Virgil Dridea

Virgil Dridea (17 November 1940 – 29 May 2022), also known as Puiu Dridea, was a Romanian football player and manager.

Playing career Dridea was born on 17 November 1940 in Ploiești, Romania and began playing junior-level football at local club, Petrolul where his first coach was Mihai Cristache, later working with Emil Avasilichioaie. From 1959 until 1961 he played for Știința București in Divizia B. He also played two games for The Yellow Wolves in the first round of the 1966–67 European Cup against Liverpool which included a 3–1 victory, but they did not manage to qualify to the next round. His last Divizia A game took place on 3 September 1968 in Petrolul's 3–1 victory against Jiul Petroșani, totaling 82 matches with 12 goals in the competition. In 1992 he had his second experience abroad going to coach for one year the Syrian national team. Afterwards he went back to Romania at Dacia Unirea Brăila with whom he earned a second place in the 1994–95 Divizia B season. Afterwards he went to coach in the lower leagues, starting with a second spell at Midia, then going to Cimentul Fieni, Chindia Târgoviște and for a third spell at Plopeni.

Personal life Dridea's brother, Mircea, was also a footballer and a manager, they played together at Petrolul Ploiești, winning two Divizia A titles.

Death Dridea died on 29 May 2022 at age 81.

Honours Player Petrolul Ploiești Divizia A: 1958–59, 1965–66 Cupa României: 1962–63

Manager Metalul Plopeni Divizia C: 1982–83 Petrolul Ploiești Divizia B: 1988–89