Ion Oblemenco was a Romanian football striker who spent the majority of his career playing for Universitatea Craiova. He is the club's all-time top goalscorer with a total of 167 goals, and the club's stadium is named in his honour.
Early years
Oblemenco was born in Corabia, Olt County. He began his youth career in 1958 at the age of 13 at Progresul Corabia, where he played till 1960, and then moved to Electroputere Craiova for two years.
Oblemenco aged 19, was bought from CS Universitatea Craiova by Valentin Stănescu to Rapid Bucureşti. He made his senior debut on 5 July 1964 and scored in a 3–1 defeat against his former club Universitatea Craiova. Oblemenco's first team opportunities were limited as he was kept out of the side by forwards Emil Dumitriu and Ion Ionescu. He left Rapid in the Summer of 1966, and returned to Universitatea Craiova.
Universitatea Craiova
Oblemenco quickly became a leader and team captain for the Blue Lions. He debuted in a match against Dinamo Bucureşti on 21 August 1966. In the following game he scored twice in a 3–2 win over Jiul Petroşani. In his first 1966–67 season Oblemenco was the top scorer in Divizia A with 17 goals in 23 appearances, and repeats the same performance three times in, and being, along with Ştefan Dobay and Dudu Georgescu, the only players who obtained this achievement in Divizia A. He rapidly became an adored star among the club's fans, and in his time there he elevated the team to the most successful era in its history. Oblemenco helped his side win its first championship title in 1973–74, over clubs like Steaua and Dinamo. He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific and explosive goalscoring. His former teammate, Petre Deselnicu said: "I've kissed Oblemenco more than my wife, because he scored so many goals for our team". Oblemenco's final club was FCM Galaţi, where he retired in 1978. One of his biggest regrets was not playing for the national team.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, he worked as assistant coach for Universitatea Craiova under Valentin Stănescu, together they managed to win the league title in the 1979–80 season, this was their second title in the history of the club. Oblemenco was then appointed as head coach. Nonetheless, he continued to enjoy success, winning the Romanian Cup and the championship in 1980–81 and also reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1982. He also managed Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea, Olt Scorniceşti and Hassania Agadir in Morocco.
