Zsolt Szilágyi (footballer) explained

Zsolt Loránt Szilágyi (born 29 June 1981) is a Romanian former footballer who played as a defender, spending his entire career at Universitatea Cluj. He was a fan favorite at The Red Caps for fidelity proven in time, being nicknamed Unicul căpitan (en|The only captain).^{[1] [2] [3]}

Playing career

Zsolt Szilágyi was born on 29 June 1981 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, starting to play football in 1991 at age 10 at the junior center of local club, Universitatea.^{[2] [3]} He made his Divizia A debut on 28 May 1999 under coach Tiberiu Poraczky in a 6–0 away loss in front of FC Onești, that being his only appearance of the season, the team relegating by the end of it.^{[4] [5]} In the following season he played again only in one game as the team relegated once more, but Szilágyi stayed with the club in Divizia C, helping it promote back to Divizia B football after one season.^[3] In the following years he started to play more often until in 2005 when during a game with Unirea Dej he suffered an injury at the cruciate ligaments of the right leg.^{[3] [6]} Because of that injury he suffered three operations which kept him off the field for about three years, a period in which "U" Cluj promoted to the first league but relegated after only one year without him being able to help the team.^{[3] [6] [7]} From 2008, he started to play again for The Red Caps, helping them promote to the first league in 2010.^[1] He scored his first Liga I goal on 10 October 2010 in a 2–2 with Politehnica Timișoara, afterwards at a training session in December he suffered another torn cruciate ligament, this time at the left knee, being out of the field for about one year and a half.^{[7] [8]} In 2012, he started to play again for "U" Cluj, scoring two more Liga I goals, first in a 1–0 win over Gloria Bistrița and the second in a 1–1 with Săgeata Năvodari.^[9] Szilágyi's last Liga I game took place on 25 October 2013 in a 2–0 away loss in front of FC Vaslui, having a total of 37 games with three goals scored in the competition.^[4]

Coaching career

Zsolt Szilágyi worked as an assistant for "U" Cluj on two occasions in 2015 and from 2016 until 2017, also in between these two spells, he was also the team's head coach for a short period while they were in the second league.^[2]

Honours

Universitatea Cluj

• Divizia C

2000–01

See also

• List of one-club men in association football

Notes and References

1. Web site: Zsolt Szilagyi, "unicul căpitan":"E momentul să fim mai uniţi ca niciodată". Adevarul.ro. Romanian . Zsolt Szilagyi, "the only captain":"It's time to be more united than ever". 29 June 2010 . 16 April 2021.
2. Web site: Au trecut 5 ani de la retragerea "Unicului Căpitan", Zsolt Szilágyi – jucătorul care nu a întors niciodată spatele Universității Cluj!. Sportulclujean.ro. Romanian . 5 years have passed since the retirement of "The Only Captain", Zsolt Szilágyi – the player who never turned his back on the Universitatea Cluj!. 29 June 2010 . 16 April 2021.
3. Web site: Szilagy, Maldini de România "Nu îmi imaginez viața fără U". Prosport.ro. Romanian . Szilagy, Maldini from Romania "I can't imagine my life without U". 16 November 2010 . 3 March 2024.
4. Web site: Zsolt Szilagyi profile. 4everucluj.ro. Romanian.
5. Web site: Universitatea Cluj 1998–99 season. 4everucluj.ro. Romanian.
6. Web site: Revine căpitanul. Gsp.ro. Romanian . The captain returns. 10 September 2008 . 16 April 2021.
7. Web site: INTERVIU: S-a terminat calvarul: "Sisi" își anunță revenirea!. Zcj.ro. Romanian . INTERVIEW: The ordeal is over: "Sisi" announces his return!. 7 June 2011 . 3 March 2024.
8. Web site: Contra, primul meci fără victorie în Liga I ca antrenor: Poli - U Cluj 2-2!. Gsp.ro. Romanian . On the other hand, the first match without a win in Liga I as a coach: Poli - U Cluj 2-2!. 22 October 2010. 3 March 2024.
   Web site: Szilagyi BLESTEMAT! Ratează tot sezonul din cauza unei accidentări la un antrenament. Prosport.ro. Romanian . Szilagyi DAMNED! He misses the entire season due to an injury in practice. 3 December 2010 . 3 March 2024.
   Web site: Revine căpitanul. Gsp.ro. Romanian . The captain returns. 10 September 2008 . 16 April 2021.
   Web site: Deși e accidentat, lui Szilagyi i-a fost prelungit angajamentul. Gsp.ro. Romanian . Although injured, Szilagyi's contract has been extended. 27 April 2011. 16 April 2021.
9. Web site: "U" Cluj – Gloria Bistrița 1-0 Gol Szilagyi, bare și ratări uriașe!. Digisport.ro. Romanian . "U" Cluj – Gloria Bistrița 1-0 Szilagyi goal, bars and huge misses!. 29 July 2012. 3 March 2024.
   Web site: U Cluj - Săgeata 1-1. Ardelenii rămîn fără succes în Liga 1 după 9 etape. Gsp.ro. Romanian . U Cluj - Săgeata 1-1. Transylvania remain without success in Liga 1 after 9 stages. 27 September 2013 . 3 March 2024.