Serghei Cleșcenco

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography

Serghei Cleșcenco (Script error: No such module "IPA".; born 20 May 1972) is a Moldovan football coach and a former player. He is the head coach of the Moldova national team, for which he held the records for most goals and most appearances as a player.

He holds the record for the most goals scored in a single season by a foreigner in Israel. He is a former manager of Zimbru Chișinău, where he also spent large parts of his playing career.

Playing career

Aged 17, Cleșcenco made his debut for Nistru Chișinău as substitute in the 72nd minute in a 1990 Soviet First League match against Kotayk Abovyan. He played for half of the season at Spartak Oryol, where he was invited by the Moldovan coach Valentin Goian. In the following season of the Soviet First League he played for Zimbru Chișinău.[1]

From 1992 to 1996 Cleșcenco played in the Moldovan National Division, winning the championship four times. He made his debut in the National Division in a match against Speranţa Nisporeni in which he scored. In 1994 he was chosen as the Moldovan Footballer of the Year, and also the best Moldovan forward in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999. In 1996 he joined the Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, for which he played two seasons. He scored a brace in a 2–2 draw against Feyenoord. Cleșcenco returned to Zimbru, which won the Moldovan double in the 1997–98 season. He scored 25 goals in 20 matches, being the top goal scorer in the National Division.[1]

After a successful period with Zimbru, Cleșcenco was taken on trial by English club Watford in early 1998. He impressed, but work permit issues, along with Zimbru Chișinău asking for too much money prevented the deal from going through.[2]

In 1998 Cleșcenco joined Zenit St. Petersburg. He debuted on 1 July as a substitute in a 5–0 win over FC Tyumen. During the half of the year he spent at the club, he played only 175 minutes in 7 matches. After returning to Zimbru he played 8 more matches.[1]

In 1999, Cleșcenco joined Maccabi Haifa. It was one of the most successful starts ever for a foreigner in Israel as he bagged 22 goals in his first season topping the record set by Polish striker Andrzej Kubica for most goals scored by a foreigner in Israel in a single season. After another strong season in Haifa, he moved to Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. He scored one of the goals as they memorably knocked out Chelsea.[3] He was nicknamed "Kalashnikov" by the Israeli fans after scoring four goals during 30 minutes in a 5–2 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva.[1]

In 2003 Cleșcenco transferred to Chernomorets Novorossiysk. After 6 matches for the Russian side, he returned to Israel, signing for Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, scoring one goal in 14 appearances. The following season he returned to Zimbru, scoring one goal in 18 matches. Cleșcenco spent the rest of his playing career in Russia, playing for Sibir Novosibirsk and Metallurg-Kuzbass Novokuznetsk.[1]

International career

Aged 19, Cleșcenco made his international debut as a substitution in Moldova's first official match, a 2–4 loss against Georgia in 1991. He scored his first goals for the national team as a brace in a 2–1 win over Azerbaijan in a friendly match. In a 2006 friendly against Lithuania he scored his 11th and last goal for the national team, remaining Moldova's top goalscorer until 2023. In the same year, he made his 69th and last appearance for Moldova against Bosnia and Herzegovina in UEFA Euro 2008 qualification, which was another record at the time.[4]

Managerial career

Cleșcenco started his managerial career in 2008 at Moldova under-16 and under-17 teams. He led the Moldova under-19 team to 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualification.[5] In 2012 he won the Moldovan Cup and Moldovan Super Cup with Milsami Orhei. From 2012 to 2014 he was executive assistant at Zimbru Chișinău. During this period the club won the Moldovan Cup and Moldovan Super Cup. In 2014 he was invited by Alexander Tolstikov to work at União Leiria. He worked as a sporting director and assistant coach. In 2017 he was Leonid Kuchuk's assistant at Rostov.[1]

From 2018 to 2020 he headed the Moldova under-20 and under-21 teams. Between 2019 and 2021, Cleșcenco was an assistant coach to Engin Fırat and Roberto Bordin at Moldova's national team. He became the head coach on 3 December 2021. He debuted in a match against Kazakhstan in 2020–21 UEFA Nations League relegation play-outs. The Moldovans lost at penalties and were relegated to 2022–23 UEFA Nations League D. Moldova placed second in its group, being tied to points with Latvia, but had a lower goal difference, failing to achieve promotion.

In UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Moldova obtained a historic shock 3–2 comeback win over Poland. Moldova acquired ten points in a group of five, and also were undefeated at home throughout the qualification. However, the Moldovans did not achieve qualification.

Personal life

Cleșcenco's son, Nicky Cleșcenco, is also a footballer who has appeared for the Moldova national team.[6]

International goals

Scores and results list Moldova's goal tally first.[7]
List of international goals scored by Serghei Cleșcenco
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		1 September 1994 Stadionul Republican, Chișinău {{ Template:Yesno alias = Azerbaijan flag alias = Flag of Azerbaijan.svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Azerbaijan 1918.svg flag alias-1991 = Flag of Azerbaijan (1991–2013).svg flag alias-naval = Naval Flag of Azerbaijan.svg link alias-naval = Azerbaijani Navy flag alias-army = Flag of Azerbaijani Land Forces.svg link alias-army = Azerbaijani Land Forces flag alias-air force = AzAF Flag of Azerbaijan.png link alias-air force = Azerbaijani Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Flag of Azerbaijan.svg link alias-navy = Azerbaijani Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–0 || rowspan=2 align=center | 2–1 || rowspan=2 | Friendly

2
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2–0
3
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		16 November 1994 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia {{ Template:Yesno alias = Bulgaria flag alias = Flag of Bulgaria.svg flag alias-digital = Flag of Bulgaria (digital).svg flag alias-1878 = Flag of Bulgaria.svg flag alias-1947 = Flag of Bulgaria (1946–1948).svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of Bulgaria (1948–1967).svg flag alias-1968 = Flag of Bulgaria (1967-1971).svg flag alias-1971 = Flag of Bulgaria (1971–1990).svg flag alias-naval-1879 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1878-1944).svg flag alias-naval-1949 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1949-1955).svg flag alias-naval-1955 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1955-1990).svg flag alias-naval-1991 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria 1991-2005.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg link alias-naval = Bulgarian Navy flag alias-army = War flag of Bulgaria.svg link alias-army = Bulgarian Land Forces link alias-air force = Bulgarian Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg link alias-navy = Bulgarian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–1 || align=center| 1–4 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier

4
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		7 June 1995 Stadionul Republican, Chișinău {{ 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 =

}} || align=center| 2–1 || align=center| 2–3 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier

5
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		10 November 1996 Stadion GKS, Katowice {{ 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 =

}} || align=center| 1–2 || align=center| 1–2 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier

6
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		20 August 1998 Spordikeskuse Staadion, Kohtla-Järve {{ Template:Yesno alias = Estonia flag alias = Flag of Estonia.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Estonia.svg link alias-naval = Estonian Navy flag alias-army=Flag of Estonian Land Forces.svg link alias-army=Estonian Land Forces flag alias-air force =Flag of the Estonia Air Force.png link alias-air force = Estonian Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Estonia.svg link alias-navy = Estonian Navy border-naval = size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–0 || align=center| 1–0 || Friendly

7
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		18 August 1999 Népstadion, Budapest {{ Template:Yesno alias = Hungary flag alias = Flag of Hungary.svg flag alias-1848 = Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg flag alias-1849 = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg flag alias-1867 = Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg flag alias-1869 = Flag of Hungary (1869-1874).svg flag alias-1874 = Flag of Hungary (1874-1896).svg flag alias-1896 = Flag of Hungary (1896-1915; angels).svg flag alias-1915 = Flag of Hungary (1915-1918; angels).svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Hungary (1918-1919).svg flag alias-1919 = Flag of Hungary (1919).svg flag alias-1920 = Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg flag alias-1946 = Flag of Hungary (1946-1949, 1956-1957; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg flag alias-1949 = Flag of Hungary (1949-1956; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg flag alias-1956 = Flag of Hungary (1946-1949, 1956-1957; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg flag alias-1957 = Flag of Hungary.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Hungary with arms (state).svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Hungary.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Hungary.svg Hungarian River Guard flag alias-military = Flag of the Hungarian Defence Forces.svg link alias-military = Hungarian Defence Forces flag alias-army = War Flag of Hungary.svg link alias-army = Hungarian Ground Forces link alias-air force = Hungarian Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Hungary.svg Hungarian River Guard size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–1 || align=center| 1–1 || Friendly

8
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		26 April 2000 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle {{ Template:Yesno alias = San Marino flag alias = Flag of San Marino.svg flag alias-1465 = Old Flag of San Marino.svg flag alias-1862 = Flag of San Marino (1862–2011).svg flag alias-civil = Flag of San Marino (civil).svg link alias-army = Sammarinese Armed Forces size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–0 || align=center| 1–0 || Friendly

9
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		1 September 2001 Stadionul Republican, Chișinău {{ Template:Yesno alias = Azerbaijan flag alias = Flag of Azerbaijan.svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Azerbaijan 1918.svg flag alias-1991 = Flag of Azerbaijan (1991–2013).svg flag alias-naval = Naval Flag of Azerbaijan.svg link alias-naval = Azerbaijani Navy flag alias-army = Flag of Azerbaijani Land Forces.svg link alias-army = Azerbaijani Land Forces flag alias-air force = AzAF Flag of Azerbaijan.png link alias-air force = Azerbaijani Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Flag of Azerbaijan.svg link alias-navy = Azerbaijani Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–0 || align=center| 2–0 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier

10
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		5 September 2001 Štadión na Sihoti, Trenčín {{ Template:Yesno alias = Slovakia flag alias = Flag of Slovakia.svg flag alias-1939 = Flag of Slovakia (1939–1945).svg flag alias-1990 = Flag of Slovakia (1939–1945).svg Slovak Ground Forces size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center| 1–0 || align=center| 2–4 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier

11
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		16 August 2006 Stadionul Zimbru, Chișinău {{ Template:Yesno alias = Lithuania flag alias = Flag of Lithuania.svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg flag alias-1988 = Flag of Lithuania (1988-2004).svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Lithuania.svg link alias-naval = Lithuanian Naval Force flag alias-military=Flag of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.png link alias-military=Lithuanian Armed Forces flag alias-army = Flag of the Lithuanian Army.svg link alias-army = Lithuanian Land Force flag alias-navy=Flag of Lithuania (state).svg link alias-navy = Lithuanian Naval Force flag alias-air force=Air Force Ensign of Lithuania.svg link alias-air force=Lithuanian Air Force size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} || align=center| 3–2 || align=center| 3–2 || Friendly

Honours

Player

Zimbru Chișinău

Maccabi Haifa

Hapoel Tel Aviv

Individual

Manager

Milsami

Managerial Statistics

As of match played on 9 June 2025Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Team Period Record
G W D L Win %
Moldova 2021–present

Template:WDL

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Watford Observer Archive
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Current managers of UEFA national teams Template:Moldovan Footballer of the Year Template:Moldovan National Division top scorers Template:FC Zimbru Chișinău managers Template:U.D. Leiria managers Template:Moldova national football team managers

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