Dorin Rotariu (Romanian pronunciation: [doˈrin roˈtarju, - rotaˈri.u];[1] born 29 July 1995) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for TFF First League club Ankaragücü.

Dorin Rotariu
Rotariu with Mouscron in 2018
Personal information
Full name Dorin Rotariu
Date of birth (1995-07-29) 29 July 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Timișoara, Romania
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Ankaragücü
Number 22
Youth career
2007–2012 Politehnica Timișoara
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Politehnica Timișoara 0 (0)
2012–2013Dinamo II București (loan) 5 (2)
2012–2013Dinamo București (loan) 7 (0)
2013–2017 Dinamo București 115 (22)
2017–2019 Club Brugge 12 (1)
2017–2018Mouscron (loan) 28 (9)
2018–2019AZ Alkmaar (loan) 8 (0)
2019–2021 Astana 44 (8)
2021–2023 Ludogorets Razgrad 6 (1)
2021 Ludogorets Razgrad II 1 (0)
2022–2023Atromitos (loan) 39 (4)
2023–2024 FCSB 5 (0)
2024– Ankaragücü 6 (2)
International career
2013–2014 Romania U19 8 (0)
2014–2016 Romania U21 14 (0)
2016–2019 Romania 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2019

Rotariu moved from his boyhood club Politehnica Timișoara to Dinamo București in 2012, aged 17. He amassed over 120 Liga I appearances for "the White and Reds" over the course of several seasons, and in 2017 earned a transfer abroad to Club Brugge in Belgium. Two years later, after being loaned out to Mouscron and AZ Alkmaar, Rotariu joined Kazakh team Astana with which he won three domestic honours. He also competed professionally in Bulgaria and Greece, for Ludogorets Razgrad and Atromitos, respectively, before returning to Romania with FCSB in 2023.

Internationally, Rotariu made his full debut for Romania in a 5–0 FIFA World Cup qualifier victory over Armenia in October 2016, and scored his first goal in a 1–0 friendly win over Sweden in March 2018.

Club career

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Early career / Dinamo București

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Rotariu played as a youngster for FC Politehnica Timișoara's academy, and in September 2012 was loaned to top-flight club Dinamo București. Several other teams had previously wished to sign him, including ACS Poli Timișoara—the supposed successor of FC Politehnica which was dissolved during the same month of the player's transfer. Rotariu chose to join Dinamo București in order to play alongside teammates from the national under-19 squad.[2] He stayed with the reserve team before making his Liga I debut against Concordia Chiajna in March 2013, aged only 17 years and eight months.[3]

After his loan expired in the summer of 2013, Dinamo București reached a full transfer agreement with the owner of the defunct FC Politehnica society, Marian Iancu, despite interest from fellow league side FC Vaslui. Rotariu was signed as a free agent, but the capital-based club promised to pay 50% of a future transfer fee to the businessman.[4] On the eve of his 18th birthday, Rotariu recorded his first goal in a match against FC Vaslui, which ended 2–0.[5] On 11 August 2013, he netted in a derby against FC Steaua București.[6] Twelve days later, he scored again in a 6–0 victory over Universitatea Cluj.[7]

Rotariu was the most efficient young player in the first part of the 2016–17 Liga I campaign, having scored six goals and offering one assist.[8]

Club Brugge

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On 31 January 2017, the last day of the winter transfer window in Belgium, it was announced that Rotariu signed a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee with defending champions Club Brugge.[9] He made his Belgian Pro League debut five days later, entering the pitch as an 80th-minute substitute in a 1–0 home victory over Charleroi at the Jan Breydel Stadium.[10] His first goal came in a 2–1 home success over Zulte Waregem, on 1 May.[11]

Loans to Mouscron and AZ Alkmaar

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Rotariu agreed to a season-long loan deal with Royal Excel Mouscron on 31 August 2017, rejoining his former Dinamo București coach Mircea Rednic.[12] He recorded his first goals in a Belgian Cup match with Tubize on 20 September, netting twice in the 3–1 win.[13] Rotariu was again loaned for the following campaign, this time to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.[14]

Astana

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After a move to 2. Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld fell through,[15] Kazakh team FC Astana announced the transfer of Rotariu on a four-year contract on 26 February 2019.[16] He made his competitive debut on 3 March, as Astana won 2–0 over Kairat in the Kazakhstan Super Cup.[17]

Ludogorets Razgrad

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On 17 June 2021, Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad announced the signing of Rotariu.[18] He scored his first and only goal for the team on 31 July, in a 3–0 league defeat of CSKA 1948.

Loan to Atromitos

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On 25 January 2022, Rotariu joined Greek side Atromitos on a short-term loan.[19] On 4 July that year, his loan was extended until the summer of 2023.[20] Rotariu scored his first goal in the Super League Greece on 4 September, in a 1–1 home draw with Panathinaikos.

FCSB

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On 10 October 2023, Rotariu returned to Romania on a one-year contract with the option of another two years at FCSB, the cross-town rival of his former team Dinamo București.[21]

International career

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Rotariu was called up by manager Christoph Daum to the Romania national team squad to face Montenegro in September 2016.[22] He earned his first cap on 8 October that year, in a 5–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier win over Armenia, in which he came on for Alexandru Chipciu in the 67th minute.[23]

Rotariu scored his first goal for the full side on 27 March 2018, coming on as a 53rd-minute substitute for Alexandru Mitriță and netting the only goal in a friendly against Sweden.[24]

Style of play

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Rotariu's main position is that of a winger, preferably on the right flank, but he can also be deployed as a supporting or a lone striker.[25] Cristian Dulca, his coach at the Romania under-21 national team, stated that his best quality is ball control, and that he advances well while looking for spaces between lines.[26]

Personal life

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Rotariu's father Ilie was a footballer who totalled two games in the Romanian top tier, and has an identical twin named Iosif.[27] The latter also played for Politehnica Timișoara and the Romania national team, among others.[28][29]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 8 November 2024.[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dinamo II București (loan) 2012–13 Liga II 5 2 5 2
Dinamo București (loan) 2012–13 Liga I 7 0 7 0
Dinamo București 2013–14 Liga I 31 7 4 2 35 9
2014–15 Liga I 31 1 2 3 2 0 35 4
2015–16 Liga I 32 8 5 1 3 1 40 10
2016–17 Liga I 21 6 2 0 2 1 25 7
Total 122 22 13 6 7 2 142 30
Club Brugge 2016–17 Belgian First Division A 12 1 12 1
Mouscron (loan) 2017–18 Belgian First Division A 28 9 2 2 30 11
Alkmaar (loan) 2018–19 Eredivisie 8 0 1 1 1 0 10 1
Astana 2019 Kazakhstan Premier League 31 7 1 0 14 1 1 0 47 8
2020 Kazakhstan Premier League 12 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 15 2
2021 Kazakhstan Premier League 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 44 8 1 0 16 2 2 0 63 10
Ludogorets Razgrad 2021–22 Bulgarian First League 6 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 10 1
Atromitos (loan) 2021–22 Super League Greece 12 0 12 0
2022–23 Super League Greece 27 4 3 0 30 4
Total 39 4 3 0 42 4
FCSB 2023–24 Liga I 5 0 2 0 7 0
Ankaragücü 2024–25 TFF First League 6 2 1 0 7 2
Career total 275 50 23 9 7 2 20 2 2 0 328 62

International

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As of match played 10 June 2019.[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania
2016 2 0
2017 2 0
2018 5 1
2019 1 0
Total 10 1
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rotariu goal.[31]
List of international goals scored by Dorin Rotariu
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 27 March 2018 Stadionul Ion Oblemenco, Craiova, Romania 5   Sweden 1–0 1–0 Friendly

Honours

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Dinamo București[30]

Astana[30]

Ludogorets Razgrad[30]

FCSB[30]

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Pastila de limbă. Cum se pronunță corect numele derivate din meserii, precum Rotariu sau Ciubotariu" [Language pill. How to properly pronounce names that originate from jobs, like Rotariu or Ciubotariu] (in Romanian). Digi24. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Dorin Rotariu va juca pentru Dinamo. Nepotul lui Roti a fost imprumutat pentru un an la gruparea bucuresteana" [Dorin Rotariu will play for Dinamo. Roti's nephew was loaned for one year to the Bucharest-based club] (in Romanian). Opinia Timișoarei. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Debut pentru Rotariu" [Debut for Rotariu] (in Romanian). FC Dinamo București. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Cum a reuşit Dinamo să cîştige bătălia cu Vaslui pentru Dorin Rotariu" [How Dinamo won the race with Vaslui for Dorin Rotariu]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 17 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Fotbal: Dorin Rotariu (Dinamo) - Nu voi uita niciodată primul meu gol în Liga 1" [Football: Dorin Rotariu (Dinamo) - I will never forget my first Liga 1 goal] (in Romanian). Agerpres. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Salvat doar de final! Dinamo - Steaua 1-2. Steliştii au câştigat cu emoţii un meci pe care l-au controlat" [Saved by the ending! Dinamo - Steaua 1-2. Steliştii won with difficulty a match that they controlled] (in Romanian). ProSport. 11 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Dinamo - U Cluj 6-0 » Game, set şi meci în "Ştefan cel Mare"" [Dinamo - U Cluj 6-0 » Game, set, match at "Ștefan cel Mare"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 23 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Dorin Rotariu, cel mai eficient tânăr fotbalist din Liga 1! Câţi jucători U21 au evoluat în prima parte a sezonului" [Dorin Rotariu, the most efficient young footballer in Liga I! How many U21 players have played in the first part of the season] (in Romanian). ProSport. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Dorin Rotariu naar Club Brugge" [Dorin Rotariu to Club Brugge] (in Dutch). Club Brugge KV. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Vossen sleurt Club Brugge voorbij stug Charleroi; blauw-zwart opnieuw steviger aan de leding" [Vossen puts Club Brugge ahead strong Charleroi; the black and blues are leaders again]. Voetbalkrant (in Dutch). 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Rotariu a spart gheața! A dat primul gol în Belgia, cu o super execuție. Viteza șutului: 116 km/h!" [Rotariu broke the ice! He scored his first goal in Belgium, executed to perfection. Speed of the shot: 116 km/h!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Dorin Rotariu va lucra din nou cu cel mai important antrenor din cariera sa" [Rotariu will work again with the most important coach in his career] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  13. ^ "UPDATE Dorin Rotariu a reușit primele goluri pentru Mouscron » A fost decisiv pentru Rednic" [UPDATE Rotariu scored his first goals for Mouscron » He was decisive for Rednic's team]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 20 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  14. ^ "OFICIAL Dorin Rotariu a semnat cu noua echipă și va juca în cupele europene" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Rotariu explica cum a ratat transferul in Germania: "Eu semnasem totul"" [Rotariu explains how he missed the transfer to Germany: "I had signed everything"] (in Romanian). Ziare. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  16. ^ Дорин Ротариу продолжит свою карьеру в составе "Астаны" [Dorin Rotariu will continue his career with Astana] (in Russian). FC Astana. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Realizare pentru Dorin Rotariu! Și-a mai trecut un trofeu în palmares" [Achievement for Dorin Rotariu! He added another trophy to his honours] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Ludogorets signed a contract with a Romanian player". ludogorets.com/en/. PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Ατρόμητος: Απέκτησε ως δανεικό τον Ντορίν Ροτάριου". www.sport24.gr. 25 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Ατρόμητος μεταγραφές: Στο Περιστέρι και τη νέα σεζόν ο Ροτάριου". www.sport24.gr. 4 July 2022.
  21. ^ "OFICIAL | Dorin Rotariu, prezentat la FCSB!" [OFFICIAL | Dorin Rotariu, unveiled by FCSB!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Daum names first squad as Romania coach". Reuters. 13 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Armenia 0–5 Romania". FIFA.com. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Contra, din nou inspirat. Rotariu a înscris primul gol la naţională, la trei minute după intrarea pe teren" [Contra, inspired once again. Rotariu scored his first goal for the national team, three minutes after entering the pitch] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  25. ^ "EXCLUSIV | Gigi Becali s-a răzgândit în privința lui Dorin Rotariu înaintea meciului cu FC Voluntari: "L-am întrebat pe băiat"" [EXCLUSIVE | Gigi Becali changed his mind about Dorin Rotariu before the match against FC Voluntari: "I asked the boy"]. Digi Sport. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023. He told me that he likes it best to play on the right, but that he plays in three positions—striker, second striker and on the right.
  26. ^ "Dulca, despre calitățile unor jucători de viitor. Fotbalistul căruia este gata să-i mai dea o șansă. "Poate, într-o zi, va fi convocat"". Pro Sport. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  27. ^ "Fraţii Oriol, de la Rapid, a şasea pereche de gemeni din Liga I. Săpunaru şi Daniel Niculae au semnat şi ei, în alb!" [The Oriol brothers, from Rapid, the sixth pair of twins from League I. Săpunaru and Daniel Niculae also signed, in white!] (in Romanian). adevarul.ro. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Povestea lui Rotariu. Mijlocasul care a facut istorie in tricoul nationalei a implinit 50 de ani" [The story of Rotariu. The midfielder who made history in the national jersey has reached 50 years] (in Romanian). stirileprotv.ro. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Dorin Rotariu, nepotul fostului stelist Iosif Rotariu, a debutat la Dinamo". Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  30. ^ a b c d e Dorin Rotariu at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Dorin Rotariu". European Football. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  32. ^ "Rotariu este câştigătorul de fapt al concursului "Fotbalitul lunii" în august" [Rotariu is the actual winner of the "Player of the Month" award in August] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
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