Silviu Ploeșteanu

Silviu Ploeșteanu (28 January 1913 – 13 April 1969) was a Romanian footballer and manager.

Club career Ploeșteanu, nicknamed Ploaie (Rain), was born on 28 January 1913 in Craiova, Romania and began playing football in 1930 at UD Reșița, winning the Divizia A title in his first season as a footballer. In the following season he was a runner-up in the league with Reșița.

In 1937, Ploeșteanu switched teams again, joining Venus București. He contributed with three goals scored in 22 matches during the 1938–39 season, and four goals in 21 games during the 1939–40 season. Ploeșteanu ended his career by spending one year as a player-coach in the regional championship at UA Brașov. He scored a goal in a game against Germany and was captain in a 2–1 victory against Yugoslavia. Afterwards he coached Romania's Olympic team, qualifying for the 1964 Summer Olympics where the team finished in fifth place. In January 1967, Ploeșteanu decided to change Steagul's colors from white and blue to black and yellow. He believed that the team would be seen better on the field in the new colors. Former Steagul player, Emanoil Hașoti said about Ploeșteanu:"Everything I know in football I know from our beloved coach Silviu Ploeșteanu. He taught us that to succeed you need measure, common sense, heart, character and passion".

Personal life and death Ploeșteanu was known as an anti-communist, telling everyone with whom he interacted: "Never call me comrade! I was born a sir and I will always be a sir". He died of a heart attack on 13 April 1969 at age 56. People who were close to him claim that one of the reasons for his death was the sadness following being dismissed by Steagul Roșu Brașov after coaching it for 20 years. The Stadionul Silviu Ploeșteanu in Brașov is named in his honor.

Honours Player UD Reșița Divizia A: 1930–31, runner-up 1931–32 Universitatea Cluj Divizia A runner-up: 1932–33 Cupa României runner-up: 1933–34 Venus București Divizia A: 1938–39, 1939–40 Cupa României runner-up: 1939–40

Manager Steagul Roșu Brașov Divizia A runner-up: 1959–60 Divizia B: 1956 Balkans Cup: 1960–61