Dorel Zamfir

Dorel Zamfir (30 September 1961 – 6 October 2023) was a Romanian footballer who played as a right midfielder.

Club career

Zamfir was born on 30 September 1961 in Vișeu de Sus, Maramureș County, but when he was two months old, his parents settled in his father's city, Constanța. He started playing football at age 7, at FC Constanța's youth center where he worked with coach Iosif Bükössy, making his debut for the senior team when he played a full match at the age of 15 years, five months and 16 days on 16 March 1977 under coach Gheorghe Ola in a Divizia A home game which ended with a 1–0 loss against Steaua București. In the beginning of 1980, he went to play for Dinamo București, a team with which he won the The Double in the 1981–82 season, being used by coach Valentin Stănescu in 9 league matches, also playing his only game in a European competition, a 3–0 victory against Levski Sofia in the 1981–82 UEFA Cup. In 1982 he played for Dinamo București's rival, Steaua București, after which he went to play for six seasons at Argeș Pitești. In the following years of his career, Zamfir went to play for Gloria Bistrița, also heaving some experiences playing abroad in Turkey and Israel, ending his career as a player-coach at Flacăra Moreni.

International career

Zamfir represented Romania U20 at the 1981 World Youth Championship in Australia, playing five games in which he scored one goal in a 1–1 against Brazil in the group stage, helping the team finish the tournament on the 3rd position, winning the bronze medal. After the tournament, Zamfir decided to remain in Australia, at that time defection from the Socialist Republic of Romania being illegal, but he willingly returned to the country.

Death

Zamfir died on 6 October 2023, at the age of 62.

Honours

Dinamo București

• Divizia A: 1981–82
• Cupa României: 1981–82