Alexandru Epureanu (born 27 September 1986) is a Moldovan former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for the Moldova national team.

Alexandru Epureanu
Epureanu with Anzhi Makhachkala in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-09-27) 27 September 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Chișinău, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1995–1998 Hoverla Uzhhorod
1998–2002 Zimbru Chișinău
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Zimbru Chișinău 29 (2)
2004–2006 Sheriff Tiraspol 66 (3)
2007–2009 Moscow 72 (3)
2010–2014 Dynamo Moscow 44 (3)
2012Krylia Sovetov (loan) 17 (1)
2013Anzhi Makhachkala (loan) 7 (0)
2014 Anzhi Makhachkala 10 (2)
2014–2023 İstanbul Başakşehir 214 (14)
2023 Ümraniyespor 13 (0)
Total 469 (28)
International career
2002–2005 Moldova U19
2005–2007 Moldova U21 18 (0)
2006–2022 Moldova 100 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 June 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2024

Club career

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Born in Chișinau, Epureanu joined FC Sheriff Tiraspol in summer 2004.[2]

He has won Moldovan Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2018. Since playing for FC Sheriff Tiraspol, he has gone on to play for Dinamo Moscow.

On 2 July 2014, Epureanu signed for İstanbul Başakşehir.[3] He made his league debut for the club on 30 August 2014 in a 1–1 home draw with Kasımpaşa, playing all ninety minutes of the match.[4] He scored his first league goal for the club on 5 October 2014 in a 4–0 home victory over Akhisarspor. His goal, scored in the sixth minute, made the score 1–0 to İstanbul BB.[5]

In January 2023, Epureanu departed Başakşehir[6] and subsequently joined Ümraniyespor until the end of the season.[7] On 25 March 2024, he confirmed that he retired from football.[8]

International career

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Epureanu made his international debut in a 2–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying loss against Norway on 6 September 2006, and has since been a regular in the national team, wearing the captain's armband on several occasions.[9] In September 2019, Epureanu retired from the national team due to a knee injury.[10] However, he returned in August 2020.[11] He ranks first in terms of all-time appearances for Moldova.[12] On 31 March 2021, he made his 100th and last appearance for Moldova in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Israel.[13]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 22 June 2023[14][15]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Zimbru Chișinău 2002–03 Moldovan National Division 5 0 0 0 5 0
2003–04 24 2 3 0 27 2
Total 29 2 3 0 32 2
Sheriff Tiraspol 2004–05 Moldovan National Division 22 0 0 0 22 0
2005–06 27 2 4 2 31 4
2006–07 17 1 4 0 21 1
Total 66 3 8 2 74 5
FC Moscow 2007 Russian Premier League 23 0 23 0
2008 24 1 2 1 3 0 29 2
2009 25 2 1 0 26 2
Total 72 3 3 1 3 0 78 4
Dynamo Moscow 2010 Russian Premier League 23 2 2 0 25 2
2011–12 14 1 3 0 17 1
2012–13 7 0 0 0 7 0
Total 44 3 5 0 49 3
Krylia Sovetov (loan) 2012–13 Russian Premier League 17 1 2 1 19 2
Anzhi Makhachkala (loan) 2013–14 7 0 1 0 4 1 12 1
Anzhi Makhachkala 2013–14 10 2 0 0 4 0 14 2
İstanbul Başakşehir 2014–15 Süper Lig 32 4 1 0 33 4
2015–16 14 0 9 0 0 0 23 0
2016–17 30 1 6 0 4 0 40 1
2017–18 31 6 1 0 10 0 42 6
2018–19 22 2 1 1 2 0 25 3
2019–20 29 0 0 0 5 0 34 0
2020–21 30 0 2 0 5 0 1[a] 0 38 0
2021-22 22 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 1
2022-23 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Total 211 14 21 1 26 0 1 0 262 15
Career total 456 28 32 3 48 3 1 0 540 34
  1. ^ Appearance in Turkish Super Cup.

International

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As of match played 31 March 2021[9]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Moldova 2006 3 0
2007 9 1
2008 10 0
2009 8 1
2010 7 1
2011 8 0
2012 6 1
2013 7 0
2014 8 3
2015 3 0
2016 7 0
2017 7 0
2018 8 0
2019 0 0
2020 6 0
2021 3 0
Total 100 7
Scores and results list Moldova's goal tally first.[9]
List of international goals scored by Alexandru Epureanu
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 24 March 2007 Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău   Malta 1–1 1–1 Euro 2008 qualifier
2 12 August 2009 Republican Stadium, Yerevan   Armenia 4–1 4–1 Friendly
3 3 March 2010 Antalya Atatürk Stadium, Antalya   Kazakhstan 1–0 1–0 Friendly
4 16 October 2012 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle   San Marino 2–0 2–0 2014 World Cup qualifier
5 5 March 2014 Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella   Andorra 1–0 3–0 Friendly
6 3–0
7 12 October 2014 Otkrytie Arena, Moscow   Russia 1–1 1–1 Euro 2016 qualifier

Note: Some sources have credited Epureanu with scoring the second goal in a 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2014, however this was a penalty converted by Igor Picușceac.[16]

Honours

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Club

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Zimbru Chișinău

Sheriff Tiraspol

Dynamo Moscow

İstanbul Başakşehir

Individual

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alexandru Epureanu". İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Member associations". UEFA.com.
  3. ^ "Alexandru Epureanu va evolua din noul sezon la İstanbul BB". diez.md (in Romanian). 2 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Istanbul Basaksehir vs. Kasimpasa – 30 August 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Istanbul Basaksehir vs. Akhisarspor – 5 October 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  6. ^ "TEŞEKKÜRLER ALEXANDRU EPUREANU" [THANKS ALEXANDRU EPUREANU]. ibfk.com.tr (in Turkish). 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  7. ^ @Umraniyespor (19 January 2023). "Hoş Geldin Epureanu! Kulübümüz, Başakşehir takımından 36 yaşındaki defans oyuncusu Alexandru Epureanu'yu sezon sonuna kadar renklerine bağladı. Epureanu'ya hoş geldin diyor, nice başarılar diliyoruz" [Welcome Epureanu! Our club has tied the 36-year-old defender Alexandru Epureanu from Başakşehir team to his colors until the end of the season. We welcome Epureanu and wish you good luck. #Ümraniyespor #SemtinTakımı] (Tweet) (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Alexandru Epureanu și-a agățat ghetele în cui". fmf.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Alexandru Epureanu". eu-football.info. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Căpitanul Alexandru Epureanu se retrage de la echipa națională a R. Moldova, invocând probleme la genunchi" (in Romanian). Agora. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  11. ^ Grecu, Sandu (29 August 2020). "Alexandru Epureanu revine la Națională!" (in Romanian). Moldovan Football Federation. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Most Moldova caps". eu-football.info. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Contra Israelului Alexandru Epureanu a bifat meciul cu numărul 100 pentru naționala Moldovei" (in Romanian). Moldfootball. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  14. ^ Alexandru Epureanu at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  15. ^ Alexandru Epureanu at National-Football-Teams.com
  16. ^ "Saudi Arabia vs Moldova - Football Match Report - May 24th, 2014". ESPN.
  17. ^ "Istanbul's Medipol Başakşehir wins first ever Turkish Süper Lig title". Daily Sabah. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  18. ^ Aslan, Erkan (3 May 2019). "2018-2019 Sezonunun Enleri "Futbolun Süperleri" Töreniyle Ödüllerine Kavuştu". ListeList (in Turkish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  19. ^ Aslan, Erkan (3 May 2019). "2018-2019 Sezonunun Enleri "Futbolun Süperleri" Töreniyle Ödüllerine Kavuştu". ListeList (in Turkish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
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