View source for Nicolae Dobrin

{{Short description|Romanian footballer (1947–2007)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nicolae Dobrin
| image = Nicolae Dobrin 2.jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption = Dobrin with [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] in the 1970s
| fullname = <!-- if different -->
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date |1947|8|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Pitești]], Romania
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|10|26|1947|8|26|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Pitești]], Romania
| position = [[Midfielder|Attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1959–1962
| youthclubs1 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]]
| years1 = 1962–1981
| years2 = 1981–1982
| years3 = 1982–1983
| years4 = 1985–1986
| clubs1 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]
| clubs2 = [[FCM Târgoviște]]{{efn|name="FCM"|The statistics for the [[1980–81 Divizia B]] season are unavailable.<ref name=RS/>}}
| clubs3 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]
| clubs4 = CS Botoșani
| caps1 = 390
| caps2 = 13
| caps3 = 5
| caps4 = 
| goals1 = 106
| goals2 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| goals4 = 
| totalcaps = 408
| totalgoals = 111
| nationalyears1 = 1966–1980
| nationalteam1  = [[Romania national football team|Romania]]{{efn|name="ROM"|Including one appearance for Romania's Olympic team.<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=4834|title=Nicolae Dobrin|publisher=European Football|access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{NFT|17645}}</ref>}} 
| nationalcaps1  = 48
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| manageryears1 = 1982–1985
| manageryears2 = 1985–1986
| manageryears3 = 1992
| manageryears4 = 1995
| manageryears5 = 1998–1999
| manageryears6 = 2001
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]
| managerclubs2 = CS Botoșani
| managerclubs3 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]
| managerclubs4 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]
| managerclubs5 = [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Team|[[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[Romanian League]]|[[1971–72 Divizia A|1971]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[Romanian League]]|[[1978–79 Divizia A|1979]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[Romanian Cup]]|[[1965 Cupa României Final|1965]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[Romanian League]]|[[1967–68 Divizia A|1968]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[Romanian League]]|[[1977–78 Divizia A|1978]]}}
}}

'''Nicolae Dobrin''' ({{IPA|ro|nikoˈla.e doˈbrin}}; 26 August 1947 – 26 October 2007) was a Romanian [[Association football|footballer]] who played as an [[Midfielder|attacking midfielder]] and a [[Manager (association football)|manager]].

Nicknamed ''Gâscanul'' ("The Gander") or ''Prințul din Trivale'' ("The Prince of Trivale"), he is considered one of [[Romania national football team|Romania]]'s greatest footballers. Renowned for his dribbling ability, Dobrin received the [[Romanian Footballer of the Year]] award on three occasions, in 1966, 1967, and 1971, and has a [[Nicolae Dobrin Stadium|stadium]] in native [[Pitești]] named after him.

==Club career==
{{Quote box|
 width=20%
|align=left
|quote="The player I loved and to whom I will hold a special esteem is Gicu Dobrin. Thanks to him I became a respected coach, thanks to him I and FC Argeș were champions. He was a phenomenal player"
|source=–Florin Halagian, former Argeș Pitești manager<ref name=GSP4/>}}
Nicolae Dobrin was born on 26 August 1947 in [[Pitești]], [[Argeș County]], nicknamed ''Gâscanul'' ("The Gander") or ''Prințul din Trivale'' ("The Prince of Trivale"), he is considered one of [[Romania national football team|Romania]]'s greatest footballers.<ref name=RS>{{RomanianSoccer|612/nicolae-dobrin}}</ref><ref name=GSP>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/superreportaje/5-lucruri-vorbesc-despre-nicolae-dobrin-13370.html | title=5 lucruri vorbesc despre Nicolae Dobrin| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=5 things about Nicolae Dobrin| date=27 October 2007 | access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=adevarul>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/legendele-fotbalului-printul-trivale-1_50ac9a117c42d5a663869dd3/index.html | title=Legendele fotbalului:"Prinţul din Trivale"| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Football legends:"Prince of Trivale"| date=22 October 2011 | access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> He started playing football as a child with his friends on a field which they nicknamed "[[Maracanã Stadium|Maracana]]" that was close to the [[Argeș (river)|Argeș river]] and one day in 1959 some players from [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]] came to play with them, Dobrin's team winning with 12–2 with him scoring 6 goals.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=adevarul/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://jurnaluldearges.ro/amintiri-nicolae-dobrin-maracana-strand-71771/ | title=Amintiri cu Nicolae Dobrin de pe Maracana din Ştrand (I)| publisher=Jurnaluldearges.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Memories with Nicolae Dobrin from the Maracana from the Ştrand (I)| date=28 March 2019| access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> After the game, Leonte Ianovschi, a coach at the youth center of [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]] told him to come at the club's training sessions.<ref name=GSP/> Dobrin played for the first time in a [[Liga I|Divizia A]] match when he was still 14 years old, on 1 July 1962, coach Ștefan Vasile using him in a match between [[FC Universitatea Cluj|Știința Cluj]] and [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]] which ended with a 5–1 loss, thus holding the record of the youngest debutant in the competition.<ref name=fanatik>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/armeanu-si-gascanu-fac-echipa-in-liga-cerului-19084191| title=Armeanu' și Gâscanu' fac echipă în Liga Cerului. Povești-eveniment marca FANATIK despre relaţia Halagian-Dobrin| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Armeanu 'and Gâscanu' are a team in the League of Heaven. FANATIK brand event-story about the Halagian-Dobrin relationship| date=28 September 2019| access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/enes-sali-l-a-cucerit-pe-gica-hagi-639130.html| title=Fotbalistul din Liga 1 care l-a vrăjit pe Gică Hagi:"Rar găsești ca el!"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=The football player from Liga 1 who enchanted Gică Hagi: "You rarely find players like him!"| date=10 August 2021 | access-date=13 August 2021}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://sport.hotnews.ro/stiri-fotbal-24969015-gica-hagi-enes-sali-farul-constanta-masia-academie-barcelona-debut-15-ani-liga-1.htm| title=Enes Sali, marele pariu al lui Gică Hagi - Povestea puștiului care a trecut pe la Academia Barcelonei și care a debutat în Liga 1 la 15 ani| publisher=Sport.hotnews.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Enes Sali, the great bet of Gică Hagi - The story of the kid who went to the Barcelona Academy and who made his debut in Liga 1 at the age of 15| date=10 August 2021 | access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref> 
[[File:Dinamo Pitești 1965.jpg|thumb|left|260px|{{center|Dobrin, aged 18 (pictured front row, fourth from right) with Dinamo Pitești in 1965.}}]]
Dobrin played for his local club [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] for most of his professional career, his first performance was when the club reached the [[1965 Cupa României final]] in which coach [[Virgil Mărdărescu]] used him as a starter in the eventual 2–1 loss in front of Știința Cluj.<ref name=adevarul/><ref name=RSCR>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1964_1965.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1964–1965|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref> Afterwards under the guidance of coach [[Florin Halagian]] he won two [[Liga I|Divizia A]] titles, in the one that was won in the [[1971–72 Divizia A|1971–72]] season he formed a successful trio in the offence with [[Constantin Radu (footballer)|Constantin Radu]] and [[Radu Jercan]], being the team's top-goalscorer with 15 goals scored in 23 matches.<ref name=GSP2>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/halagian-datorita-lui-dobrin-am-ajuns-mare-antrenor-220007.html| title=Halagian: "Datorită lui Dobrin am ajuns mare antrenor"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Halagian: "Thanks to Dobrin I became a great coach"| date=15 December 2010| access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> At the winning of the [[1978–79 Divizia A|1978–79]] title, he formed another successful offensive trio, this time with [[Marin Radu]] and [[Doru Nicolae]], Dobrin contributing with 9 goals scored in 22 matches, being decisive in the final game of the season against [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] in which he scored the final goal of the 4–3 victory, his performance being appreciated by journalist [[Ioan Chirilă]] who gave him a 10 in the ''Sportul'' newspaper.<ref name=RS/><ref name=fanatik/><ref name=fanatik2>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/8-ani-fara-dobrin-momentele-de-magie-fluiera-finalul-sau-le-mai-dau-un-gol-14549463 | title=Momentele de magie. "Fluieră finalul sau le mai dau un gol!"| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Moments of magic. "Whistle the end or I'll give them another goal!"| date=26 October 2015 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/locale/pitesti/povestea-celuimai-frumos-meci-istoria-campionatului-romaniei-invins-fc-arges-pedinamo-bucuresti-40-ani-1_5cf75eda445219c57e74b08e/index.html | title=Povestea celui mai frumos meci din istoria campionatului României. Cum a învins FC Argeş pe Dinamo la Bucureşti acum 40 de ani| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The story of the most beautiful match in the history of the Romanian championship. How FC Argeş defeated Dinamo in Bucharest 40 years ago| date=18 June 2019 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/dinamo-fc-arges-1979-626376.html | title= VIDEO Amintiri de la "thriller-ul" Dinamo - FC Argeș din 1979: "Jocurile erau făcute pentru ei. Se uitau la Dobrin ca la un extraterestru!"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=VIDEO Memories from the "thriller" Dinamo - FC Argeș from 1979:"The arrangements were made for them. They looked at Dobrin like at an alien!"| date=15 March 2021 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref> 

Dobrin played 25 games and scored 8 goals in European competitions (including 12 games and 2 goals in the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]), in his first season played in European competitions he appeared in six games in the [[1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]], as in the first two rounds [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]] eliminated [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] and [[Toulouse FC (1937)|Toulouse]], Dobrin scoring once against the latter, being defeated in the third round with 1–0 on aggregate by [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]] who eventually won the competition.<ref name=RS/><ref name=GSP3>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/nationala/retro-gsp-54-de-ani-de-la-debutul-lui-dobrin-in-nationala-dorit-de-herrera-la-inter-600396.html | title= RETRO GSP. 54 de ani de la debutul lui Dobrin în națională. Și de când Interul lui Herrera a oferit 250.000 $ în schimbul "Gâscanului"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=RETRO GSP. 54 years since Dobrin's debut in the national team. And since Herrera's Inter offered $ 250,000 in exchange for the "Gander"| date=1 June 2020 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=adevarul2>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/pitesti/singura-echipa-romaneasca-de-fotbal-care-a-invins-1846838.html | title=Singura echipă românească de fotbal care a învins trei mari cluburi din Spania. Marele Dobrin a fost cheia succeselor| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The only Romanian football team that has defeated three major clubs in Spain. The great Dobrin was the key to success| date=1 March 2018 | access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/pitesti/singura-echipa-romaneasca-ce-a-eliminat-sevilla-in-1710249.html|title=Singura echipă românească ce a eliminat Sevilla în cupele europene. Povestea unei duble istorice jucate în urmă cu 50 de ani|trans-title=The only Romanian team that eliminated Sevilla in European cups. The story of a historic double played 50 years ago|language=Romanian|publisher=Adevarul.ro|date=24 May 2016|access-date=23 August 2024}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nicolae-dobrin/uefa-cup-1966-1967/arge-piteti/3/|title=Nicolae Dobrin. Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1966/1967|access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> In the winter of 1966, because the French people were impressed that they defeated [[Toulouse FC (1937)|Toulouse]], [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]] was invited to participate at the friendly tournament organized in [[Marseille]] called Tele-magazine International Cup, where two emissaries of [[Inter Milan]] made an offer of $250.000 to [[FC Argeș Pitești|Dinamo Pitești]] in order to transfer the 19-year old Dobrin at [[Helenio Herrera]]'s team, but Dinamo's officials did not want to negotiate, being fearful of possible consequences they would face by [[Socialist Republic of Romania|Romania's communist regime]].<ref name=GSP3/> 
[[File:Nicolae Dobrin 3.jpg|thumb|left|180px|{{center|Dobrin with FC Argeș}}]]
In the [[1972–73 European Cup]], [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] passed [[FC Aris Bonnevoie|Aris Bonnevoie]] in the first round against whom he scored three goals, then in the following one they won a home game with 2–1 against [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] in which Dobrin opened the score but lost the second leg with 3–1, however this was enough for Real Madrid's president [[Santiago Bernabéu Yeste|Santiago Bernabéu]] to want him at the club, making a potential record breaking offer of $2 million and a nocturne installation for the [[Stadionul Nicolae Dobrin|1 Mai stadium]] from [[Pitești]].<ref name=adevarul/><ref name=GSP3/><ref name=adevarul2/><ref name=fanatik3>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/nicolae-dobrin-real-madrid-cum-a-ratat-transferul-vietii-17315245 | title= Dobrin făcea azi 70 de ani! Cum a picat mutarea la Real| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Dobrin would have been 70 years old today! How the move to Real failed| date=26 August 2017 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=fanatik4>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/nicolae-dobrin-la-un-pas-sa-ajunga-la-real-madrid-spaniolii-anuntau-iminentul-transfer-in-1973-18575263 | title= Nicolae Dobrin, la un pas să ajungă la Real Madrid! Spaniolii anunţau iminentul transfer în 1973| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Nicolae Dobrin, one step away from reaching Real Madrid! The Spaniards announced the imminent transfer in 1973| date=16 September 2018 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1973/06/10/073.html|work=ABC.es |language= es|date=10 June 1973 |access-date= 14 April 2008|title=Dobrin rumano del Arges Pitesti, puede ser jugador del Real Madrid la proxima temporada}}<br>{{Cite news |title=History of the world transfer record |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/23903470 |access-date=2022-08-24}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nicolae-dobrin/champions-league-1972-1973/arge-piteti/3/|title=Nicolae Dobrin. Champions League 1972/1973|access-date=29 August 2024}}</ref> Because of the [[Communist Romania|communist regime in Romania]] in that period, Bernabéu had to hold talks with dictator [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] himself, but could not persuade him, because Dobrin was regarded as a "national treasure" and such values could not be "estranged", especially not playing in a team from the country of [[Francisco Franco]]'s fascist dictatorship. It is said that this was the biggest regret of Dobrin's life, although he did eventually end up playing in [[Francisco Gento]]'s testimonial, in the famous "blanco" shirt of Real Madrid.<ref name=fanatik3/><ref name=fanatik4/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/especiales/2002/02/centenario/1972_3.html |work=Elmundo.es|language= es|date=15 December 2008 |access-date= 19 December 2008|title=Los mejores del mundo se visten de blanco en la despedida de Gento}}</ref> On this occasion Santiago Bernabéu made a last unsuccessful attempt to keep the Romanian player in Madrid.<ref name=fanatik3/><ref name=fanatik4/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/sport/fotbal_intern/Comunistii_au_blocat_transferurile_romanilor_0_590341307.html |work=[[Adevărul]] |language= ro|date=14 November 2011 |access-date= 16 December 2011|title=Comuniştii au blocat transferurile românilor}}</ref> 

In the [[1978–79 UEFA Cup]], [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] defeated in the home game [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] with 2–1, Dobrin opening the score from a indirect free kick and according to his former teammate [[Andrei Speriatu]], after the game, [[Mario Kempes]] who just won the [[1978 World Cup|World Cup]] with [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], being the top-goalscorer and best player of the tournament went to Dobrin and told him:"You are a great player!", however [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] lost in the second leg with 5–2.<ref name=fanatik2/><ref name=adevarul2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/diverse/remember-40-de-ani-de-la-ziua-in-care-mario-kempes-s-a-inclinat-in-fata-lui-nicolae-dobrin-fc-arges-valencia-punct-de-referinta-in-fotbalul-romanesc-550978.html | title= 40 de ani de la ziua în care Mario Kempes s-a înclinat în fața lui Nicolae Dobrin. FC Argeș - Valencia, punct de referință în fotbalul românesc| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=40 years since the day Mario Kempes bowed to Nicolae Dobrin. FC Argeș - Valencia, reference point in Romanian football| date=18 October 2018 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/campionate/retro-gsp-video-foto-ziua-in-care-kempes-s-a-inclinat-in-fata-lui-dobrin-580449.html | title= Ziua în care Kempes s-a înclinat în fața lui Dobrin| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The day Kempes bowed to Dobrin| date=18 October 2019 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref> His last four appearances in European competitions were in the [[1979–80 European Cup]] as they eliminated [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK Athens]] in the first round, the team being eliminated in the following one by title holders and eventual winners, [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://jurnaluldearges.ro/43-de-ani-de-la-meciul-dintre-fcarges-si-nottingham-forest-221447/ | title=43 de ani de la meciul dintre FC Argeș și Nottingham Forest| publisher=Jurnaluldearges.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=43 years since the match between FC Argeș and Nottingham Forest| date=24 October 2022 | access-date=29 August 2024}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/69622/24-octombrie-1979-argesul-a-dat-piept-cu-nottingham-forest-campioana-europei.htm | title=24 octombrie 1979: Argeșul a dat piept cu Nottingham Forest, campioana Europei| publisher=Romaniansoccer.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=October 24, 1979: Argeș played against Nottingham Forest, the European champions| date=24 October 2022 | access-date=29 August 2024}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://tikitaka.ro/fc-arges-nottingham-forest/| title=FC Argeș – Nottingham Forest 1-2 (Cupa Campionilor Europeni, 7 noiembrie 1979)| publisher=Tikitaka.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=FC Arges – Nottingham Forest 1-2 (European Champions Cup, November 7, 1979)| date= 7 November 2022| access-date=29 August 2024}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/petre-ivan_2/champions-league-1979-1980/arge-piteti/3/|title=Petre Ivan. Champions League 1979/1980|access-date=29 August 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Nicolae Dobrin and Ilie Balaci.JPG|thumb|right|230px|{{center|Dobrin (left) pictured with [[Ilie Balaci]]}}]]
In 1981, he went to play for [[FCM Târgoviște]] in [[Liga II|Divizia B]], scoring 17 goals in his first season, helping the team gain promotion to the [[Liga I|Divizia A]], where in the following season he played 13 games and scored 5 goals.<ref name=RS/><ref name=adevarul/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://evz.ro/exilul-lui-dobrin-465740.html | title=Exilul lui Dobrin| publisher=Evz.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Dobrin's exile| date=26 October 2007 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/retro-gsp-patru-decenii-de-cand-printul-din-trivale-a-devenit-voievodul-targovistei-608746.html | title= Patru decenii de când "Prințul din Trivale" a devenit "Voievodul Târgoviștei"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Four decades since the "Prince of Trivale" became the "Voivode of Târgoviște"| date=31 August 2020 | access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref> In 1982 he returned to [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] as a player-manager, making his last appearance as a player on 14 June 1983 in a 2–0 victory against [[FC Bihor Oradea (1958)|Bihor Oradea]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=adevarul/> In the [[1985–86 Divizia B]] season, Dobrin came out of retirement, being a player-manager at CS Botoșani.<ref name=RS/><ref name=adevarul/><ref name=welove>{{cite web | url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-legendele-botosaniului-anul-lui-dobrin-si-portarul-ion-bordeanu-zis-pripon-25279 | title= Legendele Botoșaniului: anul lui Dobrin și portarul Ion Bordeanu, zis Pripon| publisher=Welovesport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=The legends of Botoșani: the year of Dobrin and the goalkeeper Ion Bordeanu, known as Pripon| date=18 February 2023 | access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=prosport>{{cite web| url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/gascan-de-botosani-cum-i-a-impresionat-nicolae-dobrin-pe-moldoveni-tremuram-cand-a-intrat-in-vestiar-7508458| title="Gâscan" de Botoșani! Cum i-a impresionat Nicolae Dobrin pe moldoveni: "Tremuram când a intrat în vestiar"| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=ro |trans-title="Goose" from Botoșani! How Nicolae Dobrin impressed the Moldovans: "I was shaking when he entered the locker room"| date=22 October 2010| access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref> During his whole career, Dobrin played 409 [[Liga I|Divizia A]] matches in which he scored 111 goals and he was the [[Romanian Footballer of the Year (Gazeta Sporturilor)|Romanian Footballer of the Year]] in 1966, 1967 and 1971.<ref name=RS/><ref name=adevarul/><ref name=GSP4>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/nicolae-dobrin-aurel-ancuta-645222.html| title=14 ani fără Dobrin. Amintirile unui fost coleg: "Dezarma orice apărare, de departe cel mai mare fotbalist român!" + Cum a ratat transferul la Craiova| publisher=Evz.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=14 years without Dobrin. The memories of a former colleague: "He used to disarm any defense, by far the greatest Romanian footballer!" + How he missed the transfer to Craiova| date=26 October 2021| access-date= 16 June 2022}}</ref>

In 2003, the Local Council of Pitești decided to rename [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]]'s stadium into [[Stadionul Nicolae Dobrin]] in his honor.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/locale/pitesti/stadionul-carea-jucat-marele-dobrin-demolat-inlocuit-mai-modern-stadion-romania-1_5eff48695163ec427199beb8/index.html | title=Stadionul pe care a jucat marele Dobrin va fi demolat şi înlocuit cu cel mai modern stadion din România| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The stadium where the great Dobrin played will be demolished and replaced with the most modern stadium in Romania.| date=5 July 2020| access-date= 17 June 2022}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Nicolae Dobrin México 70.jpg|thumb|right|180px|{{center|Dobrin with Romania}}]]
Dobrin played 47 games and scored 6 goals for [[Romania national football team|Romania]], making his debut on 1 June 1966 under coach [[Ilie Oană]] in a friendly which ended with a 1–0 loss against [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]] played on [[Südweststadion]] from [[Ludwigshafen]].<ref name=EU/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=13710|title=West Germany 1-0 Romania|publisher=European Football|access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref> He made a good impression in the game showing his dribbling abilities in front of West Germany's experimented midfielder [[Horst Szymaniak]] and after the game, the former [[World Cup]] winner [[Fritz Walter]] went into Romania's locker room telling Dobrin: "Boy, if you're good and will drink a lot of milk, you're going to be a great player!", the press from [[West Germany]] also praised Dobrin, the newspaper ''5 Uhr Blatt'' wrote the next day: "Game coordinator Dobrin has impressed with his demonstrated high class" and ''[[Die Rheinpfalz]]'' wrote: "Of special class is Dobrin, who for his age proves an impressive maturity and a brilliant technique".<ref name=adevarul/><ref name=fanatik2/><ref name=GSP3/> 

Dobrin played four games and scored two goals against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] and [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at the [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying Group 6|Euro 1968 qualifiers]] and played three games in which he scored one goal in a 1–0 victory against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] at the successful [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1970 World Cup qualifiers]].<ref name=EU/> He was selected by coach [[Angelo Niculescu]] to be part of Romania's [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]] squad but did not play in any match, the reasons Niculescu didn't use him are unclear but the fact that he did not play is considered one of the most controversial moments in the history of the Romanian football.<ref name=adevarul/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://historia.ro/sectiune/actualitate/angelo-niculescu-dezvaluie-de-ce-n-a-jucat-dobrin-585510.html| title=Angelo Niculescu dezvăluie de ce n-a jucat Dobrin în Mexic| publisher=Historia.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Angelo Niculescu reveals why Dobrin did not play in Mexico| date=| access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://evenimentulistoric.ro/istoria-participarilor-romaniei-la-campionatul-mondial-de-fotbal.html| title=Istoria participărilor României la Campionatul Mondial de fotbal| publisher=Evenimentulistoric.ro| language=ro |trans-title=History of Romania's participation in the World Cup| date=30 June 2021| access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref> He played six matches and scored two goals at the [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying Group 1|1972 Euro qualifiers]], managing to reach the [[UEFA Euro 1972 quarter-finals|quarter-finals]] where Romania was defeated by [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] who advanced to the [[UEFA Euro 1972|final tournament]].<ref name=EU/> He went on to play three games in which he scored one goal at the [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|1974 World Cup qualifiers]], three appearances at the [[UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying Group 4|Euro 1976 qualifiers]], one appearance at the [[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying Group 3|Euro 1980 qualifiers]], two at the [[1977–80 Balkan Cup]], making his last appearance for the national team on 2 April 1980 in a friendly which ended 2–2 against [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]].<ref name=EU/>

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dobrin goal''.<ref name=EU/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|+ List of international goals scored by Nicolae Dobrin
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Cap !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 26 November 1966 || [[Stadio Diego Armando Maradona|Stadio San Paolo]], [[Naples]], Italy || align=center| 5 || {{fb|ITA}} || align=center| '''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–3 || [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying Group 6|Euro 1968 qualifiers]]
|-
| 2 || 24 May 1967 || [[Hardturm]], [[Zürich]], Switzerland || align=center | 11 || {{fb|SUI}} || align=center | '''1'''–7 || align=center | 1–7 || [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying Group 6|Euro 1968 qualifiers]]
|-
| 3 || 12 October 1969 || [[Stadionul Național (1953)|Stadionul 23 August]], [[Bucharest]], Romania || align=center | 18 || {{fb|POR}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–0 || [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1970 World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| 4 || 14 November 1971 || [[Stadionul Național (1953)|Stadionul 23 August]], [[Bucharest]], Romania || align=center | 27 || {{fb|TCH}} || align=center | '''2'''–1 || align=center | 2–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying Group 1|1972 Euro qualifiers]]
|-
| 5 || 14 May 1972 || [[Stadionul Național (1953)|Stadionul 23 August]], [[Bucharest]], Romania || align=center | 29 || {{fb|HUN|1946}} || align=center | '''1'''–1 || align=center | 2–2 || [[UEFA Euro 1972 quarter-finals|1972 Euro quarter-finals]]
|-
| 6 || 29 October 1972 || [[Stadionul Național (1953)|Stadionul 23 August]], [[Bucharest]], Romania || align=center | 33 || {{fb|ALB}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 2–0 || [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|1974 World Cup qualifiers]]
|}

==Managerial career==
Dobrin started his managerial career in the [[1982–83 Divizia A]] season when he was a player-manager at [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]].<ref name=adevarul/> He coached [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] on several occasions, managing the club in a total of 138 [[Liga I|Divizia A]] matches.<ref name=adevarul/> His only coaching experience except the ones at [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]] was in the [[1985–86 Divizia B]] season when he was a player-manager at CS Botoșani.<ref name=adevarul/><ref name=welove/><ref name=prosport/> Dobrin also worked as a technical director for a short while at [[ARO Muscelul Câmpulung]] alongside head coach [[Ion Oblemenco]] at the end of the 1994–95 Divizia C season, helping the team earn promotion to the [[Liga II|second league]] after winning a promotion play-off against ICIM Brașov.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-oblemenco-si-dobrin-au-reusit-impreuna-o-promovare-2489| title = Oblemenco și Dobrin au reușit împreună o promovare | publisher = Welovesport.ro| trans-title =Oblemenco and Dobrin managed a promotion together | language = Romanian | date=7 July 2020 | access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref>

==Death==
Dobrin started smoking when he was about 8–9 years old, this habit causing him [[lung cancer]].<ref name=GSP/><ref name=GSP5>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/superreportaje/nicolae-dobrin-a-incetat-din-viata-13345.html | title=Nicolae Dobrin a incetat din viata!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Nicolae Dobrin passed away| date=26 October 2007 | access-date= 17 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=romanialibera>{{cite web | url=https://romanialibera.ro/special/a-murit-nicolae-dobrin-109690/ | title=A murit Nicolae Dobrin| publisher=Romanialibera.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Nicolae Dobrin died| date=26 October 2007 | access-date= 17 June 2022}}</ref> He died on 26 October 2007 in the [[Intensive care medicine|intensive care]] unit of the County Hospital in Pitești after [[Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome|multiple organ failure]].<ref name=GSP5/><ref name=romanialibera/> On 29 October 2007, his funeral ceremony, held at St. George's Cathedral and at St. George's Military Cemetery, was attended by more than 5,000 people.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://evz.ro/adio-dobrine-tara-toata-plange-dupa-tine-466187.html | title=Adio, Dobrine, tara toata plange dupa tine!| publisher=Evz.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Goodbye, Dobrin, the whole country is crying for you!| date=30 October 2007 | access-date= 17 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.monitorulsv.ro/Sport/2007-10-30/Dobrin-aplaudat-de-5000-de-oameni-la-groapa | title=Dobrin, aplaudat de 5.000 de oameni la groapă| publisher=Monitorulsv.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Dobrin, applauded by 5,000 people at the grave| date=30 October 2007 | access-date= 17 June 2022}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Argeș Pitești'''
*[[Liga I|Divizia A]]: [[1971–72 Divizia A|1971–72]], [[1978–79 Divizia A|1978–79]]<ref name=RS/>
*[[Cupa României]] runner-up: [[1964–65 Cupa României|1964–65]]<ref name=RSCR/>
'''FCM Târgoviște'''
*[[Liga II|Divizia B]]: [[1980–81 Divizia B|1980–81]]<ref name=RS/>
'''Individual'''
*[[Romanian Footballer of the Year (Gazeta Sporturilor)|Romanian Footballer of the Year]]: 1966, 1967, 1971<ref name=RS/> 

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nicolaedobrin.ro Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813112729/http://www.nicolaedobrin.ro/ |date=13 August 2018 }} {{in lang|ro}}
{{Commons category|Nicolae Dobrin}}
*{{NFT player|id=17645}}
*{{WorldFootball|nicolae-dobrin}}

{{Romanian Footballer of the Year}}
{{Romania squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
{{FC Argeș Pitești managers}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dobrin, Nicolae}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Romania]]
[[Category:Deaths from multiple organ failure]]
[[Category:Footballers from Pitești]]
[[Category:Romanian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Liga I players]]
[[Category:Liga II players]]
[[Category:FC Argeș Pitești players]]
[[Category:FCM Târgoviște players]]
[[Category:Romania men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Romania]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Romanian football managers]]
[[Category:FC Argeș Pitești managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen]]