Daniel Bîrligea

Romanian footballer (born 2000)

Daniel Bîrligea
Bîrligea with CFR Cluj in 2022
Personal information
Full name George Daniel Bîrligea[1]
Date of birth (2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Brăila, Romania
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 FCSB
Number 9
Youth career
Luceafărul Brăila
Gheorghe Hagi Academy
0000–2016 ASD Cantera Ribolla
2016–2019 Palermo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Teramo 32 (4)
2022–2024 CFR Cluj 82 (22)
2024– FCSB 0 (0)
International career‡
2022–2023 Romania U21 13 (4)
2023– Romania 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024

George Daniel Bîrligea (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈd͡ʒe̯ord͡ʒe daniˈel bɨrˈlid͡ʒe̯a]; born 19 April 2000) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga I club FCSB and the Romania national team.

Club career

Early career / Teramo

Born in the city of Brăila, Bîrligea moved to Italy at age 12 with his mother and elder sister,[2] where he represented ASD Cantera Ribolla and Palermo at junior level.[3]

On 22 January 2020, Bîrligea made his Serie C debut for Teramo in a 1–0 win over Catanzaro.[4] Over the course of two years with Il diavolo, he amassed seven goals from 43 appearances in all competitions.[5]

CFR Cluj

On 26 January 2022, Bîrligea returned to Romania after agreeing to a contract with defending champions CFR Cluj.[5][6] He made his debut on 5 February, coming on as a 87th-minute substitute for Claudiu Petrila in a 1–1 Liga I draw at Universitatea Craiova.[7]

Bîrligea scored his first goal for "the White and Burgundies" on 1 May 2022, in a 1–0 league defeat of Farul Constanța.[8] Two weeks later, he started in a 2–1 home victory over Universitatea Craiova, as his club was crowned national champion one fixture prior to the end of the season.[9]

On 10 November 2022, Bîrligea scored his first career hat-trick in a 5–0 defeat of Dumbrăvița counting for the Cupa României group stage.[10] In the 2023–24 campaign, he was the team's second-highest goalscorer in the league with 14 goals.

Bîrligea scored his first two goals in European competitions on 1 August 2024, in a 5–0 away win over Neman Grodno in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.[11]

FCSB

On 2 September 2024, a deal was agreed for the move of Bîrligea to CFR Cluj's domestic rivals FCSB, subject to a medical. The fee was disclosed by the owners of both clubs as €2 million and 15% interest on a potential future transfer, plus conditional bonuses.[12] Rapid București made a last-minute attempt to hijack the deal,[13] but Bîrligea was officially unveiled by FCSB the following day and handed the number 9 shirt.[14]

International career

Bîrligea made his debut for the Romania national under-21 team on 25 March 2022, equalising late in an eventual 2–1 friendly win against Finland at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest.[15] In June 2023, he was selected by manager Emil Săndoi in the squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[16]

In September 2023, Bîrligea received his first call-up to the Romania senior team for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Israel and Kosovo.[17] On 7 June 2024, he was selected in Romania's squad for the final tournament,[18] but did not feature in any game.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 September 2024[19][20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Teramo 2019–20 Serie C 8 1 4[a] 0 — 1[b] 0 13 1
2020–21 Serie C 8 1 2[c] 0 — 1[b] 0 11 1
2021–22 Serie C 16 2 3[a] 3 — — 19 5
Total 32 4 9 3 0 0 2 0 43 7
CFR Cluj 2021–22 Liga I 6 1 — — — 6 1
2022–23 Liga I 31 5 4 4 2 0 1[d] 0 38 9
2023–24 Liga I 40 14 4 1 2 0 — 46 15
2024–25 Liga I 5 2 0 0 6 2 — 11 4
Total 82 22 8 5 10 2 1 0 101 29
FCSB 2024–25 Liga I 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 114 26 17 8 10 2 3 0 144 36
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C
  2. ^ a b Appearance in Serie C promotion play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in Coppa Italia
  4. ^ Appearance in Liga I European play-offs

International

As of match played 4 June 2024[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania
2023 1 0
2024 1 0
Total 2 0

Honours

CFR Cluj

References

  1. ^ Daniel Bîrligea on Instagram
  2. ^ "Fotbalistul care a impresionat la națională, deși nu joacă în Liga 1. Italia l-a crescut, dar a visat doar la tricoul lui Mutu: "Mama muncea ca "badanta" în Italia. I-a fost greu să ne întrețină" | EXCLUSIV" [The footballer who impressed at the national team, even though he does not play in the Liga 1. Italy raised him, but he only dreamed of Mutu's shirt: "My mother worked as a "caregiver" in Italy. It was difficult for her to support us" | EXCLUSIVE] (in Romanian). ProSport. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Le "Giovani aquile" del Palermo U17: conosciamo meglio la punta Birligea" [The "Young Eagles" of Palermo U17: get to know better the forward Birligea] (in Italian). RaccontiRosanero.com. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Teramo vs. Catanzaro - 22 January 2022". Soccerway. 22 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b "CFR Cluj a realizat al 4-lea transfer la iernii » Atacant adus din Italia" [CFR Cluj made its fourth transfer of the winter » A forward brought from Italy]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 26 January 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  6. ^ "CFR Cluj a anunțat al patrulea transfer al iernii" [CFR Cluj announced the fourth transfer of the winter] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ^ "VIDEO Liga 1: CSU Craiova vs CFR Cluj 1-1 / Oltenii au egalat la ultima fază - Campioana, doi jucători eliminați" [VIDEO Liga 1: CSU Craiova vs CFR Cluj 1–1 / Oltenii equalized late - The champion, with two players sent off] (in Romanian). HotNews.ro. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Cine e Daniel Birligea, eroul CFR-ului din meciul cu Farul: "Am plecat la 12 ani în Italia"" [Who is Daniel Birligea, the hero of CFR in the match against Farul: "I left for Italy at the age of 12"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b "CFR Cluj – Universitatea Craiova 2-1. Ardelenii câștigă al cincilea titlu consecutiv cu o etapă înainte de final. Video" [CFR Cluj - Universitatea Craiova 2–1. The Transylvanians win the fifth consecutive title with one fixture before the final. Video]. Fanatik.ro. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Reacția lui Daniel Bîrligea după ce Dan Petrescu l-a descris drept un jucător veșnic accidentat" [Daniel Bîrligea's reaction after Dan Petrescu described him as an eternally injured player]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 10 November 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Neman Grodno - CFR Cluj 0–5". UEFA.com. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Daniel Bîrligea, la FCSB! Gigi Becali a confirmat transferul de la CFR Cluj: "Am bătut palma cu Neluțu Varga" » Suma uluitoare achitată" [Daniel Bîrligea, to FCSB! Gigi Becali confirmed the transfer from CFR Cluj: "I shook hands with Neluțu Varga" » The astonishing amount paid] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Gigi Becali a anunţat că Dan Şucu a intrat pe fir şi îl vrea pe Daniel Bîrligea la Rapid: "Nu credeam că poate să facă aşa ceva"" [Gigi Becali announced that Dan Șucu entered negotiations and wants Daniel Bîrligea at Rapid: "I didn't think he could do something like that"] (in Romanian). Antena Sport. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  14. ^ "OFICIAL Daniel Bîrligea, prezentat la FCSB! Ce număr va purta atacantul" [OFFICIAL Daniel Bîrligea, unveiled by FCSB! What number will the striker wear?] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  15. ^ "FOTO Comeback de senzație pe "Arcul de Triumf"! România U21 învinge pe final Finlanda U21: Miculescu, MVP!" [PHOTO Sensational comeback on the "Arcul de Triumf"! Romania U21 defeats Finland U21 in the late moments: Miculescu, MVP!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 25 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  16. ^ "U21 la EURO 2023 | VIDEO: Ei sunt ROMÂNIA U21 pentru Campionatul European!" [U21 at EURO 2023 | VIDEO: They are ROMANIA U21 for the European Championship!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Lotul României pentru partidele cu Israel și Kosovo din preliminariile EURO 2024" [Romania's squad for the EURO 2024 qualifying matches with Israel and Kosovo] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Lotul României pentru EURO 2024" [Romania's squad for EURO 2024] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  19. ^ Daniel Bîrligea at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Daniel Birligea » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Daniel Bîrligea". European Football. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  • v
  • t
  • e
FCSB – current squad
  • v
  • t
  • e
Romania squad – UEFA Euro 2024
Romania