Artur Ioniță Explained

Artur Ioniță
Birth Date:1990 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Chișinău, SSR Moldova, Soviet Union
Height:1.82m
Currentclub:Lecco
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1997–2007
Youthclubs1:Zimbru Chișinău
Years1:2007
Clubs1:Zimbru Chișinău
Caps1:3
Goals1:1
Years2:2008–2009
Clubs2:Iskra-Stal Rîbnița
Caps2:41
Goals2:11
Years3:2009–2014
Clubs3:Aarau
Caps3:142
Goals3:16
Years4:2014–2016
Clubs4:Hellas Verona
Caps4:49
Goals4:6
Years5:2016–2020
Clubs5:Cagliari
Caps5:132
Goals5:6
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Benevento
Caps6:78
Goals6:4
Years7:2022–2024
Clubs7:Pisa
Caps7:16
Goals7:1
Years8:2023
Clubs8:Modena (loan)
Caps8:10
Goals8:0
Years9:2023–2024
Clubs9:Lecco (loan)
Caps9:36
Goals9:4
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:Lecco
Caps10:4
Goals10:1
Nationalyears1:2009–2012
Nationalteam1:Moldova U21
Nationalcaps1:22
Nationalgoals1:5
Nationalyears2:2009–
Nationalteam2:Moldova
Nationalcaps2:75
Nationalgoals2:5
Club-Update:30 October 2024
Nationalteam-Update:15 October 2024

Artur Ioniță (pronounced as /ro/; born 17 August 1990) is a Moldovan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie C club Lecco and the Moldova national team.

Club career

Artur Ioniță made his professional debut at the Moldovan Divizia Națională club Zimbru Chișinău in 2007. In the 2008–09 season he played for FC Iskra-Stal Rîbniţa.

From 2009 to 2014 he played for the Swiss team FC Aarau, with which he transferred from the Swiss Challenge League to the Swiss Super League.

Ioniță was then transferred to Italian Serie A club Hellas Verona in July 2014 on a free transfer.[1] He made his début against Atalanta, as a substitute for Mounir Obbadi. At Hellas Verona, Ioniță became teammates with one of his idols Rafael Márquez.[2]

Ioniță scored his first goal for Hellas during his second appearance for the club, as a substitute in the second half of the match and securing a goal against Torino F.C. on the 65th minute giving his team a 1–0 win. This made him the first Moldovan footballer to score a goal in Serie A.

He scored his second goal for Hellas Verona in a game against Genoa, playing the full 90 minutes of the game; also providing an assist for Panagiotis Tachtsidis on the 52nd minute.

After an impressive 2015–16 season in Serie A in which he scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists in 31 matches, Ioniță was targeted by Juventus, Napoli and Swansea.[3] [4]

In July 2016, Ioniță transferred to newly promoted Serie A club, Cagliari.[5]

On 20 August 2020, Ioniță signed a contract with Benevento ahead of their return to Serie A.[6]

On 11 August 2022, Ioniță moved to Pisa on a two-year contract.[7] On 31 January 2023, he was loaned to Modena.[8] On 1 September 2023, Ioniță joined Lecco on loan with an option to buy.[9] After being a free agent for two months, he signed a new contract with Lecco on 30 September 2024.[10]

International career

Ioniță made his debut appearance for Moldova in 2009, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Switzerland. Moldova lost the match 0–2. He scored his first international goal during a 5–2 win in Podgorica against Montenegro and then scored again in a 1–1 draw at home to Lithuania.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zimbru Chișinău2007–08Moldovan National Division3030
Iskra-Stal2008–094111004111
Aarau2009–10Swiss Super League8080
2010–11Swiss Challenge League250250
2011–122740020294
2012–1335521376
2013–14Swiss Super League34620366
Total12915412013516
Hellas Verona2014–15Serie A18210192
2015–1631410354
Total49620546
Cagliari2016–17Serie A18310193
2017–1813010140
2018–1937320393
2019–2034030370
Total1026701096
Benevento2020–21Serie A36210372
2021–22Serie B39220412
Total75430784
Pisa2022–23Serie B16100161
Modena (loan)2022–23Serie B100100
Lecco (loan)2023–24Serie B36400364
Lecco2024–25Serie C100010
Total37400374
Career totals449471512046948

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Moldova200910
201392
201480
201510
201650
201750
201871
201990
202080
202180
202260
202472
Total745

Scores and results list Moldova's goal tally first.

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 15 October 2013 4–1 5–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 2013 1–1 1–1 Friendly
3. 27 March 2018 Stade Pierre Brisson, Beauvais, France align=center 1–2 align=center 1–2 Friendly
4. 26 March 2024 Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey align=center 2–0 align=center 4–0 Friendly
5. 10 October 2024 Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova align=center 1–0 align=center 2–0 2024–25 UEFA Nations League

Honours

Aarau

2012–13

Individual

2014,[11] 2019[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ufficiale: Artur Ionita in gialloblù da luglio. 12 February 2014. 30 June 2014. Hellas Verona F.C.. it. 11 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190911140744/https://www.hellasverona.it/news.php?id=22776. dead.
  2. http://www.publika.md/internationalul-moldovean-artur-ionita-s-a-ales-cu-un-coleg-celebru-la-verona_2040331.html/ Internaţionalul moldovean Artur Ioniţă s-a ales cu un coleg celebru la Verona
  3. http://m.calciomercato.com/en/news/juventus-rival-napoli-for-e8m-verona-midfielder-938050/ Juventus rival Napoli for €8m Verona midfielder
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624120043/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-city-linked-verona-midfielder-11505511 Swansea City linked with Verona midfielder Artur Ionita – but face serious competition
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20160703183912/http://www.cagliarinews24.com/chi-e-artur-ionita-nuovo-centrocampista-del-cagliari-17608.html Chi è Artur Ionita, nuovo centrocampista del Cagliari
  6. Web site: 2020-08-20. Artur Ionita è un giocatore del Benevento. 2020-08-20. Benevento Calcio. it.
  7. Web site: Pisa. Artur Ionita è Nerazzurro. 11 August 2022. 16 August 2022. it.
  8. Web site: Modena. CALCIOMERCATO: ARTUR IONITA È GIALLOBLÙ. 31 January 2023. 31 January 2023. it.
  9. Web site: Lecco. Ufficiale: arriva Artur Ionita a titolo temporaneo. Official: Artur Ionita arrives on a temporary basis. 1 September 2023. 2 September 2023. it.
  10. Web site: Artur Ioniță a semnat cu Lecco . . Romanian . 30 September 2024.
  11. http://fmf.md/ro/news/read/gala_2014_live Artur Ionița – cel mai bun în 2014 (video)
  12. Web site: Gala Fotbalului 2019: Cine sunt cei mai buni jucători din Moldova . stiri.md . 11 December 2022.