Alexandru Florin Zotincă (born 22 January 1977 in Sibiu) is a Romanian-American former football defender and current youth coach. His older brother, Dorin was also a footballer.[2][3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexandru Florin Zotincă[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Sibiu, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1998 | Inter Sibiu | 51 | (4) |
| 1998–1999 | Steaua București | 8 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Gaz Metan Mediaș | 12 | (1) |
| 2000–2003 | Kansas City Comets (indoor) | 118 | (65) |
| 2003–2006 | Kansas City Wizards | 85 | (3) |
| 2007–2008 | Chivas USA | 26 | (0) |
| 2010 | Chivas USA | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 301 | (73) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010–2011 | Chivas Jr. (U-14 Head coach) | ||
| 2011– | United FC | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editZotinca began his career with FC Inter Sibiu, where he played from 1995 to 1998. In 1998, he moved to Steaua București, where he would play from 1998 to 2000, and with whom he would appear in the UEFA Cup.
In 2000, Zotinca won a United States Green Card in an immigration lottery, and left Romania for America. He played for four years for the Kansas City Comets of the MISL, being named to the All-Rookie team in 2000–01, and the All-Star team in 2002–03. Near the beginning of the 2003 MLS season, Zotinca was signed by the Wizards. He did well in his first year, starting 14 games and playing 1239 minutes in a variety of positions for the Wizards. In 2004, Zotinca firmly established himself at the right back position, and played most of the team's minutes there, appearing in 25 games and playing 1779 minutes. He played a similarly important role during the next two seasons, but failed to sign a new contract with the team for the 2007 season and was traded to Chivas USA. Zotinca started 20 games for the club during 2007, but played a diminished role in the next season, starting only 4 games, and was waived by Chivas USA on 28 November 2008.
After a two-year layoff from professional football, Zotincă was re-signed by Chivas USA on 4 June 2010 to strengthen their defensive unit.[4]
After the 2010 MLS season Chivas USA declined Zotincă's contract option and Zotincă elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Zotincă became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft.
Coaching career
editAfter the end of his career was part of the Chivas USA Youth team coaching staff.[5] Since 14 December 2011 worked as Head coach by United Futebol Club in San Juan Capistrano.[6]
Honours
editClub
edit- Steaua Bucharest
- Gaz Metan Mediaș
- Sporting Kansas City
- Individual
- MISL All-Rookie team: 2001
- MISL Al-Star: 2003
References
edit- ^ a b Alex Zotincă at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- ^ "Alex Zotinca e dorit in nationala americana" [Alex Zotinca is wanted in the American national team] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Zotinca joaca marea finala in America" [Zotinca plays the great final in America] (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 13 November 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Chivas USA sign Romanian defender Zotinca". Archived from the original on 13 June 2010.
- ^ "Academy Staff Bios". Chivas USA. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
- ^ "Boys Program – United Futbol Club". Archived from the original on 11 May 2012.
External links
edit- Alex Zotincă at Major League Soccer
- Alex Zotincă at ESPN FC
- Alex Zotincă at JustSportsStats.com
- Alex Zotincă at Soccerway
- Alex Zotincă at WorldFootball.net