Andrei Ivan Explained

Andrei Ivan
Fullname:Andrei Virgil Ivan
Birth Date:4 January 1997
Birth Place:Moreni, Romania
Height:1.89 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Universitatea Craiova
Clubnumber:9
Youthyears1:2003–2011
Youthclubs1:Flacăra Moreni
Youthyears2:2011–2013
Youthclubs2:Sporting Pitești
Youthyears3:2013–2014
Youthclubs3:Universitatea Craiova
Years1:2014–2017
Clubs1:Universitatea Craiova
Caps1:91
Goals1:18
Years2:2017–2019
Clubs2:Krasnodar
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Krasnodar-2
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:Rapid Wien (loan)
Caps4:24
Goals4:1
Years5:2019–
Clubs5:Universitatea Craiova
Caps5:165
Goals5:45
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Romania U16
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013–2014
Nationalteam2:Romania U17
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2014
Nationalteam3:Romania U19
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2014–2019
Nationalteam4:Romania U21
Nationalcaps4:10
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2015–
Nationalteam5:Romania
Nationalcaps5:17
Nationalgoals5:1
Pcupdate:4 August 2024
Ntupdate:7 June 2022

Andrei Virgil Ivan (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /anˈdrej virˈd͡ʒil iˈvan/; born 4 January 1997) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga I club Universitatea Craiova.

Ivan started out as a senior at Universitatea Craiova in 2014, and three and a half years later earned a €4 million transfer abroad to Russian Premier League side Krasnodar. He did not impose himself in Russia and was loaned for one season to Rapid Wien, before returning to Universitatea Craiova in the summer of 2019.

Ivan registered his senior debut for the Romania national team in November 2015, in a 1–1 exhibition draw with Italy.

Club career

Early career / Universitatea Craiova

Ivan began playing youth football at local Flacăra Moreni, before moving in 2011 to Sporting Pitești. On 30 December 2013, he joined Universitatea Craiova on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[1] Ivan scored his first goal for the club on 28 May 2014, in a 2–0 home victory over ASA Târgu Mureș counting for the Liga II championship.[2] He made eight appearances during the season, as Craiova achieved promotion by winning its series.

On 2 August 2014, he netted his first Liga I goal by coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1–3 away loss to defending champions Steaua București.[3] In January 2016, Ivan rejected a move to the latter club, which had reached an agreement with Craiova for a transfer worth €2.15 million.[4] Several foreign teams were also interested in acquiring him[5] and Ivan revealed his dream of playing abroad.[6]

At the start of 2017, Ivan gained team captaincy following the departure of Bogdan Vătăjelu to Sparta Prague.[7]

Krasnodar

On 17 July 2017, Ivan penned a five-year contract with Russian side FC Krasnodar for a rumoured transfer fee of €4 million and 25% interest.[8] [9] He recorded his competitive debut on 20 August, after entering as an 84th-minute substitute for Viktor Claesson in a goalless Russian Premier League draw with Rostov.[10]

On 24 June 2018, Ivan joined Austrian Bundesliga club Rapid Wien on a year-long with a purchase option.[11] He totalled 40 appearances in all competitions throughout the season, of which eleven in the UEFA Europa League, and scored three goals. Upon his return to Krasnodar, he played one game for the reserves in the Russian National League, the second level of the Russian league system.

Return to Universitatea Craiova

Universitatea Craiova announced the re-signing of Ivan on a four-year deal on 28 August 2019.[12] According to press, the Alb-albaștrii paid a €1.5 million transfer fee to bring him back to Oltenia.[13]

On 23 May 2021, Ivan claimed his first major honour after opening the scoring in a 3–2 victory over Astra Giurgiu in the Cupa României final.[14] On 10 July that year, he started in the 4–2 penalty shoot-out win over CFR Cluj in the subsequent Supercupa României.[15]

Amid reports linking him to Galatasaray,[16] Ivan scored all but one of his side's goals in a 5–2 defeat of Mioveni on 30 October 2021.[17] He finished the 2021–22 season with a career-best 14 goals in 33 league matches, and was also the top assist provider (eleven). He repeated the former performance in the following campaign, netting another 14 goals.

International career

Ivan made his full international debut for Romania on 17 November 2015, aged 18, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 friendly draw with Italy at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna.[18] He scored his first goal for the nation six years later, in a 1–2 loss to Georgia in Ploiești on 2 June 2021.[19]

Style of play

Ivan is a versatile forward who can be deployed as a winger, by preference on the left flank, or as a striker in the centre.[13] [20]

Career statistics

Club

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsApps
Universitatea Craiova2013–14Liga II8181
2014–15Liga I1711010191
2015–16Liga I3271010347
2016–17Liga I33951003810
2017–18Liga I10000010
Total9118712000100!19
Krasnodar2017–18Russian Premier League70101090
Rapid Wien (loan)2018–19Austrian Bundesliga24152110403
Krasnodar-22019–20Russian National League100010
Universitatea Craiova2019–20Liga I24200242
2020–21Liga I3483110389
2021–22Liga I33144210214017
2022–23Liga I351421624317
2023–24Liga I3672010397
2024–25Liga I30002050
Total165451141023118952
Career total28864247202223133974

International

[21]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania
201510
201620
201730
201800
201910
202000
202161
202240
Total171

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ivan goal.[21]

Honours

Universitatea Craiova

2013–14

2020–21[14]

2021

Rapid Wien

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CS Universitatea Craiova l-a transferat pe Virgil Andrei Ivan. CS Universitatea Craiova transferred Virgil Andrei Ivan. Active News. Romanian. 30 December 2013. 5 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206105204/http://www.activenews.ro/prima-pagina/CS-Universitatea-Craiova-l-a-transferat-pe-Virgil-Andrei-Ivan-11285. 6 February 2017. dead.
  2. Web site: CSU Craiova-ASA Targu Mures 2-0. ASA Targu Mures site suporteri. Romanian. 27 May 2017. 5 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103712/http://fcm-tirgumures.info/2014/05/csu-craiova-asa-targu-mures-meci-greu-si-important/. 6 February 2017. dead.
  3. Web site: Sa vina Aktobe! Steaua, victorie lejera in 'Templul parasit': 3-1 cu CSU Craiova! Steaua - Aktobe se vede la ProTV!. Ready for Aktobe! Steaua, easy victory in the "abandoned temple": 3-1 with CSU Craiova! Steaua - Aktobe will be live at ProTV!. Sport.ro. Romanian. 2 August 2014. 5 February 2017.
  4. Web site: Gigi Becali a făcut marele anunț! Ivan e CEL MAI SCUMP transfer din istoria Stelei » Suma uriașă plătită de campioni. Gigi Becali made the big announcement! Ivan is THE MOST EXPENSIVE transfer in Steaua's history » The huge sum paid by the champions. Gazeta Sporturilor. Romanian. 26 January 2016. 5 February 2017.
  5. Web site: El Espanyol negocia la cesión del delantero Andrei Ivan. Espanyol negotiates the transfer of attacker Andrei Ivan. Sport.es. Spanish. 2 January 2016. 3 February 2016.
  6. Web site: Andrei Ivan: "Nu vreau sa joc in tara, vreau sa plec de la Craiova direct afara!". Andrei Ivan: "I don't want to play in the country, I want to transfer from Craiova abroad!". Sport Total FM. 8 January 2016. Romanian. 5 February 2017.
  7. Web site: Mulţescu a dezvăluit cum l-a convins Andrei Ivan să-i dea banderola de căpitan. Mulțescu reveals how he was convinced by Andrei Ivan to hand him the captain armband. Dolce Sport. Romanian. 30 January 2017. 5 February 2017.
  8. Web site: Transfer neașteptat! Andrei Ivan a plecat de la CSU Craiova pe 4 milioane €. Gazeta Sporturilor. Unexpected move! Andrei Ivan left CSU Craiova for €4 million. 17 July 2017. 17 July 2017.
  9. Web site: https://fckrasnodar.ru/team/news/object/?object_id=129461. ru:ИГРОКОМ «КРАСНОДАРА» СТАНЕТ АНДРЕЙ ИВАН. Andrei Ivan to Become a Player of FC Krasnodar. FC Krasnodar. Russian. 18 July 2017. 8 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Stranieri: Andrei Ivan a debutat la FC Krasnodar. Foreigners: Andrei Ivan made his debut for FC Krasnodar. Sportul Doljean. Romanian. 21 August 2017. 3 June 2021.
  11. Web site: Andrei Ivan leihweise zu Rapid. ORF Sport. German. 24 June 2018. 24 June 2018.
  12. Web site: Ivan se întoarce acasă. Ivan returns home. CS Universitatea Craiova. Romanian. 27 August 2019. 28 August 2019.
  13. Web site: Transfer STRICT SECRET la Craiova » Andrei Ivan a semnat pe 4 ani!. Gazeta Sporturilor. TOP SECRET transfer at Craiova » Andrei Ivan signed for 4 years!. Romanian. 27 August 2019. 28 August 2019. It is a good news also for Craiova, which had problems there, up front. Ivan likes to play a lot on the left wing..
  14. Web site: Universitatea Craiova a învins Astra și a câștigat Cupa României!. Universitatea Craiova defeated Astra and won the Romanian Cup!. Romanian Football Federation. Romanian. 23 May 2021. 3 June 2021.
  15. Web site: CFR Cluj - Universitatea Craiova 0-0, 2-4 d.l.d. Oltenii câștigă Supercupa României! Pigliacelli, erou. CFR Cluj - Universitatea Craiova 0–0, 2–4 after penalties "The Oltenia people" win the Romanian Super Cup! Pigliacelli, the hero. Digi Sport. ro. 10 July 2021. 31 October 2021.
  16. Web site: Mihai Rotaru, o nouă lovitură de senzație! Galatasaray face totul pentru a perfecta transferul lui Andrei Ivan. Care e singura dilemă | EXCLUSIV. Mihai Rotaru, a new sensational hit! Galatasaray does everything to complete the transfer of Andrei Ivan. What is the only dilemma? | EXCLUSIVE. ProSport. ro. 27 October 2021. 31 October 2021.
  17. Web site: Discursul lui Ivan, după ce a marcat de patru ori în poarta Mioveniului. Ce spune despre oferta de la Galatasaray. Ivan's speech, after scoring four times against Mioveni. What he says about the offer from Galatasaray. Sport.ro. ro. 30 October 2021. 31 October 2021.
  18. News: Italy vs Romania. 19 November 2015. Sky Sports. 17 November 2015.
  19. Web site: Andrei Ivan, trist după primul gol la națională: "Sunt atacant, nu știu ce e în apărare! Georgia nu e echipă slabă". Andrei Ivan, sad after his first goal for the national team: "I am a striker, I don't know what happens in our defense! Georgia is not a weak team". Digi Sport. Romanian. 2 June 2021. 3 June 2021.
  20. Web site: Reghe e vrăjit de un fotbalist: "Fenomenal!" » Vehement despre națională: "Nu există!". Reghe is enchanted by a footballer: "Phenomenal!" » He is vehement regarding the national team: "It doesn't exist!". Gazeta Sporturilor. Romanian. 18 October 2021. 19 October 2021. For me, Andrei Ivan is a phenomenal player. [...] He can play any position in the attacking line of three....
  21. Web site: Andrei Ivan. European Football. 3 June 2021.
  22. Web site: LLPF a anunțat echipa ideală a sezonului de Liga 1 » FCSB și CFR Cluj, reprezentate de câte 3 jucători. LPF has chosen the "ideal team" of the Liga 1 season! Which team offers the most players. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 3 June 2022. 6 June 2022.
  23. Web site: Craiova a luat tot! » Andrei Ivan a fost ales "Jucătorul lunii octombrie", iar Laurențiu Reghecampf - "Antrenorul lunii"! Cum s-a votat. Craiova took it all! tot! » Andrei Ivan was chosen "Player of the month in October", and Laurențiu Reghecampf - "Coach of the month"! How the voting took place. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 5 November 2021. 12 November 2021.