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Nicolae DicaFormer Romanian footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: 09.05.1980
Country:  Romania |
Content:
- Nichita Constantin Dică
- FC Argeș
- Dică made 89 appearances and scored 34 goals for Argeș.
- Catania and Loans
- Back to Romania
- International career
- Achievements
Nichita Constantin Dică
Dac 1904At age 18, Dică played professionally for his hometown club, Dacia (now Mioveni), in Divizia B. In his debut season, Dică made 17 appearances, scoring five goals for Dacia. The following year, he played in almost every match and had a strong season, as his team finished in fourth place. He was one of the top goalscorers in the league that season, with 14 goals. Dică's talent was beginning to be recognized, and in 2000, Divizia A team Argeș signed him. Dică made 50 appearances for Dacia, scoring 19 goals in the second division.
FC Argeș
Dică made his top-flight debut for Argeș against Gaz Metan, a match which his team won 2-1. He soon became captain after Adrian Mutu left for Dinamo București and Adrian Neaga left for Steaua. Dică's performances caught the attention of top teams in the Romanian championship.
Dică made 89 appearances and scored 34 goals for Argeș.
Steaua BucureștiIn December 2003, Romanian giants Steaua paid Argeș €250,000 for Dică. His transfer was facilitated by coach Victor Pițurcă and club president Mihai Stoica. In his first season at Steaua, he scored nine goals in 14 matches, helping the club finish second behind Dinamo București. The following season, Dică had a fallout with the fans and wanted to leave the club, but he remained at Steaua the following season and helped the team win the championship title, scoring 11 goals. The following season, Steaua won the championship again, and Dică's transfer value increased. He scored 15 goals, making him Steaua's top goalscorer.
He made his European debut in the 2004/05 season when Steaua qualified for the UEFA Cup. In the round of 16, the team eliminated the reigning champions Valencia, but in the quarterfinals, Steaua was eliminated by another Spanish team, Villarreal. In 2005, after Steaua missed out on the Champions League group stage after a loss to Rosenborg, the team had another impressive run in the UEFA Cup. Steaua defeated teams like Lens, Heerenveen, and Real Betis, and in the quarterfinals, they beat their fellow countrymen Rapid București, but in the semifinals, Steaua was eliminated by English Premier League side Middlesbrough.
On September 13, 2006, Dică scored twice in the first leg of Steaua's Champions League debut against Dynamo Kyiv. In the six group stage matches, against Dynamo Kyiv, Real Madrid, and Olympique Lyonnais, he scored four goals and provided one assist.
In 2006, Dică was named Footballer of the Year in Romania by daily newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor.
On January 23, 2007, he suffered a knee injury during a friendly against Siena's second team and missed the majority of the season. On May 9th, his birthday, Dică returned to action and came on as a late substitute against Ceahlăul, even receiving the captain's armband as his team won 2-0. It was his first official game of 2007. Dică made a total of 172 appearances, including European Cups, scoring 68 times.
Catania and Loans
On June 28, 2008, Dică joined Catania, largely due to manager Walter Zenga, with whom he had worked at Steaua. Dică was expected to be a replacement for midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas, who had left for Fiorentina. The move to Sicily proved to be unsuccessful, as Dică played only 93 minutes in the first six months. It seemed apparent that he would leave in the winter transfer window, but coach Walter Zenga declared that he would not leave Catania before the following summer.
In June 2009, Dică was loaned to Iraklis. He made his debut on August 23, 2009, scoring a brace against Panthrakikos, securing his team a 2-1 victory.
In January 2010, CFR Cluj signed the midfielder on loan until June 2010. He helped the team win the Romanian championship and cup, scoring in the second leg of the cup semi-final against Dinamo București, which CFR won 2-1.
In July 2010, Manisaspor signed the player on loan until June 2011. He rarely featured for the team, and on December 14, 2010, he agreed to terminate his contract with Manisaspor.
Back to Romania
In January 2011, Dică signed a one-year contract with his former team Steaua. He made his club debut in the team on February 27, 2011, against Universitatea Craiova, a match they won 1-0. On April 5th, he scored his first goal since returning to Steaua in a match against Unirea Urziceni at home, a match which his club won 5-0. On May 11th, Dică scored the equalizer against Brașov to send Steaua into the Romanian Cup final. On May 25th, Dică scored the winning goal from a free kick in a 2-1 victory over Dinamo București, winning his second straight cup. Dică left Steaua in June 2011.
Later that month, he rejoined his first club, Mioveni. He was given the number 80 shirt. On October 31st, Dică scored a goal against Concordia Chiajna, however, his team lost 3-1. In January 2012, after 15 appearances and one goal in the league, he terminated his contract with Mioveni.
That same month, he signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Liga II club Viitorul. At the end of the 2011/12 season, Viitorul was promoted to Liga I, partly due to the impressive performances of Dică, who scored six goals in 13 appearances.
International career
Dică made his debut for the Romanian national team on October 11, 2003, in a friendly game against Japan.
Dică made 32 appearances for Romania, scoring his first goal in August 2006 in a friendly against Cyprus. After suffering an injury in a friendly match for his club in January 2007, Dică returned to the "tricolori" for the Euro 2008 qualifiers. In the qualifiers, he scored four goals, including a brace against Albania. At the tournament itself, Dică's team was drawn in a group with the Netherlands, Italy, and France. Although Romania lost only to the Dutch, the team finished third and left the tournament.
Achievements
Club- Romanian Champion: 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10
- Romanian Supercup: 2005/06
- UEFA Cup Semi-Finals: 2005/06
- Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2006
- Romanian Cup: 2009/10
International
- UEFA European Championship: Group Stage 2008
Personal Life
In November 2003, Dică married Corina Zimbruianu. They met in 1998 and have been together ever since. The couple has a son, Marco Ilie, whose godfather is Dică's Steaua teammate Mirel Rădoi.
On March 8, 2007, Dică's father passed away due to cirrhosis. The player was undergoing treatment at an isokinetic clinic in Bologna when he heard the news. It was his father who inspired Dică to become a footballer.
Every time Dică scores a goal, he, being very religious, crosses himself, kisses his hands, and points two fingers towards the sky.
