Dumitru Copil

Dumitru Copil

Personal information
Full name	Dumitru Alexandru Copil
Date of birth	4 March 1990 (1990-03-04) (age 21)
Place of birth	Arad, Romania
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	UTA Arad
Number	10
Youth career
	CS Atletico Arad
	Luceafărul Bucharesti
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2009	Heart of Midlothian	0	(0)
2009–	Gloria Arad	?	(?)
2009–2010	→ UTA Arad (loan)	6	(1)
2010–	→ FC Bihor (loan)	?	(?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:59, 18 June 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Dumitru Alexandru Copil (born 4 March 1990) is a Romanian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for FC Bihor.

Career

Early career

Copil began his career at Atletico Arad, and spent time at the Luceafărul Bucharesti development centre. He came to prominence in December 2006, when it was reported that Liverpool and Celtic were interested in signing him.^[1] He was described in the press as "the new Hagi".^[2]

Heart of Midlothian

Heart of Midlothian won the race to sign Copil, paying a fee in the region of £125,000^[3] to secure him to a two-year deal with a further five-year option.^[4] His parents were flown over from Arad to Edinburgh to accompany him.

In November 2007 the magazine World Soccer named Copil among the top 50 young footballers in the world.^[3][5] However, he was unable to break into Hearts' first-team and went AWOL in March 2008, returning to Arad after being substituted in a Youth Cup tie.^[6]

He was persuaded to return, but told to stay away until pre-season training began in June 2008. The Lithuanian owners of the club suspected that he was only coming back in order to be paid over the summer break.^[7] Copil's homesickness and frustration at his absence of first-team football continued in 2008–09, with Hearts' manager Stephen Frail stating that he was not yet good enough to play in the SPL.^[8]

Copil left Hearts in January 2009 at the culmination of his initial two-year deal. Hearts had reneged on the five-year option, but offered a one-year extension which they claimed entitled them to a transfer fee when he moved on.^[9]

Return to Romania

While AWOL from Hearts, Copil had announced his intention to train with Dinamo Bucharest,^[6] but he rejoined Atletico Arad on transfer deadline day.^[10][11] After playing in the first round of the 2009–10 Cupa României for Gloria Arad,^[12] he joined UTA Arad on loan.^[13]

In June 2010 he was linked with a move to Swindon Town.^[13] Swindon distanced themselves from the move, revealing that Copil had been on a week's trial with them in March 2010, but they could not get clearance to play him in the reserves.^[14]

International career

Copil has represented Romania at U-17 level.^[15]

References

1. ^ "Hearts could beat Celtic to Copil". BBC Sport. 2006-12-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/6202787.stm. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
2. ^ Hugh Keevins (2006-12-22). "Football: POVERTY TO PARADISE; EXCLUSIVE ROMANIAN WONDERKID SET TO COMPLETE RAGS-TO-RICHES MOVE". Daily Record. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football:+POVERTY+TO+PARADISE%3B+EXCLUSIVE+ROMANIAN+WONDERKID+SET+TO...-a0156242789. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Nick Bidwell (November 2007). Hagi comparisons for Hearts youngster. World Soccer. p. 43. http://issuu.com/kerex/docs/wsoccer.nov2007. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
4. ^ "Hearts confirm Romanian signing". BBC Sport. 2007-01-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6233813.stm. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
5. ^ Cristian IONIÞÃ (2007-11-20). "Fotbal: Dumitru Copil printre cei mai buni 50 de tineri fotbalisti ai lumii" (in Romanian). Infonews.ro. http://uefa.infonews.ro/article88088.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Barry Anderson (2008-04-03). "Copil's heart set on switch to Bucharest". Evening News. p. 47. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-16255023.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
7. ^ Chris Burton (2008-06-21). "Copil returns from Hearts exile". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11781_3719396,00.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
8. ^ "Dumitru still has chance". Sunday Mail. 2008-03-30. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dumitru+still+has+chance.-a0177237833. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
9. ^ "Article: Hearts seek transfer fee as Copil heads home to Romania". The Scotsman. 2009-01-16. p. 65. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19760015.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
10. ^ Stuart Bathgate (2009-02-03). "Berra joins Wolves for GBP 2.3million and targets playing in top flight". The Scotsman. p. 70. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19835367.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
11. ^ "Copil returns to Atletico Arad". Heart of Midlothian FC. 2009-02-02. http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20090202/copil-returns-to-atletico-arad_2241384_1542179. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
12. ^ "Gloria Arad – Naţional Sebiş 5-2" (in Romanian). glsa.ro. 2009-07-16. http://www.glsa.ro/sport/fotbal/47147-gloria_arad_national_sebis.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. ^{[dead link]}
13. ^ ^{a b} "Dumitru Copil s-a înteles cu Swindon Town!" (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 2010-06-05. http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-extern/stranieri/dumitru-copil-s-a-inteles-cu-swindon-town-6291651. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
14. ^ Anthony Marshall (2010-06-08). "Irish striker coming to Town". The Swindon Advertiser. http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/8206192.Irish_striker_coming_to_Town/?action=complain&cid=8557064. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
15. ^ "Romania 1-1 Iceland". UEFA. 2006-09-25. http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/fixturesresults/round=2246/match=82225/report=ev.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 

External links

• Soccerway profile
• UTA Arad website profile
• Playerhistory.com
• Profile at londonhearts.com

Romanian football portal

Persondata
Name	Copil, Dumitru
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	4 March 1990
Place of birth	Arad, Romania
Date of death
Place of death