Mihai Mocanu

Mihai Mocanu ( born February 24, 1942 in Constanta, † June 18, 2009 ) was a Romanian football player and coach. He played 201 games in the highest Romanian football league, the Divizia A, and participated in the World Cup 1970.

Career as a player

Mihai Mocanu began his career in his hometown of Constanta in Constanta SNM, which played in 1960 in Divizia B. After descending from the Divizia B in 1962, he moved to league rivals Chimia Fagaras before a year later for him opened up the possibility to switch to a romanian top team, namely Petrolul Ploiesti from the Divizia A,. On August 25, 1963, he had in the defeat against UTA Arad its first use in the highest Romanian football league. In Petrolul Mocanu was in the 1965/66 season to key players, won the season's end, the Romanian Cup and became a national player. However Petrolul could not confirm the performance in the following years and dropped back into midfield and the relegation zone. After 1972, the decline could be averted only scarce, Mocanu could move abroad and joined Omonia Nicosia, which at the time of the highest Greek football league, the Alpha Ethniki played. 1973 returned to the team after the descent in the Cypriot First Division back and Mocanu won the league and cup. Despite this success, he returned to Romania and played again for Petrolul, was now relegated to the B Divizia. There, he finished his career in 1976.

National

Mocanu played 33 games for the Romanian national football team. He made his debut on June 1, 1966 against Germany, in preparation for Germany at the World Cup 1966. Himself took at the Football World Cup 1970 in Mexico, where he was employed in all three games from the start.

Career as a coach

After his playing career Mocanu coached various clubs in Prahova county, including Petrolul Ploieşti. At times, he also worked as a youth coach. In 1991 he took over the third division Conpet Ploieşti, he oversaw until his retirement in 2005.

Awards and achievements

  • World Cup participants: 1970
  • Romanian champions: 1966
  • Cypriot champions: 1974
  • Cypriot Cup winner: 1974
  • Honored Master of Sports
  • Best Romanian left-back of all time in the 2000 election athletes
  • Honorary Citizen of Ploieşti

Health problems

Due to arterial occlusive disease Mocanu was amputated part of his right leg on 12 July 2006. Some years before his death esophageal cancer was found in him also. Mocanu died on June 18, 2009 in his hometown of Constanta, where his daughter had brought him a few weeks earlier in order to provide him better. He also left a son, Ionut Mihai Mocanu, who was active as a football player himself at Conpet Ploieşti and currently lives in Canada.

Defender (association football) Liga I Liga II 1965–66 Divizia A Superleague Greece Liga III
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