Adrian Patulea

Infobox Football biography
playername = Adrian Pătulea


fullname = Adrian Marian Pătulea
height =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|11|10|df=y
cityofbirth = Targoviste
countryofbirth = Romania
currentclub = Lincoln City
clubnumber = 23
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs = Rapid Bucharest
years =
-2006
2006-2008
2008-
clubs = Rapid Bucharest
Astra Ploieşti
Petrolul Ploieşti
Lincoln City
caps(goals) =
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 20:32, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Adrian Pătulea is a Romanian football striker, currently playing for English Football League Two team Lincoln City.

He made headlines around the world when it was revealed that he was seen at Lincoln City's training ground running around the field with his wife on his back. [http://www.examiner.co.uk/huddersfield-town-fc/town-gossip/2008/07/21/jacko-s-bizarre-romanian-training-methods-86081-21376325/] He previously played for Rapid Bucharest, Astra Ploieşti and Petrolul Ploieşti in his native Romania. He spent some time in Dubai with Al Hamriya where he linked up with his former Astra coach Petre Gigiu [cite web
url=http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-2/patulea-face-senzatie-in-anglia-2803285
title=Pătulea face senzaţie în Anglia!
publisher=ProSport.ro
date=22 July,2008
accessdate=2008-09-07] before moving to the UK.

In February 2008 he trained with Burgess Hill Town [cite web
url=http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2008/2/3/250159.html
title=Hillians need international clearance for Romanian striker
publisher=The Argus
date=3 February, 2008
accessdate=2008-09-09] but problems with his international clearance curtailed any move. He began the 2008-09 pre-season with Boston United, playing in their 2-0 friendly victory at Shirebrook Town on 12 July, 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.bufc.co.uk/article/1949831/Pre-season-off-to-winning-start
title=Pre-season off to winning start
publisher=Boston United F.C. Official Web-site
date=12 July, 2008
accessdate=2008-09-09] He then arrived at Lincoln City and requested a trial. City manager Peter Jackson's resistance was broken by the player's bizarre training ground routine and Patulea then spent six weeks training with the first team squad. During this time, he scored a second-half hat-trick against local rivals Lincoln United and appeared to have won the hearts of Lincoln supporters. It then became apparent that Patulea's former club, Petrolul Ploieşti, held his registration and his switch to Sincil Bank looked to be over when his parent club demanded a large fee from City.

City eventually managed to negotiate a deal for Patulea, and he signed for the club on 29 August 2008. His international clearance documents did not come through in time for him to play in the derby with Grimsby Town, but he scored his first League goal on his debut for Lincoln City, coming off the bench to score a goal in the Imps' 2-0 win over Barnet. Patuela then went on to make his second appearance from the bench in the Lincolns away defeat against Bury, before the popular frontman started his first game of the season away at Brentford, taking just 30 minutes to notch his second goal in a City shirt. Adrian then scored again in the 57 minute in the 2-0 win over Chester.

References

External links

*soccerbase|49889|Adrian Pătulea
* [http://www.redimps.com/archive3/index.mv?cat=players&drop=playerdetsdrop&play=patu01 Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive Profile]
* [http://www.theimp.lincolnfans.co.uk/strike2.shtml Unofficial Adrian Patulea profile] at [http://www.theimp.lincolnfans.co.uk The Forgotten Imp]