Horațiu Moldovan Explained

Horațiu Moldovan
Upright:0.7
Full Name:Horațiu Alexandru Moldovan
Birth Date:20 January 1998
Birth Place:Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Height:1.82 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Atlético Madrid
Clubnumber:1
Youthclubs1:Școala de Fotbal Ivansuc Cluj
Youthyears2:–2010
Youthclubs2:Ardealul Cluj
Youthyears3:2010–2017
Youthclubs3:CFR Cluj
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:CFR Cluj
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Hermannstadt (loan)
Caps2:16
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Voința Turnu Măgurele (loan)
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Energeticianul (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2019
Clubs5:Ripensia Timișoara
Caps5:15
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Sepsi OSK
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2020
Clubs7:Ripensia Timișoara
Caps7:3
Goals7:0
Years8:2020–2021
Clubs8:UTA Arad
Caps8:4
Goals8:0
Years9:2021–2024
Clubs9:Rapid București
Caps9:112
Goals9:0
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:Atlético Madrid
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:Romania
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:24 January 2024
Nationalteam-Update:7 June 2024

Horațiu Alexandru Moldovan (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /hoˈrat͡sju alekˈsandru moldoˈvan/; born 20 January 1998) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Romania national team.

A youth product of his hometown club CFR Cluj, Moldovan briefly represented several sides during the first part of his career before becoming a starter at Rapid București in 2021. Three years later, his performances inspired a transfer to Spanish team Atlético Madrid.

Internationally, Moldovan earned his first cap for Romania in November 2022, in a 2–1 friendly loss to Slovenia. He represented the country in the UEFA Euro 2024.

Early life

Before turning to junior football, Moldovan was passionate about kart racing, engines and speed. He stated that he saw his first football at age seven, and "From that moment on, football was everything".

Club career

Early career

Moldovan spent a large part of his junior career at his hometown side CFR Cluj, but did not make his senior debut there and was instead loaned out to Hermannstadt and Energeticianul, respectively. Between 2019 and 2020, Moldovan had a series of transfers; he initially signed for Ripensia Timișoara, then moved to Sepsi OSK, and subsequently returned to Ripensia Timișoara.

UTA Arad

On 10 August 2020, Moldovan joined UTA Arad.[1] Twelve days later, he made his Liga I debut in a 1–1 away draw at Viitorul Constanța.[2] He assumed a substitute role at the team, only recording three additional appearances throughout the remainder of his spell.

Rapid București

On 6 January 2021, Moldovan moved to Liga II side Rapid București on a one-and-a-half-year contract,[3] establishing himself as a regular starter. After Rapid's promotion to the top tier, he played 37 league matches and kept 11 clean sheets in the 2021–22 season, his consistency aiding the team to finish ninth overall.

On 14 December 2022, Moldovan saved a penalty kick in a 3–1 derby win over Petrolul Ploiești.[4] On 21 May 2023, he agreed to a one-year contract extension lasting until the summer of 2025.[5] On 21 December that year, the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper announced that Moldovan came fourth in voting for the 2023 Romanian Footballer of the Year award.[6]

Atlético Madrid

On 24 January 2024, Moldovan transferred to La Liga club Atlético Madrid for a €800,000 fee, representing his release clause.[7] He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract[8] and was assigned the number 1 shirt. Moldovan did not record his debut by the end of the 2023–24 season, being considered a backup option for Jan Oblak.[9]

International career

On 17 November 2022, Moldovan made his debut for the Romania national team in a 2–1 friendly loss to Slovenia at Cluj Arena.[10] The following year, he appeared in eight matches of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, aiding his nation in winning its group undefeated.[11]

On 7 June 2024, Moldovan was named in Romania's squad for the Euro 2024.[12] However, due to his complete lack of playing time at Atlético Madrid, he lost his starter status to Florin Niță, as the country won its group but was eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16.[13]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hermannstadt (loan)2016–17Liga III130130
2017–18Liga II302050
Total16020180
Voința Turnu Măgurele (loan)2017–18Liga III????
Energeticianul (loan)2018–19Liga II501060
Ripensia Timișoara2018–19Liga II15000150
Sepsi OSK2019–20Liga I000040
Ripensia Timișoara2019–20Liga II3030
UTA Arad2020–21Liga I400040
Rapid București2020–21Liga II140140
2021–22Liga I37000370
2022–23Liga I39000390
2023–24Liga I22010230
Total1120101130
Atlético Madrid2024–25La Liga00000000
Career total155040001590

International

[14]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania
202210
202380
202420
Total110

Honours

Hermannstadt

2016–17

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tânărul Horațiu Moldovan va fi al treilea portar al UTA-ei. The young Horațiu Moldovan will be UTA's third goalkeeper. Arad Obiectiv. ro. 10 August 2020. 17 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Navas de la UTA » Horațiu Moldovan, surpriza primei etape din Liga 1. Navas from UTA » Horațiu Moldovan, the surprise of the first fixture of the Liga 1. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 26 August 2020.
  3. Web site: OFICIAL | Rapid a transferat un portar din Liga 1! Concurență pentru Drăghia. OFFICIAL | Rapid transferred a goalkeeper from Liga 1! Competition for Drăghia. Digi Sport. ro. 6 January 2022. 16 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Rapid – Petrolul 3–1. Spectacol total! Giuleștenii câștigă "Primvs Derby". Rapid – Petrolul 3–1. Total show! Giuleștenii win the "Primvs Derby". Digi Sport. ro. 14 December 2023. 25 December 2023.
  5. Web site: HORAȚIU A SEMNAT PÂNĂ ÎN 2025. HORAȚIU SIGNED UNTIL 2025. FC Rapid București. ro. 21 May 2023. 17 June 2023.
  6. Web site: EXCLUSIV / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin este "Fotbalistul anului" în Ancheta Gazetei Sporturilor 2023: "Sunt fericit și mândru! O bucurie pentru că evoluția mea în fotbal este una corectă și frumoasă". EXCLUSIVE / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin is the "Footballer of the Year" in the 2023 Gazeta Sporturilor Survey: "I am happy and proud! It's a joy because my growth in football is a correct and beautiful one". Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 21 December 2023. 15 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Diferență colosală! Atletico plătește 800.000 pe Moldovan și 25 de milioane pe un puști de 18 ani!. Colossal difference! Atlético pays 800,000 for Moldovan and 25 million for an 18-year-old kid!. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 24 January 2024. 24 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Welcome, Horațiu Moldovan!. Atlético Madrid. 24 January 2024. 24 January 2024.
  9. Web site: O nouă lovitură cruntă pentru Horațiu Moldovan după ce românul nu a prins niciun minut la Atletico Madrid! Ce se va întâmpla cu rezerva lui Jan Oblak la EURO 2024: "Am spus-o de mai multe ori". Another cruel hit for Horațiu Moldovan after the Romanian did not get a single minute at Atlético Madrid! What will happen to Jan Oblak's substitute at EURO 2024: "I have said it several times". ProSport. ro. 7 June 2024. 7 June 2024.
  10. Web site: Rapidiștii sunt în extaz! Horațiu Moldovan debutează la echipa națională ca titular în România – Slovenia. Rapidiștii are ecstatic! Horațiu Moldovan makes his debut for the national team as a starter in Romania - Slovenia. ProSport. ro. 17 November 2022. 17 June 2023.
  11. Web site: VICTORIE cu Elveția și mergem la EURO 2024 de pe primul loc în grupă!. WIN against Switzerland and we go to EURO 2024 from first place in the group!. Romanian Football Federation. ro. 21 November 2023. 26 November 2023.
  12. Web site: Lotul României pentru EURO 2024. Romania's squad for EURO 2024. Romanian Football Federation. ro. 7 June 2024. 4 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Romania 0–3 Netherlands: Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo score as Dutch reach quarters. BBC. 2 July 2024. 8 July 2024.
  14. Web site: Horațiu Moldovan. European Football. 26 November 2023.
  15. Web site: EXCLUSIV / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin este "Fotbalistul anului" în Ancheta Gazetei Sporturilor 2023: "Sunt fericit și mândru! O bucurie pentru că evoluția mea în fotbal este una corectă și frumoasă". EXCLUSIVE / VIDEO Radu Drăgușin is the "Footballer of the Year" in the 2023 Gazeta Sporturilor Survey: "I am happy and proud! It's a joy because my growth in football is a correct and beautiful one". Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 21 December 2023. 15 January 2024.