Daniel Niculae

Daniel George Niculae (; born 6 October 1982) is a former Romanian professional footballer who played mainly as a striker, currently he is the president of Liga I club Hermannstadt.

He has made 39 appearances for Romania since his debut in 2003.

Club career

Rapid București

Daniel Niculae started his professional career at Rapid București in 2000. Despite a period playing for the B team in 2001, Nico proved he is one of the most gifted players of the club, and helped his club to win the championship in the 2002–03 season – his first as a first-team regular.

Niculae was Rapid's leading scorer in the 2004–05 season, with 14 goals – the third highest total in Romania's Liga 1.

In the 2005–06 UEFA Cup campaign, he and Mugurel Buga formed one of the most powerful striker pairs of the competition, with Niculae scoring 8 goals, as Rapid reached the Quarter-Finals of the competition. The season also saw Rapid claim the 2006 Romanian Cup, with Niculae scoring the winning goal in the first minute of extra-time, against Național București.

Auxerre

Niculae was transferred to French club AJ Auxerre in the summer of 2006, for €3.3 million. His first season with the club saw him score 4 goals in the UEFA Cup, but he struggled for goals in Ligue 1. However, the following season his form improved, as he scored 11 goals to help keep the club in Ligue 1.

The 2008–09 season was one to forget for Niculae. He was deeply affected by the loss of his father, and despite threatening to score on several occasions, he failed to find the net in 32 games.

Things got back on track in 2009–10 however. Jean Fernandez initially wanted to loan out Niculae for the season, but the latest signing Alexandre Licata was ruled out for most of the season with a serious ankle injury. Daniel Niculae found a new role in the Auxerre side, as a creator of goals rather than a scorer of them. As of April 2010, he lies third in the table for assists in Ligue 1 with a total of 8. He has a brilliant entente with Polish goalscorer Ireneusz Jeleń and has helped the Burgundian side to reach second in the table and to thus push for the Champions League places.

Monaco

After the expiration of his contract with AJ Auxerre on 15 June 2010, Niculae signed a three-year deal with Ligue 1 rivals AS Monaco.

On 31 August 2011, Niculae signed for French side AS Nancy on a season-long loan. In a game against his former club, AJ Auxerre, on 30 January 2012, Nicuale scored a double giving his team the win. Although, before the game started, Auxerre's supporters booed him, at the end he got a standing ovation for his impressive performance.

Kuban Krasnodar

On 6 June 2012, he joined the Russian club Kuban Krasnodar, on a two-year contract. Here he will be coached by Yuri Krasnozhan.

International career

Niculae won his first international cap for Romania in 2003, but did not become a regular squad member until the 2005–06 season.

He was selected for Romania's Euro 2008 squad, and started his country's first two matches. He came on as a substitute for their final group game against the Netherlands, but could not help Romania to a win, which would have taken the country into the Quarter-Finals.

Other than the fact that they share birthplace, he has no connection with namesake and fellow international Marius Niculae.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Romania	2003	1	0
	2004	1	0
	2005	4	1
	2006	7	1
	2007	7	2
	2008	6	1
	2009	1	1
	2010	8	2
	2011	1	1
	2012	3	0
Total		39	9

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Niculae goal.

List of international goals scored by Daniel Niculae

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	16 November 2005	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Nigeria	flag alias = Flag of Nigeria.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Nigeria (state).svg	flag alias-colonial = Flag of Nigeria (1914–1952).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-naval = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Nigerian Army Headquarters.svg	link alias-army = Nigerian Army	flag alias-military=Flag of the Nigerian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military=Nigerian Armed Forces	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-air force = Nigerian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-navy = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Nigeria.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|3–0 || Friendly
2	26 May 2006	Soldier Field, Chicago, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Northern Ireland	flag alias = Ulster Banner.svg	flag alias-assembly = Flag of Northern Ireland Assembly.svg	flag alias-saltire = St Patrick's saltire.svg	flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || Friendly
3	21 November 2007	Stadionul Lia Manoliu, Bucharest, Romania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Albania	flag alias = Flag of Albania.svg	flag alias-1914 = Flag of Albania (1914–1920).svg	flag alias-1914a= Regentaschapalbanievlag.gif	flag alias-1920 = Flag of Albania (1920–1926).svg	flag alias-1926 = Flag of Albania (1926–1928).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of Albania (1934–1939).svg	flag alias-1939 = Flag of Albania (1939–1943).svg	flag alias-1943 = Flag of Albania (1943–1944).svg	flag alias-1944 = Flag of Albania 1944.svg	flag alias-1946 = Flag of Albania (1946–1992).svg	flag alias-1992 = Flag of Albania (1992–2002).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Albania.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Albania.svg	link alias-naval = Albanian Naval Force	link alias-army = Albanian Land Force	flag alias-army=Albanian Land Forces insignia.svg	border-army=	flag alias-air force=Albanian Air Forces insignia.svg	link alias-air force=Albanian Air Force	border-air force=	flag alias-navy=Albanian Naval Forces insignia.svg	link alias-navy=Albanian Naval Force	border-navy=	link alias-military = Albanian Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|3–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|6–1 || rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
4				4–0
5	26 March 2008	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Russia	flag alias = Flag of Russia.svg	flag alias-1668 = Flag of Russia (1668).svg	flag alias-1696 = Flag of Russia.svg	flag alias-1858 = Romanov Flag.svg	flag alias-1918a=Flag of Russia (1918).svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Russia (1918–1920).svg	flag alias-1925 = Flag of the Russian SFSR (1920-1937).svg	flag alias-1937 = Flag of the Russian SFSR (1937-1954).svg	flag alias-1954 = Flag of the Russian SFSR.svg	flag alias-1991 = Flag of Russia (1991–1993).svg	flag alias-military = Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (obverse).svg	link alias-military = Russian Armed Forces	flag alias-army = Flag of the Russian ground forces.svg	link alias-army = Russian Ground Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Russia.svg	link alias-naval = Russian Navy	flag alias-VV MVD naval-1992 = Russia, Naval flag of ships and vessels of the Interior Force 1992.svg	flag alias-VV MVD naval = Russia, Naval flag of ships and vessels of the Interior Force 2000.svg	flag alias-NGF naval-2016 = Russia, Naval flag of ships and vessels of the Interior Force 2000.svg	flag alias-NGF naval = Russia, Flag of ships and vessels of the National Guard.svg	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Russia.svg	link alias-navy = Russian Navy	flag alias-navy-1992 = Naval ensign of Russia (1992).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.svg	link alias-air force = Russian Air Force	flag alias-marines = Флаг Морской пехоты ВМФ России (2021).jpg	link alias-marines = Russian Naval Infantry	flag alias-space force = Russian military space troops flag.svg	link alias-space force = Russian Space Forces	flag alias-coast guard = Russia, Flag of border service 2008.svg	link alias-coast guard = Russian Coast Guard	flag alias-coast guard-1993 = Russia. Flag of ships of Border Guard Force 1993.svg	link alias-coast guard-1993 = Russian Coast Guard	flag alias-roc-olympics = Russian Olympic Committee flag.png	flag alias-nbfr-badminton = Nbfr logo.png	flag alias-rwf-wrestling = RWF logo.svg	flag alias-tennis = Rtf tennis flag vector.svg	flag alias-aerospace forces = Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || style="text-align:center"|3–0 || Friendly
6	14 November 2009	Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw, Poland	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Poland	flag alias = Flag of Poland.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms).svg	flag alias-1815 = Flag of the Congress of Poland.svg	flag alias-1919 = Flag of Poland (1919-1928).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of Poland (1928–1980).svg	flag alias-1955 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms, 1955-1980).svg	flag alias-1980 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms, 1980-1990).svg	flag alias-1990 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms).svg	flag alias-naval = PL navy flag IIIRP.svg	border-naval =	flag alias-naval-1919 = Naval Ensign of IIRP v1.svg	border-naval-1919 =	flag alias-naval-1946 = Naval Ensign of PRL v1.svg	border-naval-1946 =	flag alias-naval-auxiliary = Flaga pomocniczych jednostek pływających Polskiej Marynarki Wojennej.svg	flag alias-naval-auxiliary-1955 = POL Bandera pjp PRL v1.svg	link alias-naval = Polish Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Poland.svg	border-navy =	link alias-navy = Polish Navy	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Polish Land Forces.svg	border-marines =	link alias-marines = Polish 7th Coastal Defense Brigade	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Polish Air Force.svg	border-air force =	link alias-air force = Polish Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Polish Land Forces.svg	border-army =	link alias-army = Polish Land Forces	size =	size flag alias-naval = 25px	size flag alias-naval-1919 = 25px	size flag alias-naval-1946 = 25px	size flag alias-air force = 25px	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || Friendly
7	29 May 2010	Ukraina Stadium, Lviv, Ukraine	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Ukraine	flag alias = Flag of Ukraine.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Ukrainian People's Republic 1917.svg	flag alias-1991 = Flag of Ukraine (1991–1992).svg	flag alias-1991b = Flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1949–1991).svg	flag alias-army = Ensign of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.svg	flag alias-military = Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Armed Forces of Ukraine	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Ukrainian Naval Infantry.svg	link alias-marines = Ukrainian Marine Corps	link alias-army = Ukrainian Ground Forces	flag alias-coast guard = Sea Guard Ensign of Ukraine (dress).svg	link alias-coast guard = Ukrainian Sea Guard	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Ukraine.svg	flag alias-naval-1918 = Naval Ensign of Ukraine 1918 July.svg	link alias-naval = Ukrainian Navy	flag alias-air force = Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Ukrainian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Ukraine.svg	link alias-navy = Ukrainian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|2–1 || style="text-align:center"|2–3 || Friendly
8	5 June 2010	Jacques Lemans Arena, Sankt Veit an der Glan, Carinthia, Austria	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Honduras	flag alias = Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg	flag alias-1839 = Flag of Honduras (1839-1866).svg	flag alias-1866 = Flag of Honduras (1866-1898).svg	flag alias-1898 = Flag of Honduras (1898-1949).svg	flag alias-1949 = Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Honduras.svg	link alias-naval = Honduran Navy	link alias-air force = Honduran Air Force	link alias-army = Honduran Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Honduran Army.svg	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Honduras.svg	link alias-navy = Honduran Navy	link alias-military = Armed Forces of Honduras	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|3–0 || Friendly
9	11 November 2011	Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Belgium	flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg	flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg	flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg	flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg	link alias-army = Belgian Land Component	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-naval = Belgian Navy	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-navy = Belgian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || style="text-align:center"|1–2 || style="text-align:center"|1–2 || Friendly

Honours

Rapid București

• Divizia A: 2002–03
• Cupa României: 2001–02, 2005–06
• Supercupa României: 2002, 2003
• Liga IV – Bucharest: 2017–18

Auxerre

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2006

Astra Giurgiu

• Liga I: 2015–16
• Cupa României runner-up: 2016–17
• Supercupa României: 2016

External links

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