] Those goals made him the season's second top-scorer, behind Steaua's Sabin Ilie who scored 31 goals, but his performance was not enough to avoid Politehnica's relegation.[1][3][5][6]
In 1997, Gușatu went to play for Heerenveen, after he was recommended by his compatriot, Rodion Cămătaru.[1][2] There, he became teammates with fellow Romanians Florin Constantinovici and Dumitru Mitriță.[2][7] Gușatu was brought to the club as a replacement for Jon Dahl Tomasson who was transferred to Newcastle United.[2] He played two games in the 1997 Intertoto Cup and scored a double in an 8–2 victory against Aalborg BK.[1][2][8] Gușatu made his Eredivisie debut on 23 August 1997 when coach Foppe de Haan sent him to replace Jeffrey Talan in a 1–0 away win over NEC Nijmegen.[9][10] He scored his first goal in the competition on 15 February 1998 in a 4–2 away victory against Sparta Rotterdam.[9] In April 1998, he had a prolific period as he scored four goals, including one in a success over MVV Maastricht, one in a draw against Fortuna Sittard and two in losses to Willem II and Twente.[9] Afterwards, he played three games in the 1998–99 Cup Winners' Cup, as Heerenveen got past Amica Wronki in the first round, but they were defeated in the following round by Varteks.[1][11] In the same season, he scored a single league goal in a 2–2 draw against Utrecht.[1][12] Gușatu made his last Eredivisie appearance on 23 March 1999 in Heerenveen's 2–1 away loss to Roda JC Kerkrade, totaling 43 matches with six goals in the competition.[1][2][12] During these years, he faced strong competition for a spot in the starting lineup from young Ruud van Nistelrooy.[1][2]
In 1999, Gușatu returned to Romania, signing with Extensiv Craiova.[1][2] There, he made his last eight Divizia A appearances, having a total of 66 matches with 26 goals in the competition.[1][13] Subsequently, Gușatu joined MTK Budapest where he was teammates with compatriot Nicolae Ilea.[2][14][15][15] He made his Nemzeti Bajnokság I debut on 26 February 2000 under coach Henk ten Cate, scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Újpest.[14][16] He also scored in each of the next two rounds, helping the team to victories against Lombard Tatabánya and Nagykanizsa.[14] Gușatu netted eight goals in 14 league appearances by the end of the season, including a brace in a 4–0 away victory against Haladás.[1][2][14] The team won the 1999–2000 Magyar Kupa, with Gușatu starting the final under Ten Cate before being replaced by Gábor Egressy in the 76th minute as MTK secured a 3–1 win over Vasas.[2][15] In 2000, he moved to Divizia B club Bihor Oradea for a two-season spell, retiring shortly thereafter.[1][2]
Managerial career
editGușatu worked several years as a youth coach for Universitatea Craiova, and also had spells at the club's satellite team.[17][18] From 2018 to 2019, he was head coach of Liga III team Filiași.[17][19] Subsequently, between 2 September and 23 October 2019, he led Liga II club Politehnica Timișoara, leaving the club after a 1–0 West derby loss to UTA Arad.[17][20]
Honours
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Mugur Gușatu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Scurta carieră la Heerenveen a lui Mugur Gușatu, românul supărat că era rezerva lui Ruud van Nistelrooy" [Mugur Gușatu's short career at Heerenveen, the Romanian angry that he was Ruud van Nistelrooy's reserve] (in Romanian). Theplaymaker.ro. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Craiova: Radu Mugur Gușatu este atacantul care conduce handbalul craiovean" [Craiova: Radu Mugur Gușatu is the striker who leads Craiova handball] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Universitatea Craiova 2 – 1 Rapid București". Labtof. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Divizia A Season 1996-97". Romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Top Scorers" (in Romanian). Romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Florin Constantinovici: "Campionatul olandez e perfect pentru un fotbalist român!"" [Florin Constantinovici: "The Dutch Championship is perfect for a Romanian footballer!"] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
""Am venit cu un tir plin cu cadouri de la Heerenveen"" ["I came back with a truck full of gifts from Heerenveen"] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 15 February 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2026. - ↑ "Mugur Gușatu. Intertoto Cup 1997". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Mugur Gușatu. Eredivisie 1997/1998". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "NEC Nijmegen 1:0 Heerenveen". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Mugur Gușatu. Cup Winners' Cup 1998/1999". WorldFootball. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Mugur Gușatu. Eredivisie 1998/1999". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Mugur Gușatu profile". Labtof. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mugur Gușatu profile" (in Hungarian). Magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 "MTK Budapest - Vasas 3 : 1" (in Hungarian). Magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ "MTK Budapest - Újpest FC 1 : 0" (in Hungarian). Magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Mugur Gușatu, noul antrenor al elitelor U17 de la Universitatea Craiova" [Mugur Gușatu, the new coach of the U17 elites at Universitatea Craiova] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Satelitul Universităţii Craiova va continua în Liga 3 cu un nou antrenor principal, fiul unui fost jucător al echipei care câştiga titlul în Bănie acum 30 de ani" [The satellite of the Universitatea Craiova will continue in Liga 3 with a new head coach, the son of a former player of the team that won the title in Bănie 30 years ago] (in Romanian). Liga2.prosport.ro. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "CSO Filiași are un nou antrenor. "Vreau să jucăm un fotbal frumos"" [CSO Filiași has a new coach. "I want us to play beautiful football"] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
"Victorie cu emoții pentru CSO Filiași" [Emotional victory for CSO Filiași] (in Romanian). Gds.ro. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2026. - ↑ "ASU Poli l-a numit "principal" pe Mugur Gușatu, autorul celebrei fraze: "Nu joc pentru că antrenorul e naționalist și îl preferă pe unul Van Nistelrooy"" [ASU Poli named Mugur Gușatu, the author of the famous phrase: "I don't play because the coach is a nationalist and prefers a Van Nistelrooy" as "principal"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
"Mugur Gușatu a condus primul antrenament la ASU Politehnica: "Trebuie să recunosc că am venit într-un moment în care fotbalul timișorean este aproape de colaps"" [Mugur Gușatu led the first training session at ASU Politehnica: "I must admit that I came at a time when Timișoara football is close to collapse"] (in Romanian). Liga2.prosport.ro. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
"ȘOC după ȘOC în Liga 2! ASU Politehnica a rămas fără antrenorul Mugur Gușatu după înfrângerea suferită în derby-ul cu UTA" [SHOCK after SHOCK in League 2! ASU Politehnica was left without coach Mugur Gușatu after the defeat suffered in the derby with UTA] (in Romanian). Liga2.prosport.ro. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
"Motivele din spatele demisiei neașteptate a lui Mugur Gușatu. Cum comentează președintele clubului ASU Politehnica" [The reasons behind Mugur Gușatu's unexpected resignation. How the president of the ASU Politehnica club comments] (in Romanian). Liga2.prosport.ro. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
External links
edit- Mugur Gușatu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)