Alexandru Spiridon

Alexandru Spiridon (born 20 July 1960) is a former professional footballer and current football manager from Moldova. Spiridon played as a midfielder during his football career, winning the Moldovan Footballer of the Year award in 1992. He made 16 appearances for the national team, scoring one goal. He worked as the assistant manager at Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg, joining the club in 2016 with manager Mircea Lucescu.

Playing career Spiridon played as a midfielder during his football career, winning the Moldovan Footballer of the Year award in 1992. He began his career at Nistru Chișinău, where his progression was hampered by a baldy broken leg, before moving to SKA Kiev in 1982. He scored 3 goals in 34 games for the club. Spiridon rejoined Nistru Chișinău in 1983 and played 19 times in his first season. He made 16 appearances the following year, and played 23 times for the club in 1985, scoring 4 goals. In 1986, he played 27 matches and scored 3 goals. He joined Zarya Bălți in 1987 and moved to Zimbru Chișinău in 1991. He was named the Moldovan Footballer of the Year award in 1992 and scored 12 goals in 30 appearances in the 1992-93 season. In the 1993-94 season, he scored 13 goals in 20 games for the club. He won five league titles in a row with the club between 1992 and 1996. He joined Tiligul Tiraspol in 1996 and ended his playing career with the club.

Spiridon made 16 appearances for the national team, scoring two goals. On 2 July, in a friendly match against Georgia he scored the first goal in the history of recently created national team. He played his last international match on 29 March 1995 in a 3–0 defeat to Albania.

Managerial career Spiridon joined Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in 2004 as the assistant manager to Mircea Lucescu. Shakhtar won the Ukrainian Premier League title in the 2004–05 season. Shakhtar have won the league seven times during Spiridon's time as assistant manager (2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13). They have also won four Ukrainian Cup trophies (2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13) and five Ukrainian Super Cup trophies (2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013). Shakhtar also won their first European trophy in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, the last UEFA Cup before its rebranding as the UEFA Europa League.

When on 24 May 2016, Mircea Lucescu signed a contract with Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg, Spiridon also moved to that club as assistant manager to Lucescu.

Career statistics International goals of Alexandru Spiridon # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 2 July 1991 Stadionul Republican, Chișinău, Moldova 1–2 2–4 Friendly 2. 22 August 1992 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan 1–0 2–1 Friendly

Managerial statistics

Honours

As player Zimbru Chișinău Divizia Națională Champion (5): 1992, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 Runner-up (1): 1996–97

Moldovan Cup Winner (1): 1996–97

Moldovan Footballer of the Year (1): 1992

As assistant manager Shakhtar Donetsk UEFA Cup Winner (1): 2008–09

Ukrainian Premier League Champion (8): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 Runner-up (4): 2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16

Ukrainian Cup Winner (6): 2003–04, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16

Ukrainian Super Cup Winner (7): 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015