Cristian Chivu

Cristian Eugen Chivu ([kristiˈan e.uˈd͡ʒen ˈkivu]; born 26 October 1980) is a Romanian former footballer. He usually played as a left back, but he was also used as a central defender.

He began his career at his hometown club FCM Reșița before moving to FC Universitatea Craiova in 1998, leaving Romania to join Dutch club Ajax a season later. His performances as captain at Ajax inspired an €18 million transfer to Roma in 2003. Chivu won the Coppa Italia in his last of four seasons at Roma before a transfer to Internazionale, where he would spend the rest of his career before retiring in 2014. His honours at Inter included a treble of the Italian league, domestic cup, and the UEFA Champions League in 2010.

Chivu earned his first of 75 international caps between 1999 and 2010, and was part of Romania's squads for UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2008.

After retiring, he became a football pundit for Italian television stations Sky Sport and now Fox Sports. He is also a technical observer for UEFA.

Club career

Early career

Chivu's first professional club was FCM Reșița. After moving to FC Universitatea Craiova, his reputation began to rise and his performances sparked interest from some larger clubs outside of Romania. Dutch club Ajax was particularly impressed with Chivu and signed him in 1999.

Ajax

At Ajax, Chivu developed a reputation as a reliable fullback and a free-kick specialist. Then-manager Ronald Koeman appointed him as captain of the club. With Chivu as captain, Ajax dominated the Dutch Eredivisie with an exciting young squad. Playing alongside Chivu were future stars such as Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Johnny Heitinga, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Maxwell. Chivu played a pivotal role for Ajax in their UEFA Champions League run in the 2002–03 season, when they came to within a minute of the semi-finals. That season, Chivu was in a quintet of Ajax players – himself, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Maxwell, Wesley Sneijder and Andy van der Meyde – who all went on to later join Inter Milan.

Roma

In 2003, Roma expressed their interest in signing Chivu. At the time, Roma had an enormous debt and there were questions raised over Roma's ability to pay any proposed fees. Seeking to silence the increasing doubt over their financial situation, Roma sought a bank guarantee, which was subsequently denied. After much speculation, however, Roma finally completed the purchase of Chivu in September, ending the long and protracted saga. The fee was €18 million. Though he became a regular in defence, he made limited appearances due to injuries. He won the 2006–07 Coppa Italia in his last season with Roma. During the summer transfer window, he was once again a subject of transfer speculation, with newly crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid reportedly making a formal bid, while Barcelona and Inter Milan were also interested in signing the defender.

Internazionale

Chivu was reported to be in the middle of a tug-of-war between Barcelona and Real Madrid during the 2007 summer transfer window. After a four-year spell which yielded a Coppa Italia, Chivu left Roma and signed a five-year contract with Serie A rivals Inter on 27 July 2007. The transfer fee was €16 million, which €3 million of the transfer fee paid via defender Marco Andreolli moved to Roma in a co-ownership deal. His first season with the defending Serie A champions was a successful one, as he won the Serie A title that had eluded him during his time at Roma.

During the Champions League match at home to Manchester United in the 2008–09 season, Chivu had a terrific game, denying Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo many times, and won Man of the Match ahead of Inter goalkeeper Julio César.

Chivu was a regular at left back during the 2009–10 season, as Walter Samuel and Lúcio became the preferred centre back pairing. On 6 January against Chievo, Chivu was stretchered off early in the second half after colliding heads with Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier. He was in two hours of surgery for a skull fracture and later cleared of any danger. Although it was initially thought he might be out for the rest of the season, he returned to Serie A on 24 March. After this, he needed to wear a headguard in matches. A month later, Chivu scored his first goal for Inter in a game against Atalanta, a terrific 30-yard strike. On 22 May 2010, he was in Inter's starting line-up in the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, which Inter won 2–0.

He scored his second goal for Inter in the 2010–11 season against Cesena which turned out to be the game winner in a 3–2 win for Inter. He also scored the winning penalty for Inter in their 2009–10 Coppa Italia win over Napoli on 26 January 2011.

Chivu left Inter after his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 31 March 2014. The very same day he announced his retirement from football on his Facebook page.

International career

In 1999, Chivu was chosen to represent the Romania national under-21 team and quickly made the step up to play for the full side.In 2001, he won Cyprus International Football Tournament 2001 . He represented his country at both UEFA Euro 2000 and Euro 2008. Despite being capped only four times prior to the Euro 2000, he started all four matches and scored his first international goal.

At Euro 2008, he earned plaudits for his performance, keeping previous FIFA World Cup champions Italy and runners-up France at bay, despite being played in a less familiar role as a holding midfielder. He captained Romania through World Cup qualification, but they failed to make the play-offs, finishing fifth in their group. On 21 May 2011, Chivu announced his retirement from the national team.

After football

In August 2019, Chivu enrolled in the UEFA Pro Licence courses at Coverciano.

Personal life

Chivu speaks Italian, Dutch, Spanish and English, as well as his native Romanian.

His father, Mircea was also a footballer and a coach, the Mircea Chivu Stadium from Reșița is named in his honor. He played as a right back for FCM Reșița and Universitatea Craiova winning the 1973–74 Divizia A with the team from Craiova. Mircea was coach at FCM Reșița when Cristian started his career. According to Calcio Italia magazine, Chivu has been involved in opening football schools around Romania for the past few years, and he said "I hope that he is proud when he looks down on me" in reference to his father who died in 1998.

He is currently married to Adelina Elisei who on 12 February 2009 gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Natalia.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 14 October 2012

International goals

Scores and results table. Romania's goal tally first. Was captain in matches highlighted in green:

International appearances and goals
App	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Goal	Competition
1999–2000
1.	18 August 1999	Limassol, Cyprus	Cyprus	2–2	0	Friendly
2.	26 April 2000	Constanța, Romania	Cyprus	2–0	0	Friendly
3.	27 May 2000	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Netherlands	1–2	0	Friendly
4.	31 May 2000	Bucharest, Romania	Greece	2–1	0	Friendly
5.	12 June 2000	Liége, Belgium	Germany	1–1	0	Euro 2000
6.	17 June 2000	Arnhem, Belgium	Portugal	0–1	0	Euro 2000
7.	20 June 2000	Charleroi, Belgium	England	3–2	1	Euro 2000
8.	24 June 2000	Brussels, Belgium	Italy	0–2	0	Euro 2000
2000–01
9.	16 August 2000	Bucharest, Romania	Poland	1–1	0	Friendly
10.	3 September 2000	Bucharest, Romania	Lithuania	1–0	0	2002 World Cup qualification
11.	6 September 2000	Milan, Italy	Italy	0–3	0	2002 World Cup qualification
12.	28 February 2001	Nicosia, Cyprus	Lithuania	3–0	0	Friendly
13.	28 March 2001	Tbilisi, Georgia	Georgia	2–0	0	2002 World Cup qualification
14.	2 June 2001	Bucharest, Romania	Hungary	2–0	0	2002 World Cup qualification
15.	6 June 2001	Kaunas, Lithuania	Lithuania	2–1	0	2002 World Cup qualification
2001–02
16.	15 August 2001	Ljubljana, Slovenia	Slovenia	2–2	0	Friendly
17.	5 September 2001	Budapest, Hungary	Hungary	2–0	0	2002 World Cup qualification
18.	10 November 2001	Ljubljana, Slovenia	Slovenia	1–2	0	2002 World Cup Play-offs
19.	14 November 2001	Bucharest, Romania	Slovenia	1–1	0	2002 World Cup Play-offs
20.	13 February 2002	Paris, France	France	1–2	0	Friendly
21.	27 March 2002	Constanța, Romania	Ukraine	4–1	0	Friendly
2002–03
22.	21 August 2002	Constanța, Romania	Greece	0–1	0	Friendly
23.	7 September 2002	Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3–0	1	Euro 2004 qualification
24.	12 October 2002	Bucharest, Romania	Norway	0–1	0	Euro 2004 qualification
25.	20 November 2002	Timișoara, Romania	Croatia	0–1	0	Friendly
26.	12 February 2003	Larnaca, Cyprus	Slovakia	2–1	0	Friendly
27.	29 March 2003	Bucharest, Romania	Denmark	2–5	0	Euro 2004 qualification
28.	30 April 2003	Kaunas, Lithuania	Lithuania	1–0	0	Friendly
29.	7 June 2003	Craiova, Romania	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–0	0	Euro 2004 qualification
30.	11 June 2003	Oslo, Norway	Norway	1–1	0	Euro 2004 qualification
2003–04
31.	20 August 2003	Donetsk, Ukraine	Ukraine	2–0	0	Friendly
32.	6 September 2003	Ploiești, Romania	Luxembourg	4–0	0	Euro 2004 qualification
33.	10 September 2003	Copenhagen, Denmark	Denmark	2–2	0	Euro 2004 qualification
34.	11 October 2003	Bucharest, Romania	Japan	1–1	0	Friendly
35.	31 March 2004	Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	2–1	1	Friendly
36.	28 April 2004	Bucharest, Romania	Germany	5–1	0	Friendly
2004–05
37.	26 March 2005	Bucharest, Romania	Netherlands	0–2	0	2006 World Cup qualification
38.	30 March 2005	Skopje, Macedonia	North Macedonia	2–1	0	2006 World Cup qualification
39.	4 June 2005	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Netherlands	0–2	0	2006 World Cup qualification
40.	8 June 2005	Constanța, Romania	Armenia	3–0	0	2006 World Cup qualification
2005–06
41.	17 August 2005	Constanța, Romania	Andorra	2–0	0	2006 World Cup qualification
42.	3 September 2005	Constanța, Romania	Czech Republic	2–0	0	2006 World Cup qualification
43.	1 March 2006	Larnaca, Cyprus	Slovenia	2–0	0	Friendly
2006–07
44.	16 August 2006	Constanța, Romania	Cyprus	2–0	0	Friendly
45.	2 September 2006	Constanța, Romania	Bulgaria	2–2	0	Euro 2008 qualification
46.	6 September 2006	Tirana, Albania	Albania	2–0	0	Euro 2008 qualification
47.	7 October 2006	Bucharest, Romania	Belarus	3–1	0	Euro 2008 qualification
48.	15 November 2006	Cádiz, Spain	Spain	1–0	0	Friendly
49.	2 June 2007	Celje, Slovenia	Slovenia	2–1	0	Euro 2008 qualification
50.	6 June 2007	Timișoara, Romania	Slovenia	2–0	0	Euro 2008 qualification
2007–08
51.	22 August 2007	Bucharest, Romania	Turkey	2–0	0	Friendly
52.	8 September 2007	Minsk, Belarus	Belarus	3–1	0	Euro 2008 qualification
53.	12 September 2007	Cologne, Germany	Germany	1–3	0	Friendly
54.	13 October 2007	Constanța, Romania	Netherlands	1–0	0	Euro 2008 qualification
55.	17 October 2007	Luxembourg, Luxembourg	Luxembourg	2–0	0	Euro 2008 qualification
56.	17 November 2007	Sofia, Bulgaria	Bulgaria	0–1	0	Euro 2008 qualification
57.	6 February 2008	Tel Aviv, Israel	Israel	0–1	0	Friendly
58.	26 March 2008	Bucharest, Romania	Russia	3–0	0	Friendly
59.	31 May 2008	Bucharest, Romania	Montenegro	4–0	0	Friendly
60.	9 June 2008	Zürich, Switzerland	France	0–0	0	Euro 2008
61.	13 June 2008	Zürich, Switzerland	Italy	1–1	0	Euro 2008
62.	17 June 2008	Bern, Switzerland	Netherlands	0–2	0	Euro 2008
2008–09
63.	11 October 2008	Constanța, Romania	France	2–2	0	2010 World Cup qualification
64.	6 June 2009	Marijampole, Lithuania	Lithuania	1–0	0	2010 World Cup qualification
2009–10
65.	12 August 2009	Budapest, Hungary	Hungary	1–0	0	Friendly
66.	5 September 2009	Paris, France	France	1–1	0	2010 World Cup qualification
67.	9 September 2009	Bucharest, Romania	Austria	1–1	0	2010 World Cup qualification
68.	10 October 2009	Belgrade, Serbia	Serbia	0–5	0	2010 World Cup qualification
69.	14 November 2009	Warsaw, Poland	Poland	1–0	0	Friendly
70.	29 May 2010	Lviv, Ukraine	Ukraine	2–3	0	Friendly
71.	2 June 2010	Villach, Austria	North Macedonia	0–1	0	Friendly
2010–11
72.	11 August 2010	Istanbul, Turkey	Turkey	0–2	0	Friendly
73.	7 September 2010	Minsk, Belarus	Belarus	0–0	0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
74.	9 October 2010	Paris, France	France	0–2	0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
75.	17 November 2010	Klagenfurt, Austria	Italy	1–1	0	Friendly

Honours

Club

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2001–02
• Dutch Cup: 2001–02
• Dutch Supercup: 2002

Roma

• Coppa Italia: 2006–07

Internazionale

• Serie A: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
• Coppa Italia: 2009–10, 2010–11
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2008, 2010
• UEFA Champions League: 2009–10
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2010

Individual

• Dutch Golden Shoe: 2002
• AFC Ajax Player of the Year: 2001, 2003
• Gazeta Sporturilor Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2002, 2009, 2010
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002
• Marco van Basten Award: 2000