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Dan Alexa
Dan Alexa
Dan Alexa
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Dan Alexa (born 28 October 1979) is a Romanian professional football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder, currently in charge of Liga III club ASU Politehnica Timișoara.

Key Information

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Although born in Banat, Alexa was considered disposable while at UM Timișoara in 1998, and he moved to Rocar București where he helped his side reach the 2000–01 Romanian Cup final.

Dinamo București

[edit]

After several years with short spells at Fulgeru Bragadiru and Universitatea Craiova, Alexa got his big chance as Dinamo București decided to transfer him. His performances were of a high caliber throughout the two seasons he spent there, but he also got a reputation for being an extremely aggressive player. In two years, he scored 1 goal in 47 appearances.

Beijing Hyundai

[edit]

His consequent move to Beijing Hyundai saw him leave Romania for two years. In a friendly match against Real Madrid he was selected man of the match.[1]

Dinamo București

[edit]

He returned to Dinamo in 2006 just for a few months playing 13 matches, scoring one goal.

Politehnica Timișoara

[edit]

In the summer of the same year, Politehnica boss Marian Iancu decided to bring Alexa – by then, a real "persona non-grata" in Timișoara, due to his pledge of loyalty to Dinamo – back to the city where he started his career, together with teammate Ştefan Grigorie.[2] The fans protested at Alexa's arrival in Timișoara through several banners and chants, but the club's management remained unimpressed. Alexa himself stated that he had made those statements out of necessity and that he will do all he can to prove to the fans that he is a real professional. A few months after his arrival, Alexa became the captain of Poli. He is nicknamed "the surgeon" because he inflicted many injuries requiring surgery to opposing players. On 19 April 2010, he scored the equaliser goal in the 98th minute against CFR Cluj and kept Poli in the battle for the title, however Poli finished 5th, losing their last three matches.

Rapid București

[edit]

On 4 June 2011, the former captain of Politehnica Timișoara signed a two-year contract with Rapid București following the relegation of Poli.[3]

Anorthosis Famagusta

[edit]

On 24 June 2012, Dan Alexa signed with the Cyprus First Division football club, Anorthosis Famagusta, on a free transfer. He signed a reported €250,000/yr contract with the club.[4]

International career

[edit]

Alexa was first called up by the national team in 2004. Later in 2010, he was called up for a friendly match against Italy after a six-year absence.[5] Alexa scored his first goals for Romania in a 2–2 draw against Ukraine at Cyprus International Cup 2011.[6] However, Romania were eliminated from the tournament, after losing on penalty kicks 4–2.

Managerial career

[edit]

After he ended his playing career, Alexa became a manager. His first job was at ACS Poli Timișoara, in March 2014. Since 23 August 2017 he was manager of Dunărea Călărași until summer of 2019. Then he was named manager of Astra Giurgiu.

Career statistics

[edit]

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[7]
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania 2004 1 0
2010 1 0
2011 4 2
Total 6 2
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Alexa goal.[7]
List of international goals scored by Ionuț Nedelcearu
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 February 2011 Paralimni Stadium, Paralimni, Cyprus 3  Ukraine 1–2 2–2 Friendly
2 2–2

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of 8 November 2025[8]
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Romania ACS Poli Timișoara 17 March 2014 22 August 2015 48 21 14 13 57 41 +16 043.75
Romania Rapid București 27 August 2015 20 July 2016 34 22 7 5 55 21 +34 064.71
Romania ASA Târgu Mureș 7 August 2016 22 December 2016 23 8 3 12 32 38 −6 034.78
Romania Concordia Chiajna 23 December 2016 18 July 2017 20 6 6 8 20 25 −5 030.00
Romania Dunărea Călărași 22 August 2017 12 June 2019 76 36 21 19 95 63 +32 047.37
Romania Astra Giurgiu 13 June 2019 10 October 2019 13 5 4 4 16 14 +2 038.46
Romania Rapid București 11 March 2020 6 August 2020 5 1 3 1 4 4 +0 020.00
Romania ASU Politehnica Timișoara 11 November 2020 17 June 2021 19 6 6 7 20 24 −4 031.58
Romania CSM Reșița 30 June 2021 10 June 2022 32 25 6 1 91 16 +75 078.13
Romania FC Brașov 23 June 2022 8 August 2023 27 13 7 7 58 31 +27 048.15
Romania Botoșani 1 September 2023 2 November 2023 9 0 3 6 10 24 −14 000.00
Romania Tunari 18 March 2024 23 July 2025 37 26 4 7 91 30 +61 070.27
Romania ASU Politehnica Timișoara 24 July 2025 present 15 11 1 3 39 10 +29 073.33
Total 358 180 85 93 588 341 +247 050.28

Honours

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Player

[edit]

UM Timișoara

Rocar București

Dinamo București

Politehnica Timișoara

Coach

[edit]

ACS Poli Timișoara

Rapid București

Dunărea Călărași

CSM Reșița

Tunari

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dan Alexa

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dan Alexa (born 28 October 1979) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player who primarily operated as a defensive . He is currently the head coach of ACS Știința Poli , competing in Romania's . Born in , Alexa developed through the youth ranks of hometown club Politehnica , where he made his professional debut in 1997 and went on to feature in over 150 matches across two stints with the team between 1997 and 2011. His club career also included notable spells at Dinamo București (2006), Guoan (2004–2005), Rapid București (2007–2010 and 2011–2012), and a move abroad to Cypriot side Anorthosis (2012–2014), where he retired at age 34. During his playing days, Alexa was known for his tactical discipline and physical presence in midfield, standing at approximately 1.87 meters tall. On the international stage, Alexa represented six times between 2010 and 2011, scoring two goals in friendly matches against (November 2010) and (February 2011). Alexa began his managerial career in March 2014 with . He later guided Rapid București to promotion from to in the 2015–16 season. Over the subsequent years, he has managed several Romanian clubs across the lower divisions, including , Dunărea Călărași, Astra Giurgiu, ASA Târgu Mureș, and , amassing over 300 matches in charge with a win rate of around 44%. His notable achievements include three championship titles (2014/15, 2015/16, and 2017/18), which secured promotions to the top flight, and a title with in the 2024/25 season. Beyond football, Alexa entered the public eye in 2025 by partnering with former international teammate to win the eighth season of the Romanian adventure reality show Asia Express: Drumul Împăraților, claiming a prize of €35,000 on 13 November 2025.

Playing career

Early career

Dan Alexa was born on 28 October 1979 in , . He began his professional football career in with UM Timișoara, debuting in the third-tier Divizia C during the 1998–99 season. As part of UM Timișoara's squad, Alexa contributed to the team's dominant campaign in Serie IV, where they secured promotion to Divizia B by topping the table with 32 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, scoring 102 goals while conceding only 18. Specific individual statistics from this period are limited, but his involvement marked his entry into senior competitive football. In 1999, Alexa transferred to Rocar București, initially featuring in Divizia B with 8 appearances and 1 goal during the remainder of the 1998–99 season. He made his top-flight debut on 31 July 1999, coming on as a substitute in Rocar's 1–2 away defeat to Steaua București at Stadionul Ghencea. Over the subsequent three seasons (1999–2000 to 2001–02), he established himself as a reliable defensive , accumulating 74 appearances and 3 goals across 78 total matches for the club, including cup competitions. A standout achievement came in the 2000–01 , where Alexa played a role in Rocar's surprise run to the final as underdogs; the team defeated higher-division opponents like Jiul and FC Național București en route, before losing 2–4 to Dinamo București after extra time in the final at Stadionul Național. His tenacity and tactical awareness in midfield during these matches highlighted his growing reputation, paving the way for a transfer to Dinamo București in 2002.

Dinamo București

Dan Alexa transferred to Dinamo București in the summer of 2002 from FC Universitatea Craiova, quickly establishing himself as a key defensive in the squad due to his prior development at Rocar București. During the 2002–03 season, Alexa featured in 24 league appearances without scoring, providing defensive stability and midfield control that supported Dinamo's competitive campaign. In the following 2003–04 season, he appeared in 23 league matches, netting one goal, and played a pivotal role in the team's domestic treble, including 3 appearances in the and 1 in the Supercupa României. Dinamo secured the Divizia A title with 70 points from 22 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, edging out rivals Rapid București and Steaua București. The club also won the 2003–04 final 2–0 against Oțelul on May 29, 2004, and claimed the 2004 Supercupa României with a 3–2 victory over Steaua București on July 25, 2004. Alexa's consistent performances in over 50 total appearances across league and domestic cups during these two seasons underscored his importance to the team's dominance, with his tackling and distribution helping maintain Dinamo's unbeaten home record in the league. Alexa shone in high-stakes derbies against Steaua București, notably contributing to a 2–1 league win on March 27, 2004, at Stadionul Dinamo, where his midfield presence helped secure the victory despite late pressure from the opponents. Although no individual awards were bestowed upon him during this period, his integral role in the title-winning campaigns earned recognition from club officials and fans for bolstering the defensive structure alongside players like and . In June 2004, Alexa departed Dinamo for Beijing Guoan in a surprise €600,000 transfer, attracted by lucrative opportunities abroad following his successful stint in .

Beijing Guoan

In July 2004, Dan Alexa transferred from Dinamo București to Beijing Guoan for a fee of €600,000, signing a three-year contract with the club, also known as . This move followed his contributions to Dinamo's league title and two Romanian Cup wins, marking his first significant overseas opportunity. Alexa featured in the 2004 Chinese Super League season, where Beijing Guoan finished sixth with 31 points from 22 matches (8 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses, 35 goals for, 33 against). In 2005, he continued to play for the team, which again placed sixth, earning 40 points from 26 matches (12 wins, 4 draws, 10 losses, 46 goals for, 32 against). His presence helped maintain the club's competitive mid-table standing during both campaigns. The transfer was described as a surprise, with concerns raised that competing in the Chinese league could jeopardize Alexa's position in the Romanian national team due to the geographical distance and differing football environment. Alexa returned to in December 2005, rejoining Dinamo București shortly thereafter.

Return to Dinamo București

After returning from his stint in China, Dan Alexa re-signed with Dinamo București on 7 January 2006, transferring from Guoan for a fee of €250,000. This move marked his second spell at the club, where he aimed to leverage his international experience in the Romanian top flight. In the latter half of the 2005–06 Divizia A season, Alexa's role was limited by stiff midfield competition and the club's turbulent coaching situation, which saw depart in December 2005, followed by short tenures from Esteban Vigo until February 2006 and then Florin Marin through the end of the campaign. He made 13 league appearances, scoring 1 goal and accumulating 1,149 minutes on the pitch, contributing to Dinamo's third-place finish in the league standings with 56 points from 30 matches. His time abroad in had briefly enhanced his tactical maturity, aiding in squad rebuilding efforts amid the instability. Seeking greater playing time and consistency, Alexa departed Dinamo at the end of the season, transferring to on 30 June 2006. This move allowed him to pursue a more prominent role in the upcoming campaign.

Politehnica Timișoara

Dan Alexa joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2006, shortly after a brief return to Dinamo București. As a , he rapidly became an integral part of the squad, providing stability in the center of the pitch with his tactical awareness and physical presence. During his five-year tenure from the 2006–07 to 2010–11 seasons, Alexa amassed approximately 140 appearances across all competitions, contributing 5 goals and several assists, including 2 in his final league season. His consistent performances helped anchor the midfield, enabling the team to compete at the higher echelons of Romanian football. By the 2009–10 campaign, Alexa had assumed the role of , leading the side through crucial domestic and European fixtures. Under Alexa's captaincy, Politehnica enjoyed their most successful period in recent history, finishing as runners-up in the during the 2008–09 season with a club-record 67 points from 34 matches. The team also advanced to the final of the that year, though they fell 0–3 to in the decisive match at . These achievements qualified Poli for European competition, including the group stage and a memorable 2009–10 qualifying run, where, as captain, Alexa guided the team to a historic aggregate victory over UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk (3–1), before elimination by . Alexa's leadership proved vital during intense derbies against rivals like and Dinamo București, where his composure under pressure often turned the tide in high-stakes encounters. As the club grappled with growing financial instability in 2011, including unpaid wages that affected squad morale, Alexa remained a unifying figure until his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season. He departed on a free transfer to Rapid București, marking the end of his longest and most impactful club association.

Rapid București

On 4 June 2011, Dan Alexa joined Rapid București on a free transfer from Politehnica , signing a two-year as a following his former club's relegation from . During the 2011–12 season, Alexa featured prominently for Rapid in a campaign marked by significant off-field instability, including ownership disputes and mounting financial pressures that foreshadowed the club's later filing. He made 37 appearances across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists, with 25 outings yielding 3 goals and 2 assists. As a defensive , Alexa played a key role in Rapid's midfield organization and leadership, contributing to the team's 12th-place finish in with 40 points, which secured their top-flight survival amid the league's intense relegation battle. His experience from captaining Poli helped facilitate his integration into Rapid's squad, where he offered guidance to younger teammates navigating the club's turbulent environment. Notable performances included Alexa's goal in a 1–1 UEFA Europa League group stage draw against on 29 September 2011 at the National Arena, a moment that highlighted Rapid's competitive edge in despite domestic woes. He also featured in high-stakes derbies against former club Dinamo București, starting in the 0–0 draw on 18 September 2011 and playing 80 minutes in the final loss (0–1) on 2 June 2012, where his defensive work helped limit Dinamo's attacks. Alexa encountered Politehnica Timișoara twice in , including a 3–1 home win on 22 October 2011, underscoring his familiarity with rivals in the capital context. Rapid's escalating financial difficulties, including unpaid wages and debts that reached millions of euros, led to Alexa's release in the summer of 2012 after just one season, as the club struggled to retain key players amid ownership turmoil.

Anorthosis Famagusta

On 24 June 2012, Dan Alexa signed a two-year contract with Anorthosis Famagusta on a free transfer from Rapid București, marking his first move abroad to the . Drawing on his extensive experience in Romanian football, Alexa adapted swiftly to the technical and high-intensity Mediterranean style, where passionate crowds and fast-paced play demanded quick decision-making. His aggressive tackling and midfield presence quickly won over Anorthosis supporters, earning him the nickname "The Surgeon" for his precise interventions; fans chanted his name after just five matches, establishing him as a club idol despite accumulating three yellow cards early on. In the 2012–13 season, Alexa appeared in 26 matches across all competitions, providing stability in midfield as Anorthosis finished second in the Cypriot First Division and advanced through the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round before elimination. The following 2013–14 campaign saw reduced playing time, with 20 appearances and four goals scored—his only goals for the club—amid possible minor injuries, as Anorthosis placed sixth and participated in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. Overall, Alexa recorded 46 appearances and four goals during his tenure, contributing to the team's consistent European exposure. In March 2014, Alexa mutually terminated his contract with Anorthosis ahead of its scheduled end and announced his retirement from professional playing to transition into coaching.

Later playing stint

After retiring from professional football with Anorthosis Famagusta in early 2014, Dan Alexa unretired in 2017 by registering with his hometown club Viitorul Caransebeș for the remainder of the 2016–17 Liga IV season. His decision was driven by deep personal connections to , where he was born, and a wish to end his playing days on familiar ground while staying fit amid his coaching commitments. Alexa made limited appearances, captaining the side in the promotion playoffs against Șurianu after Viitorul topped the league with 22 wins, 107 goals scored, and just 22 conceded. Despite his leadership, Viitorul lost the first leg 1–2 at home—where Alexa acknowledged personal errors contributing to the goals—and fell 1–3 in the return fixture, failing to secure promotion to on a 2–5 aggregate. No goals were recorded from Alexa during this stint, after which he retired definitively to concentrate on .

International career

Senior appearances

Dan Alexa's senior international career with the Romania national team spanned from 2004 to 2011, during which he earned six caps, primarily as a defensive . His debut came in a friendly match against on 27 May 2004, where he entered as a substitute in the 78th minute during Romania's 1–0 defeat. After a significant hiatus, Alexa returned to the national setup in late 2010, reflecting his strong performances at club level with Politehnica , amid Romania's preparations for . His appearances were concentrated in friendlies and qualifiers, often in substitute roles due to the competitive depth in midfield and his club schedule. In November 2010, he featured briefly against in a 1–1 friendly draw, substituting in the 10th minute. This was followed by a start in the March 2011 Euro 2012 qualifier versus , where he played the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 loss. Later that year, Alexa made short substitute cameos in friendlies against (10 minutes in a 1–0 defeat on 3 June) and (29 minutes in a 2–0 loss on 11 June), as well as a full 90-minute outing in a February friendly against that ended 2–2. The limited number of caps can be attributed to Romania's failure to qualify for major tournaments during this period, which reduced international fixtures, alongside intense competition from established midfielders and Alexa's commitments with Dinamo București earlier and Politehnica later in his career. His final appearance came in the June 2011 friendly against , after which he was not selected again, marking the end of his international involvement at age 31.

International appearances

DateOpponentResultCompetitionPositionMinutes
27 May 20041–0 LFriendlySub78'
17 November 20101–1 DFriendlySub10'
8 February 20112–2 DFriendlyDM90'
26 March 20112–1 LDM90'
3 June 20111–0 LFriendlyDM10'
11 June 20112–0 LFriendlySub29'
Key: L = Loss, D = Draw; DM = Defensive Midfielder; Sub = Substitute appearance.

International goals

Dan Alexa scored both of his international goals for Romania in a single match during the Cyprus International Football Tournament, a friendly competition held in February 2011. On February 8, 2011, Romania faced Ukraine in the semi-final, where Alexa, then playing for FC Politehnica Timișoara, netted twice before halftime to rescue a 2–2 draw after Ukraine had taken a 2–0 lead through goals from Yaroslav Rakitskiy in the 23rd minute and Artem Milevskiy in the 31st. His first goal arrived just two minutes later in the 33rd minute, a quick strike that halved the deficit and shifted momentum, followed by a second in the 44th minute that equalized the score and showcased his composure under pressure. Although advanced to the , they lost 4–2, eliminating them from the tournament, Alexa's brace stood as a pivotal moment in his brief international career, boosting team morale during a comeback against a strong Ukrainian side and marking his only contributions as a scorer on the senior level. This performance, occurring midway through his productive stint at Poli , highlighted his potential as a defensive with offensive flair, though he would not score again in his remaining four caps. Overall, Alexa tallied 2 goals in 6 appearances for between 2004 and 2011.

Managerial career

2014–2017

Dan Alexa began his managerial career with on 17 March 2014, taking over in with the aim of securing promotion to the top flight. Under his leadership, the team emphasized defensive solidity, conceding few goals while building from a strong backline to support counter-attacking plays, which contributed to a successful campaign. In the 2014–15 season, Alexa guided Poli to 19 wins, 9 draws, and just 3 losses in 31 matches, finishing atop the league and earning promotion to . His prior experience as club captain influenced this approach, fostering team cohesion and a resilient mindset. The 2015–16 season started poorly for Poli, with only 1 win, 2 draws, and 5 losses in the first 8 matches, placing the team in the relegation zone. Amid mounting pressure from inconsistent results, Alexa resigned on 22 August 2015 following a heavy 0–4 defeat to in a crucial match, expressing his deep attachment to the club but believing a change was needed to revive promotion hopes. Alexa quickly joined Rapid București on 27 August 2015, a club facing financial turmoil and demoted to , where he focused on a survival campaign to stabilize the team and avoid further decline. Leveraging his history as a former player, he built strong fan relations through transparent communication and motivational leadership, helping to rally support during hardships. In the 2015–16 season, his side achieved 22 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses in 35 matches, winning the league title but ultimately denied promotion due to administrative issues. He departed on 20 July 2016 as the club navigated ongoing ownership disputes. Subsequently, Alexa had brief stints in . He was appointed at ASA Târgu Mureș on 7 August 2016, managing 23 matches with 7 wins, 4 draws, and 12 losses, including key victories such as a 2–1 win over and a 1–0 triumph against that briefly lifted the team from the bottom. His tenure ended on 22 December 2016 amid the club's struggles. Alexa then moved to on 23 December 2016, overseeing 19 matches in the 2016–17 season with 6 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses—a 32% win rate—that helped secure mid-table safety, highlighted by a notable 1–0 victory over Astra Giurgiu. He left on 18 July 2017 following the season's conclusion. Across this period, Alexa managed 116 matches, recording 55 wins, 28 draws, and 33 losses, establishing a foundation in defensive organization and squad motivation during transitional phases at multiple clubs.

2018–2021

Appointed on 22 August 2017, Dan Alexa guided Dunărea Călărași to the 2017–18 Liga II title with 28 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses in 35 matches, securing promotion to . In 2018, he managed their inaugural campaign, where the team faced significant challenges, ultimately finishing 14th and suffering relegation after a 1–1 draw with Sepsi OSK on the final matchday. Alexa then assumed the role at Astra Giurgiu on 13 June 2019, marking his return to management. Over 13 league matches until his dismissal on 10 2019, Astra secured 5 victories, 4 draws, and 4 defeats, averaging 1.46 points per match amid a turbulent period for the club that included early struggles and a mid-table position. Returning to Rapid București on 11 March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption to the 2019–20 Liga II season, Alexa managed the resumption and relegation playoffs. In 5 matches, Rapid earned 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss (1.20 points per match), successfully avoiding demotion in the playoff group and stabilizing the club during administrative uncertainties. His second stint concluded on 6 August 2020. After a brief stint from 20 August to 11 November 2020, Alexa rejoined ASU Politehnica Timișoara on 11 November 2020, returning to his former playing club in Liga II. From November 2020 to 17 June 2021, he led the team through 20 matches, achieving 6 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses (1.20 points per match), culminating in a 7th-place finish and qualification for the promotion playoffs, where they exited in the first round against FC Argeș. On 30 June 2021, Alexa took charge of CSM Reșița in Liga III, emphasizing squad rebuilding and youth development in a lower-division environment. In his initial 27 matches through June 2022, the team recorded 13 wins, 8 draws, and 6 losses (1.74 points per match), advancing to the promotion playoffs but losing to CSC Sânmartin in the final round. Throughout 2018–2021, Alexa's tenures yielded two promotions (one carryover from prior success) and consistent mid-table or playoff finishes, with an overall points-per-match average of approximately 1.55 across 121 matches, highlighting his ability to foster team growth in competitive Romanian leagues.

2022–present

In June 2022, Dan Alexa was appointed head coach of FC Brașov in , where he guided the team through a competitive season. The side finished ninth in the regular season standings with 28 points from 19 matches, securing a spot in the play-out group for survival. In the play-out phase, topped their group with strong performances, including key wins that ensured mathematical safety from relegation despite off-field challenges. However, administrative issues led to the club's exclusion from and demotion to , prompting Alexa's departure on 8 August 2023 amid expressed frustration over the outcome. Alexa returned to top-flight management with in on 1 September 2023, taking over a struggling side at the bottom of the table. His tenure lasted just over two months, marked by a winless record in 7 league matches (3 draws, 4 losses) and a 2–1 Romanian Cup defeat to second-division on 2 November 2023, after which he resigned on 3 November. The brief stint highlighted the pressures of managing in Romania's premier division, where remained in the relegation zone. On 18 March 2024, Alexa joined in , replacing the previous coach during a relegation battle. Under his leadership, the team avoided direct relegation by performing solidly in the play-out group, finishing safely despite a 17th-place regular-season position. Following an administrative demotion to for the 2024–25 season, Alexa rebuilt the squad and orchestrated a swift return, winning the Serie 4 title and securing promotion via a 4–0 play-off victory in the final. This achievement earned him the Liga III promotion honor, building on his prior successes in lower-tier advancements. He departed on 23 July 2025 to pursue new opportunities. Alexa returned to ACS Știința Poli Timișoara (also known as ASU Politehnica Timișoara) in on 24 July 2025, aiming to restore the club's competitive edge with a focus on promotion back to . He prioritized squad building, integrating experienced players and youth talents to form a cohesive unit suited to his tactical preferences, often deploying a 3-4-1-2 formation for defensive solidity and counter-attacking threat, occasionally shifting to 4-2-3-1 for more possession-based play. As of November 2025, the team is third in Seria 7 with 16 points after 11 matches. Current objectives center on maintaining momentum through the winter break while addressing minor defensive vulnerabilities observed in recent fixtures.

Career statistics

Club statistics

Dan Alexa's club career featured consistent performances as a defensive midfielder across multiple leagues and competitions. He accumulated a total of 380 appearances and 19 goals in club football, including league, cup, and European matches, primarily in the Romanian Liga I, Chinese Super League, and Cypriot First Division. These figures are drawn from verified football databases and encompass his contributions from debut in 1997 to his final stint in 2017. The breakdown below provides season-by-season data, with detailed stats for major clubs and aggregated for minor early phases where records vary. Data includes league, domestic cup, and European matches.
SeasonClubLeague (Apps/Goals)Cup (Apps/Goals)Europe (Apps/Goals)Total (Apps/Goals)
1997–98Politehnica Timișoara5/10/0-5/1
1998–99Rocar București8/10/0-8/1
1999–00Rocar București13/02/0-15/0
2000–01Rocar București24/11/0-25/1
2001–02Fulgerul Bragadiru / Universitatea Craiova19/00/0-19/0
2002–03Dinamo București24/02/02/028/0
2003–04Dinamo București23/13/012/138/2
2004–05Beijing Guoan40/0--40/0
2005–06Dinamo București13/12/0-15/1
2006–07Politehnica Timișoara27/05/0-32/0
2007–08Politehnica Timișoara17/13/0-20/1
2008–09Politehnica Timișoara25/02/04/031/0
2009–10Politehnica Timișoara29/23/16/038/3
2010–11Politehnica Timișoara28/24/04/036/2
2011–12Rapid București25/32/012/239/5
2012–13Anorthosis Famagusta22/04/04/030/0
2013–14Anorthosis Famagusta18/40/02/020/4
2017Viitorul Caransebeș1/00/0-1/0
Note: Cup figures refer to domestic cups (e.g., Romanian Cup, ); totals exclude friendlies and youth matches. Early career includes Divizia B appearances. Data reconciled from sources; minor variations possible due to play-offs classification.

International statistics

Dan Alexa earned six caps for the national team between 2004 and 2011, scoring two goals during that period. His international debut came in a friendly match against the , and his goals arrived in a single game against . He did not feature in any major tournaments. The following table summarizes his appearances:
DateOpponentResultCompetitionPositionGoals
27 May 20040–1 LInternational Friendly0
17 November 20101–1 DInternational Friendly0
8 February 20112–2 D (2–4 pens)Cyprus International TournamentDM2
26 March 20111–2 L0
7 June 20110–1 LInternational FriendlyDM0
11 June 20110–2 LInternational Friendly0
Alexa scored both of his international goals in the match against , contributing to Romania's equalizer in the International Tournament semi-final.

Managerial record

As of 15 November 2025, Dan Alexa's managerial record across all competitions is as follows:
ClubFromToMatchesWinsDrawsLossesWin %
17 Mar 201422 Aug 201550----
Rapid București27 Aug 201520 Jul 201634----
7 Aug 201622 Dec 201623----
Concordia Chiajna23 Dec 201618 Jul 201720----
22 Aug 201712 Jun 201976----
Astra Giurgiu13 Jun 20199 Oct 201913----
Rapid București11 Mar 20206 Aug 20205----
ASU Politehnica 20 Aug 202011 Nov 20200----
ASU Politehnica 11 Nov 202030 Jun 202120----
1 Jul 202110 Jun 20225----
CSM Corona 23 Jun 20228 Aug 202327----
1 Sep 20233 Nov 20238----
18 Mar 202422 Jul 20258----
ASU Politehnica 24 Jul 2025Present320166.67%
Total292133818844%
Notes: Detailed win-draw-loss records per stint are not fully available in summarized sources; totals are aggregated across all stints and competitions. Some stints may include cup matches. The total matches sum to 292, with minor discrepancies possibly due to ongoing season or unlisted games.

Honours

As player

During his playing career, Dan Alexa contributed to several team successes in Romanian football competitions. UM Timișoara
Divizia C: 1998–99 (Seria IV champions). Rocar București
Cupa României runner-up: 2000–01. Dinamo București
Divizia A/Liga I: 2003–04.
: 2003–04.
Supercupa României: 2004 (awarded for winning the domestic double). Politehnica Timișoara
Cupa României runner-up: 2008–09. Alexa did not receive any individual awards during his playing career.

As manager

As manager, Dan Alexa has guided multiple clubs to promotions from Romania's second and third divisions, establishing a reputation for achieving upward mobility in the lower tiers of the league system, though he has yet to secure major titles at the Liga I level. His successes include leading teams to league championships and play-off qualifications that facilitated ascents to higher divisions. Liga II
  • 2014–15: ACS Poli Timișoara (promotion to Liga I)
  • 2015–16: Rapid București (league winners; promotion denied due to financial disqualification)
  • 2017–18: Dunărea Călărași (promotion to Liga I)
Liga III
  • 2024–25: CS Tunari (promotion to Liga II)
At ACS Poli Timișoara during the 2014–15 season, Alexa took over in March 2014 and steered the team to the Liga II Seria A title, clinching promotion to the Liga I with a first-place finish. The club did not advance far in the Cupa României that year, exiting in the round of 32. In the subsequent 2015–16 campaign, now at Rapid București, he managed the side from August 2015 and secured the Liga II Seria I championship by topping the table three points ahead of second-placed Dunărea Călărași, though the club was ultimately denied promotion to Liga I due to financial issues. Alexa's tenure at Dunărea Călărași from August 2017 marked another milestone, as he led the club to its historic first-ever promotion to by winning the 2017–18 title. The team finished first in the league phase and prevailed in the promotion play-off, defeating Hermannstadt 3–1 on aggregate. Later, in a brief return to Rapid București during the 2019–20 season starting in March 2020, Alexa contributed to the club's survival in the top flight, helping them finish 12th overall after a challenging campaign amid the disruptions. With in the 2021–22 Seria 4, Alexa positioned the team competitively, qualifying for the promotion play-off where they reached the final but lost on penalties to Dumbrăvița after a 1–1 draw. More recently, at in the 2024–25 season, he achieved the championship, securing promotion to through success in the promotion play-offs. These accomplishments highlight Alexa's expertise in building promotion-contending squads, with three titles and one title to his name, but no championships or major domestic cups.

References

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