Bogdan Gheorghe Stelea is a Romanian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current coach. Having played professionally into his 40s, he played for all three major Liga I clubs in his country's capital, and also spent a vast part of his career in Spain, mainly with Salamanca. Stelea played nearly 100 times for Romania, and represented the nation in three World Cups and two European Championships.
Playing career
Club
Born in Bucharest, Stelea started playing football at hometown's FC Dinamo București, being the club's undisputed starter by 1988. In 1991–92 he still appeared in 11 Liga I games as the capital side won the national championship, but signed late in 1991 with RCD Mallorca for $650.000. After two La Liga seasons in Spain, with relegation in his first as last, he joined Belgium's Standard Liège but, unsettled, quickly returned home with FC Rapid București. After one season in Turkey with Samsunspor, Stelea returned again to his country and joined FC Steaua București, the defending champions. In his two-year spell the club renewed its domestic supremacy and participated in the UEFA Champions League, with the player contributing significantly; during this period he also had a successful trial with Sunderland, but could not negotiate a deal. In 1997, Stelea was transferred to UD Salamanca, where he lived his most steady period, remaining with the team seven years, only punctuated by a small loan spell with Rapid. He appeared in 191 overall games for the former during his tenure whilst competing mainly in the second division, but spent his first two seasons in the top flight. After a second spell with Dinamo, Stelea started 2005–06 with Greek side Akratitos FC. Unsettled again, he returned to Romania with FC Oțelul Galați, but did not feature in any matches because of a serious injury. The following campaign he moved to FC Unirea Urziceni at the recommendation of new coach and former national teammate Dan Petrescu, where he eventually became first-choice; in 2007–08, at the age of 40, he was still one of the best goalkeepers in the country. Stelea finally ended his long career at the end of the 2008–09 season, helping modest FC Brașov to a comfortable ninth place in the top division.
His son, Bogdan Ionuț Stelea was also a footballer, he played as a defender and spent his career in the lower leagues of Romania playing for teams like FC Snagov or Chindia Târgoviște.
