Gheorghe Barbu

Gheorghe Barbu (20 July 1968 – 31 October 2021) was a Romanian footballer who played as a forward and midfielder. Subsequently, he joined Divizia B side Electroputere Craiova, scoring 13 goals in the 1990–91 season to help them gain first league promotion. Barbu also played in a 1–0 loss to Sigma Olomouc in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup first round. In the middle of the 1992–93 season, Barbu went to play for Farul Constanța, but Universitatea still managed to win the Cupa României. There, he made five appearances in the 1995 Intertoto Cup, scoring once in a win over Dnepr Mogilev, as the club reached the round of 16 where they were defeated by Heerenveen. In the 1995–96 season, Barbu netted a personal record of eight goals in the first league. In 1999, he made a comeback to Farul Constanța, making his last Divizia A appearance on 10 May 2000 in a 2–1 away loss to FC Onești, totaling 237 matches with 28 goals in the competition.

Managerial career Barbu began coaching in 2006 at Mureșul Deva where he spent four years, helping the team gain promotion to the second league in 2007. Subsequently, between 2011 and 2012, he worked for Universitatea II Cluj and FCM Reșița. In 2013 he worked as Ionel Ganea's assistant for first league team Universitatea Cluj, while also serving as a caretaker coach for a short time after Ganea's departure. From 2015 to 2021, Barbu coached several teams in the Romanian lower leagues such as Unirea Jucu, Unirea Dej, CFR II Cluj, Dacia Unirea Brăila, Someșul Dej and Victoria Cluj.

Death Barbu died at age 53 while sleeping in Dej on 31 October 2021. At the time of his death, he was employed as a sporting manager at Liga III team Someșul Dej.

Honours Player Electroputere Craiova Divizia B: 1990–91 Universitatea Craiova Cupa României: 1992–93 Universitatea Cluj Divizia C: 2000–01 Manager Liga IV – Cluj County: 2019–20