He was recalled to Dinamo by coachCornel Dinu.[2][4] In a couple of years he became the team's captain.[5][6][7] In the1999–2000 season, under the guidance of Dinu, Hîldan played 29 league games in which he scored one goal, helping Dinamo win the league title for the first time in nine years, which was won mathematically after a 3–2 victory against Steaua, also in the same season, he scored the second goal of the 2–0 victory in theCupa României final againstUniversitatea Craiova.[1][8][9] He played a total of 138 matches in which he scored six goals in Divizia A, also appearing in 11 matches without scoring in European competitions.[1]
Cătălin Hîldan played 8 friendly games and scored one goal forRomania, making his debut on 3 March 1999 when coachVictor Pițurcă introduced him in the 85th minute to replaceGheorghe Popescu in a friendly which ended with a 2–0 victory againstEstonia.[10][11] He scored his only goal for the national team in a 1–1 againstGeorgia and played his last game on 3 June 2000 in a 2–1 victory againstGreece.[10] Hîldan was a part ofRomania's squad at theEuro 2000 final tournament, but did not play.[2]
Cătălin Hîldan died on 5 October 2000, while playing in a friendly match between Dinamo andȘantierul Naval Oltenița, having astroke in the 74th minute of the game and fell to the ground.[2][12][13] Before his death he was nicknamed "The only captain" by Dinamo's fans, a nickname that became more popular after his death and his number, 11, was retired by Dinamo in his honor.[2][5][14][15][16][17] The north stand of theDinamo Stadium is named "Peluza Cătălin Hîldan" (Cătălin Hîldan Stand), in his honor, also theStadionul Cătălin Hîldan from his native Brănești is named after him.[5][14] In 2006, he was posthumously named one of the100 Greatest Romanians in a nationwide poll.[18] A book about him was written by Ioan Chilom, calledUnicul căpitan. Cătălin Hîldan, câine până la moarte(The only captain. Cătălin Hîldan, dog until death).[19]
Georgia