Florin Bătrânu

Florin Bătrânu
Personal information
Full name Florin Ionel Cornelaș Bătrânu
Date of birth (1971-03-19) 19 March 1971
Place of birth Oravița, Romania
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 ASU Politehnica Timișoara (chief scout)
Youth career
Viitorul Timișoara
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 CFR Timișoara[a] 11 (0)
1990–1994 Politehnica Timișoara 94 (9)
1994–1995 Național București 35 (2)
1996–1999 Dinamo București 106 (20)
1999 Leiria 0 (0)
1999–2000 Universitatea Craiova 25 (2)
2001 BFC Dynamo 13 (4)
2001 UM Timișoara 9 (2)
2002 Kispest Honvéd 23 (1)
2003–2006 Politehnica Timișoara 52 (0)
Total 368 (40)
International career
1995–2000 Romania 8 (0)
Managerial career
2008–2009 CFR Timișoara
2021 Dumbrăvița
2021–2025 Dumbrăvița (head of youth development)
2021–2024 Romania Women (assistant)
2025– ASU Politehnica Timișoara (chief scout)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Florin Ionel Cornelaș Bătrânu (born 19 March 1971), is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder, currently chief scout at Liga III club ASU Politehnica Timișoara.[2]

Club career

Bătrânu was born on 19 March 1971 in Oravița, Romania and began playing junior-level football at Viitorul Timișoara.[1][3] He started his senior career during the 1988–89 Divizia B season at CFR Timișoara.[1][3] In 1990, he joined Politehnica Timișoara, making his Divizia A debut on 14 September under coach Constantin Rădulescu in a 3–0 away victory against Petrolul Ploiești.[1][3][4] He made his debut in European competitions in a 2–0 victory against Sporting Lisbon in the second round of the 1990–91 UEFA Cup.[1][5] Politehnica reached the 1992 Cupa României final, in which coach Ion Ionescu sent Bătrânu to replace Octavian Popescu during extra time, prior to their penalty shoot-out loss to Steaua București.[3][6] Subsequently, he played in a 1–1 draw against Real Madrid in the first round of the 1992–93 UEFA Cup.[1][7]

After Politehnica suffered relegation at the end of the 1993–94 season, Bătrânu joined Național București.[1][3][8] In 1995, he moved to Dinamo București for a four-season spell.[1][3] He made four appearances in the 1996 Intertoto Cup and played in both legs of the 4–1 aggregate loss to Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur in the first qualifying round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup.[1][9] Domestically, he scored a career-best eight goals during the 1997–98 season and helped the team finish second in the 1998–99 championship.[1] Following the end of his contract with Dinamo, Bătrânu signed with Portuguese side Leiria.[10] However, Leiria terminated Bătrânu's contract because Dinamo demanded a transfer fee to release his registration.[10] Afterwards, he returned to Romania and joined Universitatea Craiova.[1][3][10] Bătrânu helped the team reach the 2000 Cupa României final, where he played the entire match under coach Emil Săndoi in the 2–0 loss to Dinamo.[3][11] He also played in both legs of the 2–1 aggregate loss to Pobeda in the 2000–01 UEFA Cup qualifying round.[1][12]

Bătrânu joined German fourth-tier side BFC Dynamo, where he became teammates with fellow Romanians Dorel Zegrean, Aurel Panait, Dănuț Oprea and Silvian Cristescu.[1][3][13] The team won the 2000–01 NOFV-Oberliga Nord and then played a two-legged promotion play-off, losing 5–2 on aggregate to 1. FC Magdeburg.[1][14] Bătrânu started the 2001–02 season at UM Timișoara, but midway through it he switched countries by moving to Hungary to join Kispest Honvéd.[1][3] He made his Nemzeti Bajnokság I debut on 2 March 2002 under coach Lajos Détári, playing alongside compatriots Cristian Dulca, Dorel Balint and Marius Sasu in a 3–2 loss to Haladás.[1][15][16] On 24 April, he scored the winning goal in the 2–1 victory over Videoton FC Fehérvár.[15][17] Bătrânu also played in both legs of the 1–0 aggregate loss to Žalgiris in the first round of the 2002 Intertoto Cup.[1][18]

In 2003, Bătrânu made a comeback to Politehnica Timișoara.[1][3] He made his last Divizia A appearance on 4 December 2005 in Politehnica's 1–0 loss to Dinamo, totaling 321 matches with 35 goals in the competition.[1]

International career

Bătrânu played eight matches for Romania, making his debut on 8 February 1995 under coach Anghel Iordănescu in a 1–0 friendly loss to Greece.[19][20] He later featured in a 7–0 victory over Liechtenstein and a goalless draw against Slovakia during the Euro 2000 qualifiers.[19] His last appearance for the national team took place on 4 February 2000 in a 1–1 draw against Georgia in the 2000 Cyprus International Tournament.[19]

Managerial career

In 2008, Bătrânu led Romania's national homeless team during the Homeless World Cup.[21][22][23] In November of that year, he was hired to co-coach Liga II club CFR Timișoara alongside Dan Potocianu.[3][24] During the second half of the 2020–21 Liga III season, he was the head coach of Dumbrăvița, finishing in third place.[3][21][22][25] Subsequently, he worked at Dumbrăvița's youth center and was the assistant to Cristian Dulca for the Romania women's national team.[3][21][22][25] In May 2025, Bătrânu was hired to join the technical staff of CS Giroc-Chișoda, before moving in October of that year to work as chief scout for ASU Politehnica Timișoara.[3][26]

International stats

Appearances and goals by national team and year[19]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania
199510
199600
199700
199830
199920
200020
Total80

Honours

Politehnica Timișoara

Universitatea Craiova

BFC Dynamo

Notes

  1. ↑ The statistics for the 1989–90 Divizia B season are unavailable.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Florin Bătrânu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  2. ↑ "De ce să te vinzi pentru doi lei?" [Why to sell you for two lei?]. Evz.ro. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
    "Florin Bătrînu: "Steaua a lăsat-o mai moale în '99!"" ["Steaua let it down in '99!"]. Prosport.ro. May 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
    "Moment emotionat pentru Florin Batrinu! Vezi ce jucator de la ACS Poli l-a facut sa lacrimeze pe fostul international!" [Excited moment for Florin Bătrînu! See what player from ACS Poli has made to tear the former international!]. Opiniatimisoarei.ro. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Departamentul de scouting al Politehnicii, condus de fostul internațional Florin Bătrânu" (in Romanian). Sspolitehnica.ro. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Politehnica Timișoara vs Petrolul Ploiești 3-0". Labtof. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Florin Bătrânu. UEFA Cup 1990/1991". WorldFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Romanian Cup – Season 1991–1992". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Florin Bătrânu. UEFA Cup 1992/1993". WorldFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Divizia A 1993/1994". Romaniansoccer. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Florin Bătrânu. Intertoto Cup 1996". WorldFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
    "Florin Bătrânu. UEFA Cup 1997/1998". WorldFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 "Poveste fabuloasă dezvăluită de un fost dinamovist. Cum a ratat într-o singură vară transferul la Benfica, Alaves și Steaua și a ajuns la echipa pe care n-o suporta" (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Romanian Cup – Season 1999–2000". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Florin Bătrânu. Europa League Qualifiers 2000/2001". WorldFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Ronaldos Partner stürmt für den BFC" [Ronaldo's partner plays for BFC] (in German). Berliner-zeitung.de. 10 July 2000. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Existenzangst. Der BFC und Magdeburg kämpfen um den Regionalliga-Aufstieg - und ums sportliche Überleben" [Existential fear. BFC and Magdeburg are fighting for promotion to the Regionalliga - and for their sporting survival] (in German). Home.snafu.de. 1 June 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
    "Relegationsrückspiel zur Regionalliga: 1. FC Magdeburg - BFC Dynamo 5:2" [Relegation second leg to the Regionalliga: 1. FC Magdeburg - BFC Dynamo 5:2] (in German). Home.snafu.de. 11 June 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Florin Bătrânu profile". Magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Haladás - Honvéd 3-2". Magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Videoton - Honvéd 3-2". Magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Florin Bătrânu. Intertoto Cup 2002". WorldFootball. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Florin Bătrânu". European Football. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Greece 1-0 Romania". European Football. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 "Timișoreanul Florin Bătrânu, secund la la Naționala feminină de fotbal" (in Romanian). Debanat.ro. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 "Florin Bătrânu, în staff-ul Naționalei de fotbal feminin" (in Romanian). Radiotimisoara.ro. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Fotbalişti fără adăpost, în film" (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Florin Bătrânu, antrenor CFR Timișoara" (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Florin Bătrînu şi Alexandru Chiu, la CS Giroc-Chişoda!" (in Romanian). Cscdumbravita.ro. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Florin Bătrînu și Alexandru Chiu, la CS Giroc-Chișoda!" (in Romanian). Renasterea.ro. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
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