.jpg) Contra as manager ofRomania in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cosmin Marius Contra[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1975-12-15)15 December 1975 (age 49)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Timișoara, Romania[1] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back,midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Arabi (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1982–1988 | CSȘ Timișoara | ||
| 1988–1993 | Politehnica Timișoara | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1995 | Politehnica Timișoara | 51 | (1) |
| 1996–1999 | Dinamo București | 101 | (8) |
| 1999–2001 | Alavés | 66 | (5) |
| 2001–2002 | AC Milan | 29 | (3) |
| 2002–2006 | Atlético Madrid | 34 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | →West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2005 | →Politehnica Timișoara (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | →Getafe (loan) | 24 | (0) |
| 2006–2010 | Getafe | 64 | (3) |
| 2010 | →Politehnica Timișoara (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2010 | Politehnica Timișoara | 9 | (1) |
| Total | 410 | (24) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995–1998 | Romania U21 | 11 | (2) |
| 1996–2010 | Romania | 73 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010 | Politehnica Timișoara (player/coach) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Getafe C | ||
| 2012 | Fuenlabrada | ||
| 2012–2014 | Petrolul Ploiești | ||
| 2014–2015 | Getafe | ||
| 2015 | Guangzhou R&F | ||
| 2016 | Alcorcón | ||
| 2017 | Dinamo București | ||
| 2017–2019 | Romania | ||
| 2020 | Dinamo București | ||
| 2021–2022 | Al-Ittihad | ||
| 2023–2024 | Damac | ||
| 2025 | Al-Kholood | ||
| 2025– | Al-Arabi | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Cosmin Marius Contra (Romanian pronunciation:[kosˈminˈmari.usˈkontra]; born 15 December 1975) is a Romanian professionalfootballmanager and former player. He is the current head coach ofQatar Stars League clubAl-Arabi.
Primarily an attacking-mindedright-back, he was also deployed as amidfielder. He played in three countries his own notwithstanding, mainly Spain where he appeared forAlavés,Atlético Madrid andGetafe, amassingLa Liga totals of 188 games and eight goals. ARomania international for nearly 15 years, he represented the nation in twoEuropean Championships.
As a coach, Contra won theCupa României withPetrolul Ploiești in 2013 and theCupa Ligii withDinamo București four years later. In September 2017, he was appointed at the helm of the Romania national team.
Born inTimișoara, Contra started his professional career at local clubPolitehnica Timișoara, making hisDivizia A debut under coachCostică Ștefănescu on 27 February 1994 at age 18 in a 1–0 win in theWest derby againstUTA Arad.[2][3][4] At the end of hisfirst season they were relegated toDivizia B, but he stayed with the side, promoting back after one year. Midway through1995–96, he signed forDinamo București at the request of coachCornel Dinu.[2][3][4] During his period with theRed Dogs he failed to win any trophy, the team's best performance during his stay being a runner-up finish in1998–99; he also made his debut inEuropean competitions, appearing in four matches in the1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup and two in the1997–98 UEFA Cup.[2]
After three and a half campaigns with Dinamo, Contra was transferred for$800,000 toDeportivo Alavés in the SpanishLa Liga.[5] He was an important part in theBasques'runner-up run in theUEFA Cup,[6] his performances earning him in a place in theUEFA Team of the Year.[7]
Contra scored eight goals in all competitions during his spell at theMendizorrotza Stadium. In December 2021, as the club celebrated its 100th birthday, he was voted its best-ever right-back by newspaperNoticias de Álava.[8]
In the summer of 2001, Contra moved to Italian clubAC Milan, but his spell there lasted onlyone season. On 21 October, in theDerby della Madonnina againstInter Milan and as his team trailed 1–0, he was brought on as a 46th-minutesubstitute and scored once and provided oneassist in the 4–2 victory.[9] In August 2002, he was suspended after a scuffle withJuventus'sEdgar Davids.[10]
Contra returned to Spain in September 2002, joiningAtlético Madrid.[11] He appeared very rarely in the2003–04 campaign, due to a seriousankle condition.[12]
Contra signed forWest Bromwich Albion on loan in August 2004,[13] making his debut in a 2–1 defeat atColchester United in thesecond round of theFootball League Cup on 21 September.[14] His maidenPremier League appearance occurred almost two months later, when they lost 2–1 at home againstMiddlesbrough.[15]
Overall, the loan was not particularly successful, with Contra playing just six games and receiving ared card in his last match, a 0–5 home loss toLiverpool.[16] He then returned to his country andLiga I, at the club which brought him up as a player, Politehnica Timișoara, where he managed to be recalled to thenational side due to his performances.[5]
Contra returned to Spain in August 2005, agreeing to aseason-long loan withGetafe[17] which was subsequently made permanent (he was supposed to have arrived at theColiseum Alfonso Pérez before, but the move was blocked because the squad had too many non-EU players, and his compatriotGheorghe Craioveanu only ceased to be considered a foreigner the same year).[18] He was used regularly by theMadrid outskirts side, battling for a first-team slot withDavid Cortés.[5]
In the2007–08 UEFA Cup, Contra netted in both legs of the quarter-final tie againstBayern Munich, which ended in a 4–4 aggregate elimination afterextra time.[19] Earlier in the competition, he scored apenalty kick againstAEK Athens,[20] appearing in that match even though his father had died just hours before.[21]
In late January 2010, after being ousted from the starting XI by managerMíchel, Contra left Getafe and returned to his country, rejoining hometown's Politehnica Timișoara initially until June.[22][5] On 26 February he made his debut in his second spell for the club, scoring from a 30-yardfree kick in thelast minute of the 2–1 victory overPolitehnica Iași.[23] Two months later, atSteaua București, he again found the net from twoset pieces, one from apenalty (3–3 draw);[24] during his second stint, he played mainly as acentral midfielder.
On 29 August 2010, Contra scored again from a free kick and again against Steaua, in a late 1–1 equaliser.[25] His contract expired the following day, and on 9 September he agreed to a new deal,[26] being announced as newplayer-coach six days later.[27] His last game as a player took place on 13 November 2010, in a 1–1 home draw withUnirea Urziceni.[2][4]
Contra earned 73caps forRomania and scored seven goals, making his debut on 24 April 1996 at the age of 20 when coachAnghel Iordănescu brought him on in the 65th minute to replace captainGheorghe Hagi in afriendly againstGeorgia which ended with a 5–0 victory.[4][28][29][30] He played three games in theEuro 2000 qualifiers, being selected byEmerich Jenei to be part of thefinal tournament squad, where he was used as a starter the first three matches, helping the team get past the group stage, but did not play in the 2–0 loss toItaly in the quarter-finals, being suspended after receiving twoyellow cards in the previous fixtures.[31][4][28] He made nine appearances and netted twice in the2002 FIFA World Cupqualifying phase, one in a 2–0 away victory overGeorgia and one in the second leg of the play-off againstSlovenia which was lost 3–2 on aggregate.[4][28]
Contra made six appearances in theEuro 2004 qualifiers, scoring ahat-trick in the 7–0 away rout ofLuxembourg, playing six times in the2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.[28][32] He contributed six matches and two goals, one in a 3–0 victory againstLuxembourg and one in the 2–0 defeat of Slovenia inqualification for Euro 2008, being used in thefinal tournament by managerVictor Pițurcă in all the minutes as his side failed to progress from their group.[33][28]
Contra played four games in the2010 World Cup qualifiers and, on 1 April 2009, after a match withAustria, he announced his retirement from international football; however, on 30 August 2010, the 34-year-old was recalled by managerRăzvan Lucescu for theEuro 2012 qualifiers, making his last appearance in a 1–1 draw againstAlbania.[28][34]
Contra made his Timișoara debut as a manager in September 2010, with a win againstSportul Studențesc București.[35] Even though the team never lost a game under his guidance, he was sacked after 11 matches – six wins, five draws – because of a conflict with the club's owner.[36]
Contra returned to Spain in July 2012, being appointed atSegunda División B sideFuenlabrada.[37] He startedthe campaign well and, after ten rounds, the team found themselves in a play-off position; however, after an offer fromPetrolul Ploiești in his homeland arrived, he asked to be released from his contract.[38]
Contra took over at Petrolul in October 2012, replacingMircea Rednic. In hisfirst season he reachedthe final of theCupa României, defeatingCFR Cluj 1–0;[39] additionally, the club finished third in the domestic league, thus securingqualification for the Europa League after an 18-year-absence.[40]
Petrolul managed to knock outVíkingur Gøta in the Europa League second qualifying round andVitesse Arnhem in the third, but were eliminated in the play-offs bySwansea City after being bested 5–1 inWales and winning 2–1 at home.[41]
On 10 March 2014, Contra returned to Getafe and the Spanish top flight after four years, replacingLuis García who was fired after a long run of bad results which led the team to only a point above the relegation zone, and without a league win since November.[42][43] His first match in charge came four days later, a 3–3 home draw againstGranada.[44] They finally won a game on the penultimate day of the month, emerging victorious atValencia 3–1.[45]
On 19 May 2014, Contraconfirmed survival for the side after a 2–1 away win overRayo Vallecano.[46]
On 18 December 2014, Contra was named as the new manager ofGuangzhou R&F, replacingSven-Göran Eriksson.[47] He began working officially for the club on 4 January of the following year.[48]
On 15 June 2016, Contra was appointed atAlcorcón.[49] He was relieved of his duties on 12 October.[50]
In February 2017, Contra became Dinamo București's new coach.[51] He led the team to their first trophy in five years bywinning theCupa Ligii[52] but, after advances from theRomanian Football Federation, he resigned from his post on 16 September.[53]
On 17 September 2017, followingChristoph Daum's dismissal, Contra was revealed as the new manager of Romania with the objective of qualifying forEuro 2020.[54] His first game in charge was on 5 October, a 3–1 win inPloiești againstKazakhstan in the2018 FIFA World Cupqualifiers.[55]
In November 2019, after the team could only finish in fourth place in theEuro 2020 qualifying phase behindSpain,Sweden andNorway, theRomanian Football Federation announced Contra would no longer continue on the bench.[56][57]
Contra returned to Dinamo București in August 2020, signing a two-year contract.[58] He left on 3 December due to the club's financial problems.[59]
On 29 August 2021, Contra was appointed as manager ofAl-Ittihad in theSaudi Professional League.[60] His team led the league by 16 points overAl Hilal in February but endedthe season two points behind that team, who he lost to twice.[61]
Contra was dismissed by theJeddah-based club in early July 2022, and replaced byNuno Espírito Santo.[62]
On 6 March 2023, Contra joinedDamac of the same country and league.[63]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 1996 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 73 | 7 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 March 2001 | Boris Paichadze,Tbilisi,Georgia |  Georgia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 14 November 2001 | Ghencea,Bucharest, Romania |  Slovenia | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2002 World Cup qualification – Playoffs |
| 3 | 16 October 2002 | Josy Barthel,Luxembourg, Luxembourg |  Luxembourg | 4–0 | 7–0 | Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 4 | 5–0 | |||||
| 5 | 7–0 | |||||
| 6 | 28 March 2007 | Stadionul Ceahlăul,Piatra Neamț, Romania | Luxembourg | 2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 7 | 6 June 2007 | Dan Păltinișanu,Timișoara, Romania | Slovenia | 2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Politehnica Timișoara |  | 15 September 2010 | 5 December 2010 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 050.00 |
| Fuenlabrada |  | 21 July 2012 | 29 October 2012 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 045.45 |
| Petrolul Ploiești | | 29 October 2012 | 10 March 2014 | 58 | 33 | 20 | 5 | 99 | 48 | +51 | 056.90 |
| Getafe | | 10 March 2014 | 4 January 2015 | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 30 | 35 | −5 | 033.33 |
| Guangzhou R&F |  | 4 January 2015 | 22 July 2015 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 030.00 |
| Alcorcón | | 15 June 2016 | 12 October 2016 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 036.36 |
| Dinamo București | | 16 February 2017 | 18 September 2017 | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 41 | 24 | +17 | 053.57 |
| Romania | | 22 September 2017 | 18 November 2019 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 39 | 26 | +13 | 054.17 |
| Dinamo București | | 26 August 2020 | 3 December 2020 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 027.27 |
| Al-Ittihad |  | 29 August 2021 | 4 July 2022 | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 62 | 31 | +31 | 066.67 |
| Damac | | 6 March 2023 | 6 December 2024 | 64 | 21 | 17 | 26 | 82 | 95 | −13 | 032.81 |
| Al-Kholood | | 2 July 2025 | 22 July 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | !— |
| Al-Arabi |  | 15 October 2025 | present | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | +13 | 100.00 |
| Total | 315 | 144 | 84 | 87 | 465 | 358 | +107 | 045.71 | |||
Politehnica Timișoara
Alavés
Getafe
Individual
Petrolul Ploiești
Dinamo București
Individual
Romania squads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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