Cătălin Gheorghiță Golofca (born 21 April 1990) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder.

Cătălin Golofca
Golofca playing for Sepsi OSK in 2022
Personal information
Full name Cătălin Gheorghiță Golofca
Date of birth (1990-04-21) 21 April 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Suceava, Romania
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Youth career
0000–2009 Cetatea Suceava
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 CS Gura Humorului 20 (11)
2010–2015 Rapid CFR Suceava 63 (9)
2016–2017 Botoșani 38 (12)
2016Rapid CFR Suceava (loan) 14 (4)
2017–2018 FCSB 8 (0)
2017–2018Botoșani (loan) 17 (2)
2018–2019 Botoșani 45 (8)
2019–2021 CFR Cluj 8 (0)
2020–2021Sepsi OSK (loan) 31 (3)
2021–2022 Sepsi OSK 42 (4)
2023 Botoșani 8 (0)
2023–2024 Chindia Târgoviște 12 (2)
2024 CSM Slatina 12 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2024

Career

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Early career / Botoșani

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Golofca joined FC Botoșani of the Romanian first division in January 2016,[1] aged 25, but spent the rest of the 2015–16 season on loan at former club Rapid CFR Suceava. He previously only had stints with lower league teams from his native Suceava County area.

On 5 August 2016, Golofca recorded his Liga I debut in a 2–4 loss to FC Voluntari. Thirtheen days later, he scored his first goal for Botoșani in a 5–0 away thrashing of ACS Poli Timișoara.[2] In his debut campaign at the club, Golofca amassed 34 league appearances and netted nine times.

FCSB / Return to Botoșani

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After scoring three goals in the first four opening games of the 2017–18 Liga I, FCSB announced the signing of Golofca on a four-year deal on 7 August 2017.[3] The capital-based team paid 400,000 for 40% of his economic rights.[4][5] On the 15th that month he played his first European match, starting in a goalless draw with Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade in the UEFA Champions League play-off round.[6]

Golofca's only goal at FCSB came in a Cupa României 3–0 victory over ACS Poli Timișoara, on 30 November. His poor form and rumours about his nightlife made him fall out of favor[7][8] and be loaned back to FC Botoșani in the 2018 winter transfer window,[9] eventually rejoining the club on a permanent basis in the summer of that year.

CFR Cluj

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On 30 August 2019, Golofca was transferred by two-time defending champions CFR Cluj for an undisclosed fee.[10] The following day, he made his debut and assisted Adrian Păun's late goal in a 2–3 loss to Astra Giurgiu.[11]

Style of play

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Golofca primarily plays as a winger on the right flank, although he has been deployed in the centre as an attacking midfielder or even a main striker on occasion.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 5 November 2024[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
CS Gura Humorului 2009–10 Liga III 20 11 ? ? 20 11
Rapid CFR Suceava 2010–11 Liga III ? ? ? ? ? ?
2011–12 Liga III ? ? ? ? ? ?
2012–13 Liga II 4 1 0 0 4 1
2013–14 Liga II 21 2 1 0 22 2
2014–15 Liga II 24 4 3 1 27 5
2015–16 Liga II 29 6 1 0 30 6
Total 78 13 5 1 83 14
Botoșani 2016–17 Liga I 34 9 1 0 2 0 37 9
2017–18 Liga I 4 3 0 0 4 3
Total 38 12 1 0 2 0 41 12
FCSB 2017–18 Liga I 8 0 2 1 5 0 15 1
FCSB II 2017–18 Liga III 5 5 5 5
Botoșani (loan) 2017–18 Liga I 17 2 3 0 20 2
Botoșani 2018–19 Liga I 39 7 1 0 40 7
2019–20 Liga I 6 1 0 0 6 1
Total 62 10 4 0 66 10
CFR Cluj 2019–20 Liga I 7 0 1 1 5 0 13 1
2020–21 Liga I 1 0 0 0 2 1 3 1
Total 8 0 1 1 7 1 16 2
Sepsi OSK (loan) 2020–21 Liga I 31 3 1 0 1[b] 0 33 3
Sepsi OSK 2021–22 Liga I 31 2 5 1 0 0 36 3
2022–23 Liga I 11 2 2 0 3 0 1[c] 0 17 2
Total 73 7 8 1 3 0 2 0 86 8
Botoșani 2022–23 Liga I 7 0 7 0
2023–24 Liga I 1 0 1 0
Total 8 0 8 0
Chindia Târgoviște 2023–24 Liga II 12 2 3 2 15 4
CSM Slatina 2024–25 Liga II 12 1 1 0 13 1
Career total 324 61 25 6 2 0 15 1 2 0 367 68

Honours

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Rapid CFR Suceava

CFR Cluj[12]

Sepsi OSK

References

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  1. ^ "FC Botoșani s-a reunit astăzi! Ce lot are la dispoziție Cristi Pustai" [FC Botoşani has gathered today! The squad Cristi Pustai will count on]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 11 January 2016.
  2. ^ "ACS Poli Timișoara 0–5 FC Botoșani" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Bine ai venit, Catalin Golofca!" [Welcome, Cătălin Golofca] (in Romanian). FC Steaua București. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Golofca e jucătorul FCSB. Cât va încasa atacantul și pe ce post va evolua" [Golofca is FCSB's player. How much he will earn and what position he will play on] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Golofca a SEMNAT cu FCSB în această seară! Va fi deținut în coproprietate: câți bani a dat Becali pe 40 la sută din jucător + primele reacții oficiale: "Am făcut o afacere bună pentru toată lumea"" [Golofa SIGNED with FCSB this evening! He will be co-owned: how much money Becali has given for 40% of the player + first official reactions: "We made a good deal for everyone"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Sporting CP 0–0 FCSB". UEFA.com. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Gigi Becali n-a glumit. A dat afară un jucător pe care-l luase în vară, dar care l-a nemulţumit" [Gigi Becali din not joke around. He kicked out a player he had brought in the summer, but which had disappointed him] (in Romanian). Realitatea TV. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Golofca îi răspunde lui Gigi: "Nu sunt curvar! Timpul va demonstra"" [Golofca gives Gigi a reply: "I am not a manwhore! Time will tell"] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Multumim, Catalin Golofca!" [Thank you, Cătălin Golofca] (in Romanian). FC Steaua București. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Bun venit, Catalin Golofca!" [Welcome, Cătălin Golofca!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Astra Giurgiu 3–2 CFR Cluj" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  12. ^ a b Cătălin Golofca at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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