 Ionescu warming up for Steaua | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrei Ionescu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-03-29)29 March 1988 (age 37)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Craiova, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2004 | Universitatea Craiova | ||
| 2004–2005 | PSV Eindhoven | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Universitatea Craiova | 55 | (4) |
| 2008–2011 | Steaua București | 16 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Steaua II București | 13 | (0) |
| 2010 | →Politehnica Iași (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Royal Antwerp | 28 | (1) |
| 2012–2014 | Ferencváros | 19 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Ferencváros II | 4 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Naft Al-Janoob | 22 | (1) |
| 2016 | FC Eindhoven | 5 | (0) |
| 2016 | ASIL Lysi | 12 | (0) |
| 2017 | Voluntari | 3 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Aizawl FC | 16 | (3) |
| 2018 | Voluntari | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Metaloglobus București | 22 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Romania U-19 | 6 | (0) |
| 2006–2010 | Romania U-21 | 17 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 07:53, 23 August 2021 (UTC) | |||
Andrei Ionescu (born 29 March 1988 inCraiova) is aRomanianfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder.[2]
Ionescu is a product ofUniversitatea Craiova's youth system and has been a regular player for them. Rising through the ranks, he became captain of the side on several occasions. His talent caught the attention of Dutch clubPSV in 2004, where he spent one season in their academy.[3] Ionescu has a lot of qualities his great passes and acceleration goes along with good dribbling attributes. He is also good-working player, who is battling for every ball in his reach.
He made his professionalLiga I debut on 27 August 2006 in a 0–4 loss toDinamo București. In his three seasons at Craiova, he played 54 matches and scored 4 goals.
On 24 August 2008, he signed a five-year contract withSteaua București. He is inco-ownership withUniversitatea Craiova. The following two seasons saw Ionescu in and out of the squad, making only 18 league and cup appearances during the two years, mostly from the substitutes bench. After the arrival of new managerCristiano Bergodi, Ionescu became a regular starter for Steaua in the 2009–10Europa League season. He made his European debut on 16 July 2009 against Hungarian sideÚjpest in a 2–0 win.[1] Struggling for first team opportunities, Ionescu was sent out on loan toPolitehnica Iaşi on 10 February 2010 until the summer.[4] During the 2010 summer transfer window, he was close to sign a loan deal with Turkish sideMersin İdmanyurdu. However, the transfer failed. In the winter of2010–11 season, Ionescu was demoted tothe B squad.
In June 2011, Ionescu left Steaua.
On 31 August 2011, the free agent signed a two-year contract with Belgian sideRoyal Antwerp.
On 30 August 2012 he signed a contract with the Hungarian record champion Ferencváros Budapest.[5]
In February 2016, 28-year-old Ionescu signed a four-month contract with DutchEerste Divisie clubEindhoven.[6] In January 2017, he returned to Romania after six years by penning a deal withVoluntari.[7]
Ionescu switched clubs and countries in August and signed for IndianI-League clubAizawl FC.[8][9] He scored a goal in the2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs againstZob Ahan and became the first player to score a goal for Aizawl in any continental competitions. Ionescu's powerful right-footer from the centre of the box beatZob Ahan goalkeeperMohammad Mazaheri after he connected cross delivered byLaldinliana Renthlei.
Ionescu has played for Romania since the U-19 level and made his debut in September 2006 in a 4–2 win overBelgium.[1] On 22 February 2006, he made his debut for theRomania U-21 squad in a friendly againstTurkey.
Steaua București
Ferencváros
Voluntari