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{{short description|Romanian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Romulus Gabor
| image = Romulus Gabor in 1981.jpg
| caption = Gabor in 1981
| fullname = Romulus Gabor
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|10|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Pui]], [[Hunedoara County]], Romania
| height = 1.76m
| currentclub = 
| position = [[Midfielder (association football)#Winger|Winger]] / [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = 1976
| youthclubs1 = [[CSM Jiul Petroșani|Jiul Petroșani]]
| youthyears2 = 1976–1978
| youthclubs2 = [[Corvinul Hunedoara]]
| years1 = 1978–1991
| years2 = 1991–1992
| years3 = 1992–1993
| years4 = 1993–1994
| years5 = 1994
| years6 = 1994–1996
| years7 = 1996–1997
| years8 = 1997
| clubs1 = [[Corvinul Hunedoara]]
| clubs2 = [[Diósgyőri VTK|Diósgyőr]]
| clubs3 = [[Corvinul Hunedoara]]
| clubs4 = [[FC Universitatea Cluj|Universitatea Cluj]]
| clubs5 = [[Unirea Alba Iulia]]
| clubs6 = [[Corvinul Hunedoara]]
| clubs7 = [[Inter Sibiu]]
| clubs8 = Viitorul Oradea
| caps1 = 305
| caps2 = 13
| caps3 = 
| caps4 = 10
| caps5 = 24
| caps6 = 45
| caps7 = 14
| caps8 = 
| totalcaps = 411
| goals1 = 68
| goals2 = 1
| goals3 = 
| goals4 = 1
| goals5 = 4
| goals6 = 15
| goals7 = 5
| goals8 = 
| totalgoals = 94
| nationalyears1 = 1981
| nationalteam1 = [[Romania national under-20 football team|Romania U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 1981–1986<ref>{{Cite news|title=Romulus Gabor - International Appearances|publisher=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/rgabor-intl.html}}</ref>
| nationalteam2 = [[Romania national football team|Romania]]
| nationalcaps2 = 35
| nationalgoals2 =2
| manageryears1 = 2004–2005
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]]
| manageryears2 = 2007–2008
| managerclubs2 = [[CFR Cluj]] (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2011–2012
| managerclubs3 = [[CS Mureșul Deva|Mureșul Deva]]
| manageryears4 = 2014–2015
| managerclubs4 = [[FC Hunedoara]]
| manageryears5 = 2017–2019
| managerclubs5 = [[CNS Cetate Deva|Cetate Deva]] (technical director)
| manageryears6 = 2019
| managerclubs6 = [[CNS Cetate Deva|Cetate Deva]]
| medaltemplates = 
{{medalCountry|{{Fb|ROU|1965}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup|FIFA World Youth Championship]]}}
{{medalBronze|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]|[[1981 FIFA World Youth Championship|1981]]}}
}}
'''Romulus Gabor''' (born 14 October 1961) is a Romanian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Midfielder (association football)#Winger|winger]] and as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]].

==Club career==
Gabor was born on 14 October 1961 in [[Pui]], [[Hunedoara County]], Romania.<ref name=RS>{{RomanianSoccer|738/romulus-gabor}}</ref><ref name=evenimentul>{{cite web | url=https://evenimentulistoric.ro/cum-a-fost-arestat-de-pe-banca-de-rezerve-marele-fotbalist-romulus-gabor-pe-timpul-lui-ceausescu.html | title=Cum a fost arestat de pe banca de rezerve marele fotbalist Romulus Gabor pe timpul lui Ceaușescu| publisher=Evenimentulistoric.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=How the great footballer Romulus Gabor was arrested from the reserve bench during Ceaușescu's time | date=3 October 2021 | access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref><ref name=hunedoara>{{cite web | url=http://hunedoaralibera.ro/hunedoreni-de-succes-romica-gabor-balonul-de-aur-al-lumii/ | title=Romulus Gabor – Balonul la aur la juniori| publisher=Hunedoaralibera.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Romulus Gabor – Ballon d'or for juniors| date=11 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228145400/http://hunedoaralibera.ro/hunedoreni-de-succes-romica-gabor-balonul-de-aur-al-lumii/| access-date=3 May 2025| archive-date=28 February 2016}}</ref> He started playing football at age 13 at [[CSM Jiul Petroșani|Jiul Petroșani]], where he stayed for a short while before moving to [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]] where on 28 October 1978 he made his [[Liga I|Divizia A]] debut under coach [[Ilie Savu]] in a 2–0 loss to [[FC Argeș Pitești|Argeș Pitești]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=hunedoara/><ref name=GSP1>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/romulus-gabor-prima-hunedoara-pepsi-642438.html | title=Romulus Gabor își spune poveștile și își dezvăluie regretele la "Prietenii lui Ovidiu". Astăzi, de la ora 20:00, pe GSP.ro| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Romulus Gabor tells his tories and his regrets at "Ovidiu's friends". Today, from 20:00, on GSP.ro | date=22 September 2021 | access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> At the end of his first season spent at Corvinul, the club relegated to [[Liga II|Divizia B]], but Gabor stayed with the club, being used more often after coach [[Mircea Lucescu]] came to the club, promoting back to the first division after one year.<ref name=RS/><ref name=hunedoara/> He helped the club finish third in the [[1981–82 Divizia A]] season, also appearing in all four games from the [[1982–83 UEFA Cup]] campaign, scoring once as they got past [[Grazer AK]] in the first round, being eliminated in the following one by [[FK Sarajevo]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=hunedoara/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/romulus-gabor/uefa-cup-1982-1983/fc-corvinul-hunedoara/3/|title=Romulus Gabor. UEFA Cup 1982/1983|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> For the way he played in 1981, Gabor was placed fifth in the ranking for the [[Romanian Footballer of the Year (Gazeta Sporturilor)|Romanian Footballer of the Year]] award.<ref name=rsssf>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/roempoy.html|title=Romania - Player of the Year Awards|publisher=Rsssf.org|language=en|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref>

After 13 seasons spent with Corvinul, he was transferred at Hungarian club, [[Diósgyőri VTK|Diósgyőr]] where he was teammate with compatriot and former Corvinul colleague, [[Ioan Petcu]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=fanatik>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/romulus-gabor-interviu-special-la-60-de-ani-nea-mircea-lucescu-a-avut-dezlegarea-mea-in-alb-dar-nu-stiu-de-ce-nu-am-mai-ajuns-la-dinamo-exclusiv-19777509 | title=Romulus Gabor, interviu special la 60 de ani: "Nea Mircea Lucescu a avut dezlegarea mea în alb, dar nu știu de ce nu am mai ajuns la Dinamo" Exclusiv| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Romulus Gabor, special interview at 60 years old: "Nea Mircea Lucescu had my release in white, but I don't know why I didn't get to Dinamo" Exclusive | date=13 October 2021 | access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref><ref name=MF>{{cite web | url=https://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/szemelyek/adatlap/12871/romulus-gabor| title=Romulus Gabor profile| publisher=Magyarfutball.hu| language=Hungarian | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901093105/https://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/szemelyek/adatlap/12871/romulus-gabor| access-date=3 May 2025| archive-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref name=MF2>{{cite web | url=https://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/merkozesek/1991-09-15/diosgyor-vasas| title=Diósgyőri VTK - Vasas SC 1 : 2| publisher=Magyarfutball.hu| language=Hungarian | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121111159/https://www.magyarfutball.hu/hu/merkozesek/1991-09-15/diosgyor-vasas| access-date=3 May 2025| archive-date=21 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tikitaka.ro/ioan-petcu-400-de-meciuri-in-tricoul-corvinului/ | title=Ioan Petcu – fotbalistul cu peste 400 de meciuri în tricoul echipei Corvinul Hunedoara| publisher=Tikitaka.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Ioan Petcu – the footballer with over 400 matches in the shirt of Corvinul Hunedoara | date=2 May 2025 | access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> He made his [[Nemzeti Bajnokság I]] debut on 15 September 1991 under coach [[Ladislau Vlad]] in a 2–1 home loss to [[Vasas SC|Vasas]].<ref name=MF/><ref name=MF2/> Gabor scored his first and only goal for them on 26 October when he closed the score in a 2–1 victory over [[Győri ETO FC|Győr]].<ref name=MF/> He gained a total of 13 matches with one goal scored in the Hungarian league, his last appearance taking place on 20 June 1992 in a 2–0 home loss to [[Ferencvárosi TC|Ferencváros]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=MF/>

Afterwards he returned to play for Corvinul in Divizia B, then he went for a half of season to play for [[FC Universitatea Cluj|Universitatea Cluj]] where he made his last Divizia A appearance on 10 November 1993 in a 3–2 win against [[ACF Gloria Bistrița|Gloria Bistrița]].<ref name=RS/> In the following years he played for [[Unirea Alba Iulia]], Corvinul and [[Inter Sibiu]] in Divizia B, ending his career in 1997 at [[Liga III|Divizia C]] club, Viitorul Oradea.<ref name=RS/><ref name=GSP1/><ref name=GSP2>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/romulus-gabor-prima-hunedoara-pepsi-642438.html | title="Primă" inedită primită de Romulus Gabor în anii de glorie. "La fiecare gol primeam o sticlă de Pepsi! Era un lux pe vremea aia"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Uncommon "match prise" received by Romulus Gabor in his glory years. "At each goal scored I received a bottle of pepsi! It was luxury for those times" | date=22 September 2021 | access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref><ref name=GSP3>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-ro/gsp-special/38-de-ani-de-la-primul-gol-in-nationala-al-lui-romulus-gabor-622269.html | title=38 de ani de la primul gol în națională pentru egalul lui Messi și Maradona: "N-am fost "copilul" lui Lucescu, ci unicul Balon de Aur al fotbalului românesc!"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=38 years since the first goal in the national team for the equal of Messi and Maradona: "I was not Lucescu's "child", but the only Ballon d'Or of Romanian football!" | date=29 January 2021 | access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> Gabor has a total of 304 Divizia A appearances with 64 goals scored.<ref name=RS/><ref name=GSP1/><ref name=GSP2/><ref name=GSP3/>

==International career==
Gabor was part of [[Romania national under-20 football team|Romania's under-20]] squad at the [[1981 FIFA World Youth Championship|1981 World Youth Championship]] from [[Australia]], appearing in six games in which he scored two goals in two 1–0 wins over [[Italy national under-20 football team|Italy]] and [[England national under-20 football team|England]], helping the team finish the tournament on the third position, winning the bronze medal, also winning the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament and the Bronze shoe for the third top-scorer of the competition.<ref name=evenimentul/><ref name=hunedoara/><ref name=GSP1/><ref name=fanatik/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/romulus-gabor/u-20-h-wm-1981-in-australien/rumaenien-u-20-h-team/3/|title=Romulus Gabor. U20 World Cup 1981 in Australia|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref>

He played 35 games and scored two goals for [[Romania national football team|Romania]], all under the guidance of coach [[Mircea Lucescu]], being nicknamed "Lucescu's child", making his debut on 11 November 1981 in a 0–0 with [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|1982 World Cup qualifiers]].<ref name=GSP3/><ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=6408|title=Romulus Gabor|publisher=European Football|access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=7724|title=Switzerland 0-0 Romania|publisher=European Football|access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> He played six games at the successful [[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 5|Euro 1984 qualifiers]].<ref name=EU/> He was used by Lucescu in two games at the [[UEFA Euro 1984|Euro 1984 final tournament]], in the first one which was a 1–1 against [[Spain national football team|Spain]] he played as a starter until the 76th minute when he was replaced by [[Gheorghe Hagi]] and in the second he came as a substitute and replaced [[Mircea Irimescu]] in the 59th minute of the 1–0 loss to [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] as Romania did not get past the group stage.<ref name=GSP3/><ref name=EU/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=8300|title=Romania 1-1 Spain|publisher=European Football|access-date=27 July 2022}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=8176|title=Portugal 1-0 Romania|publisher=European Football|access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the national team from a free kick in a friendly against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]].<ref name=GSP3/><ref name=EU/> Afterwards, Gabor played two games at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|1986 World Cup qualifiers]], scored his second goal in a friendly against [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] and made his last appearance for ''The Tricolours'' on 23 April 1986 in a friendly which ended with a 2–1 victory against [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]].<ref name=EU/>

For representing his country at [[UEFA Euro 1984|Euro 1984]], Gabor was decorated by [[President of Romania]] [[Traian Băsescu]] on 25 March 2008 with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.<ref name=evenimentul/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Monitorul_Oficial_al_Rom%C3%A2niei._Partea_I_2008-03-28%2C_nr._241.pdf |title=DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv |publisher=Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241 |date=28 March 2008 |page=3 |access-date= 27 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://old.presidency.ro/index.php?_RID=det&tb=date_arhiva&id=10313&_PRID=arh |title=Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc |publisher=Administrația Prezidențială |date=25 March 2008 |access-date=8 March 2019 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912005010/http://old.presidency.ro/index.php?_RID=det&tb=date_arhiva&id=10313&_PRID=arh |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gabor goal''.<ref name=EU/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|+ List of international goals scored by Romulus Gabor
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Cap !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 29 January 1983 || [[Ali Sami Yen Stadium]], [[Istanbul]], Turkey || align=center| 12 || {{fb|TUR}} || align=center| '''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–1 || [[Exhibition game#Association football|Friendly]]
|-
| 2 || 2 March 1986 || [[Alexandria Stadium|Al-Iskandarīyah Stadium]], [[Alexandria]], Egypt || align=center| 33 || {{fb|EGY}} || align=center| '''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || [[Exhibition game#Association football|Friendly]]
|}

==Managerial career==
After he ended his career, Gabor worked as a coach at clubs like [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]] and [[CS Mureșul Deva|Mureșul Deva]].<ref name=mediafax>{{cite web | url=https://www.mediafax.ro/sport/romulus-gabor-este-noul-antrenor-al-gruparii-fc-hunedoara-12306873 | title=Romulus Gabor este noul antrenor al grupării FC Hunedoara| publisher=Mediafax.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Romulus Gabor is the new coach of FC Hunedoara | date=21 March 2014 | access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref><ref name=liga2>{{cite web | url=https://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/diverse/romulus-gabor-a-implinit-63-de-ani-19332344 | title="Balonul de Aur" al României împlinește 63 de ani! Romulus Gabor a renunțat la meseria de antrenor și prevede un viitor luminos pentru naționala condusă de Mircea Lucescu| publisher=Liga2.prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Romania's "Golden Ball" turns 63! Romulus Gabor has given up his coaching job and foresees a bright future for the national team led by Mircea Lucescu | date=14 October 2024 | access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> In the [[2007–08 Liga I|2007–08]] season he was the assistant of [[Ioan Andone]] at [[CFR Cluj]] as the club won [[Double (association football)|The Double]].<ref name=mediafax/> His last coaching spell took place in 2019 at [[CNS Cetate Deva|Cetate Deva]].<ref name=liga2/>

==Honours==
'''Corvinul Hunedoara'''
*[[Liga II|Divizia B]]: [[1979–80 Divizia B|1979–80]]<ref name=RS/>
'''Individual'''
*[[Romanian Footballer of the Year]] (''fifth place''): 1981<ref name=rsssf/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
{{commons category}}
*{{NFT|19900}}
*[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/roem-intres80.html Romania National Team 1980–1989 - Details]

{{FIFA U-20 World Cup awards}}
{{Romania squad UEFA Euro 1984}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabor, Romulus}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Romanian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Romania men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Romania men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:FC Corvinul Hunedoara players]]
[[Category:FC Universitatea Cluj players]]
[[Category:CSM Unirea Alba Iulia players]]
[[Category:Diósgyőri VTK players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1984 players]]
[[Category:Liga I players]]
[[Category:Liga II players]]
[[Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság I players]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Hungary]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary]]
[[Category:Romanian football managers]]
[[Category:FC Corvinul Hunedoara managers]]
[[Category:CSM Deva managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Footballers from Hunedoara County]]
[[Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen]]