Gheorghe Ciolac

Gheorghe Ciolac (10 August 1908 – 13 April 1965) was a Romanian association football striker. He was a member of Romania's squad which competed in the 1934 FIFA World Cup, but did not play in any match.

Club career

Ciolac was born on 10 August 1908 in Nagykomlós, Austria-Hungary and began playing junior-level football in 1922 at Politehnica Timișoara. In 1924 he moved to neighboring club, Banatul with whom in the 1928–29 season he reached the semi-finals of the national league where they were defeated with 3–0 by România Cluj.

In 1930, Ciolac joined Ripensia Timișoara, winning the title in the 1932–33 season, coach Jenő Konrád using him in 13 games in which he scored three goals, including one in the final against Universitatea Cluj. In the following season he helped the team win the 1934 Cupa României final, playing in both victories over "U" Cluj, scoring once. In the 1934–35 season he won another title, coaches Josef Uridil and Rudolf Wetzer giving him 19 appearances in which he netted a personal record of 13 goals, also the team reached the Cupa României final where he played the entire match in the 6–5 loss to CFR București. Next season, Ciolac helped Ripensia win The Double, being given 21 appearances by coaches Wetzer and Konrád, scoring 11 times, and he netted a double in the 5–1 win over Unirea Tricolor București in the Cupa României final. In the following Cupa României edition, the team reached another final in which he played the full 90 minutes in the 5–1 loss to Rapid București. In the 1937–38 season, Ripensia won another title, but coach Sepp Pojar used him in only six matches in which he scored once. Ciolac made his last Divizia A appearance on 15 June 1941 in Ripensia's 4–1 away victory against Venus București. In his second match, Ciolac scored a hat-trick, as they defeated Bulgaria 3–0 in a friendly. Ciolac won his second Balkan Cup in 1933 when he netted four goals, a hat-trick in a 7–0 win over Bulgaria and one goal in a 5–0 victory against Yugoslavia, being the top-scorer of the competition alongside teammate Ștefan Dobay.

Ciolac played in a 2–1 home win over Yugoslavia in the successful 1934 World Cup qualifiers. Ciolac played his last match for The Tricolours on 18 April 1937, also being their captain in the 1–1 draw against Czechoslovakia.

International goals Romania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ciolac goal.

Style of play His Ripensia teammate, Rudolf Kotormány said about him:"I consider Ghiță Ciolac to be the greatest center forward our country has ever had. Ciolac was a great technician, he knew how to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He always passed the ball. Even if he had a shot lane, he would pass the ball to the one who was in the best position." Another Ripensia teammate, Ștefan Dobay said:"Among the center forwards I played with, first of all I have to mention Ghiță Ciolac, an admirable teammate and colleague. He was ready to pass the ball to the best-placed player. Ciolac even exaggerated in his altruism. He knew how to take direct crosses very well, which, when caught from the volley, were certain death for the goalkeeper."

Death Ciolac died on 13 April 1965 at age 56.

Honours Club Ripensia Timișoara Divizia A: 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, runner-up 1933–34, 1938–39 Cupa României: 1933–34, 1935–36, runner-up 1934–35, 1936–37 International Romania Balkan Cup: 1929–31, 1933, 1936 Individual Balkan Cup top-scorer: 1933