Michael Klein

Michael "Mișa" Klein (10 October 1959 – 2 February 1993) was a Romanian professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Early years Klein, nicknamed Mișa, was born on 10 October 1959 in Amnaș, Romania, being half of Transylvanian Saxon origin from his father's side.

Club career Klein began playing football at Corvinul Hunedoara's youth center in 1973. He made his debut for the senior team on 24 August 1977 under coach Ștefan Coidum in a Divizia A match that ended in a 2–2 draw against Argeș Pitești. In the following season he was loaned to Divizia B team Aurul Brad but in the middle of the season he was recalled to Corvinul by new coach Mircea Lucescu. For the way he played in 1985, Klein was placed fifth in the ranking for the Romanian Footballer of the Year award.

After 11 and a half seasons spent with The Ravens, in the middle of the 1988–89 season he was transferred to Dinamo București where he reunited with his former Corvinul manager Mircea Lucescu. In his first season spent with The Red Dogs, he played in both legs of the 1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals, where they were eliminated on the away goals rule after 1–1 on aggregate by Sampdoria.

In the following season, Klein won The Double with the club, Lucescu giving him 23 appearances in which he scored two goals in the league, and he also played the entire match in the 6–4 win over rivals Steaua București in the Cupa României final. In the same season he played seven matches in the 1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup, scoring once against Panathinaikos, as the team reached the semi-finals where they were eliminated after a 2–0 aggregate loss to Anderlecht.

Afterwards, Klein joined Bayer Uerdingen in Germany, making his Bundesliga debut on 14 September 1990 when coach Horst Wohlers used him the entire match in a 2–0 away loss to Karlsruher SC. The team was relegated at the end of his first season, but he stayed with the club, helping it get promoted back after one year.

International career Klein played 89 matches and scored five goals for Romania, making his debut on 9 September 1981 when coach Valentin Stănescu sent him in the 49th minute to replace Aurel Beldeanu in a 2–1 friendly loss to Bulgaria.

His next appearance was a 0–0 draw against Switzerland in the 1982 World Cup qualifiers. Klein played seven matches in the 1986 World Cup qualifiers and six matches with one goal scored in a 1–0 away victory against Albania during the Euro 1988 qualifiers. Klein played six games in the Euro 1992 qualifiers and in the last one of them, he made his final appearance for the national team which took place on 13 November 1991 in a 1–0 victory against Switzerland.

Klein has a total of 322 matches with 36 goals in Divizia A, 37 matches in Bundesliga, 25 games in 2. Bundesliga and 13 appearances with two goals in European competitions.

Career statistics

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Klein goal.

Honours Corvinul Hunedoara Divizia B: 1979–80

Dinamo București Divizia A: 1989–90 Cupa României: 1989–90 Bayer Uerdingen 2. Bundesliga: 1991–92 Individual Gazeta Sporturilor Romanian Footballer of the Year (fifth place): 1985