Mircea Ilcu

Mircea Ilcu
Personal information
Full name Mircea Ilcu
Date of birth (1991-04-01) 1 April 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Timișoara, Romania
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
John Abbott Islanders
2007–2008 Lakers du Lac Saint-Louis
2009 Trois-Rivières Attak
2010–2012 Montreal Impact
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013– Montreal Carabins
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Trois-Rivières Attak 10 (4)
2010 Montreal Impact Academy 10 (3)
2011 Montreal Impact (NASL) 11 (1)
2012–2013 Montreal Impact (MLS) 0 (0)
International career
2006 Canada U15
2006–2007 Canada U17
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 August 2011

Mircea Ilcu (born 1 April 1991 in Timișoara) is a soccer player. Born in Romania, he represented Canada at youth international level.

Club career

Youth career

Ilcu moved from Romania to Canada with his family as a small child, settling in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec.[1] He attended Ecole Secondaire de la Cité-des-Jeunes and played college soccer at John Abbott College. He played for Équipe du Québec (the Quebec provincial team) between 2004 and 2006.[2][3] He would also play for the Quebec team at the 2009 Canada Games where he recorded a goal in the finals to win the gold medal.[4][5]

Early career

Ilcu played in the local amateur circuit the Ligue de soccer élite du Québec in 2004 with Lakers du Lac Saint-Louis.[2] In the 2007 season, he received the best player and top goal scorer award in the U17 division.[6]

After four seasons with Saint-Louis, he signed with the Trois-Rivières Attak in the Canadian Soccer League.[7][3] In his debut season in the inter-provincial league, he helped the club secure their second divisional title.[8] Trois-Rivières' opponents in the first round of the playoffs were Portugal FC where they successfully defeated the Toronto-based team.[9] Ultimately, the Attak would reach the championship finals where they defeated the reigning champions the Serbian White Eagles in a penalty shootout.[10] Throughout the 2009 season, he made 10 appearances and recorded 4 goals.[11]

In 2010, he joined Montreal Impact's academy in the league's first division.[12] The following season, Ilcu was signed to Montreal's senior team but still was loaned out to the academy side.[13][14][15] Throughout the 2011 season, he helped the academy team secure a postseason.[16] Montreal would be eliminated from the playoff tournament in the first round by Capital City.[17]

His final season with the academy occurred during the 2012 season.[18] He would help Montreal secure another playoff berth by finishing second in the division.[19] Ilcu would provide both goals in Montreal's victory over Toronto FC's academy in the first round of the playoffs.[20] In the next round, Montreal would defeat the York Region Shooters to qualify for the championship final.[21] He made his second championship appearance where Montreal lost the match to Toronto Croatia.[22]

Montreal Impact

Ilcu made his debut for Montreal Impact in the North American Soccer League on 9 April 2011 against Tampa Bay.[23][24] He secured a permanent spot on the roster on July 13, 2011.[25] IIcu would record his first goal for Montreal on August 15, 2011, against the Atlanta Silverbacks.[26][27] In his debut season with Montreal, he appeared in 11 matches and recorded 1 goal.[28]

In the early winter of 2012, he was invited to the preseason camp held by Montreal.[29][30] He would injure his knee which caused him to miss the majority of the season.[31] After the conclusion of the 2012 season, he was selected for the Italian tour to play in several friendly matches.[32] Throughout the tour, he played against Fiorentina's reserve team and recorded a goal.[33] He was invited to the winter offseason training camp in 2013.[34] After the conclusion of the training camp, Montreal declined to extend his contract.[35][36] Ilcu would play in the MLS Reserve League with Montreal reserve squad in 2013.[37]

College

In 2013, he transitioned to the college level by playing with the Montreal Carabins soccer program.[38] Ilcu would be named to second all-star team in 2015.[39]

International career

Ilcu was called to the Canada men's national under-15 soccer team camp in 2006.[40][1]

Career stats

Team Season League Domestic
League 		Domestic
Playoffs 		Domestic
Cup1 		Concacaf
Competition2 		Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Trois-Rivières Attak 2009 CSL 10 4 2 - - - - - - - - - 10 4 2
Montreal Impact Academy 2010 CSL 10 3 2 - - - - - - - - - 10 3 2
Montreal Impact 2011 NASL 5 1 0 - - - - - - - - - 5 1 0
Total CSL 20 7 4 - - - - - - - - - 20 7 4
Total NASL 5 1 0 - - - - - - - - - 5 1 0

Personal life

Ilcu's father Mihai was also a footballer who played for FC Politehnica Timișoara in the 1980s.[1][41] His niece Marieta is a former long jumper.

Honors

Trois-Rivières Attak

Montreal Impact Academy

References

  1. ^ a b c Basu, Arpon (20 September 2006). "Sniper plays game for keeps". Montreal Gazette. pp. C5.
  2. ^ a b "Trois-Rivières Attak player profile". www.attakfc.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "L'Attak embauche trois joueurs" [The Attack hires three players]. RDS.ca (in French). 27 April 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Canada Games Profile". Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Kids 'international' tourney in Kirkland". The Montreal Gazette. 3 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Les gagnants sont..." [The winners are...]. RDS.ca (in French). 23 October 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Campioana Canadei la fotbal are portar român" [The Canadian football champion has a Romanian goalkeeper]. click.ro (in Romanian). 31 October 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b Gauthier, Louis-Simon (21 September 2009). "La force des jeunes" [The strength of young people]. La Presse (in Canadian French). Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  9. ^ Gauthier, Louis-Simon (5 October 2009). "L'Attak dans le carré d'as" [Attak in the final four]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). p. 34.
  10. ^ a b Gauthier, Louis-Simon (26 October 2009). "L'Attak champion" [The Attak Champion]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). p. 39.
  11. ^ "2009 Trois-Rivières Attak stats". attakfc.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ "2010 Montreal Impact Academy roster". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  13. ^ Caton, Mary (13 June 2011). "Stars ready to shake up roster; Team slips to 1-7 record". The Windsor Star. pp. C1.
  14. ^ "Saison 2011 Season: Alignement Académie U21 Academy Roster" (PDF). Montreal Impact Academy. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  15. ^ Lévesque, Dave (15 August 2011). "Ilcu : un risque qui rapporte" [Ilcu: a risk that pays off]. Le Journal de Montréal. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  16. ^ "City United hits post-season on a high". Brampton Guardian. 6 October 2011.
  17. ^ Desaulniers, Darren (17 October 2011). "Surviving the Impact; Capital City FC advances into CSL semifinals". Ottawa Citizen. pp. B6.
  18. ^ "2012 Montreal Impact Academy roster". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  19. ^ Hickey, Pat (20 November 2012). "Impact committed to developing local talent". Montreal Gazette. pp. A23.
  20. ^ Hayakawa, Michael (15 October 2012). "York Shooters in CSL semifinals". Vaughan Citizen.
  21. ^ Hayakawa, Michael (22 October 2012). "York Shooters eliminated from CSL playoffs". Vaughan Citizen.
  22. ^ a b "Toronto Croatia wins CSL title with a 1-0 victory over Montreal Impact Academy". The Canadian Press. 27 October 2012.
  23. ^ FCTB defeats Montreal 1–0 in the Season Opener
  24. ^ "L'impact perd son premier match de la saison, 1-0 face au FC Tampa Bay: L'impact perd son premier match de la saison" [The impact loses its first match of the season, 1-0 against FC Tampa Bay: The impact loses its first match of the season]. The Canadian Press (in French). 9 April 2011.
  25. ^ Phillips, Randy (13 July 2011). "Impact in search of victories; Season's second half starts tonight". The Montreal Gazette. pp. B9.
  26. ^ "Impact : portrait du jeune Mircea Ilcu" [Impact: portrait of young Mircea Ilcu]. RDS.ca (in French). 17 August 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Montreal Impact cruise past Atlanta Silverbacks in 4-0 victory: Impact roll to 4-0 win over Silverbacks". The Canadian Press. 14 August 2011.
  28. ^ "L'Impact invite Pizzzolito, Gatti, Sebrango, Agourram et Ilcu à son camp: L'Impact invite cinq joueurs d'ici à son camp" [The Impact invites Pizzzolito, Gatti, Sebrango, Agourram and Ilcu to its camp: The Impact invites five players from here to its camp]. The Canadian Press (in French). 15 December 2011.
  29. ^ Phillips, Randy (27 January 2012). "Training camp no fiesta in Mexico; Club gets seasoning after matches with local teams". The Montreal Gazette.
  30. ^ "Reda Agourram est libéré par l'Impact" [Reda Agouram is released by the Impact]. RDS.ca (in French). 31 January 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  31. ^ Milano, Pascal (27 August 2012). "Académie de l'Impact: de beaux espoirs" [Impact Academy: bright hopes]. La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  32. ^ Beacon, Bill (2 November 2012). "Impact cut Thomas, Gardner, James as roster for Italy trip announced". The Canadian Press.
  33. ^ "L'Impact a raison de l'equipe reserve de la Fiorentina par la marque de 4-1" [The Impact beats the Fiorentina reserve team by a score of 4-1]. The Canadian Press (in French). 13 November 2013.
  34. ^ "Impact opens training camp on Monday". The Montreal Gazette. 21 January 2013. pp. B4.
  35. ^ Zurkowsky, Herb (27 February 2013). "Impact signs first-round SuperDraft pick Blake Smith; Expectations are high for rookie midfielder". The Montreal Gazette.
  36. ^ "Pas de contrat pour Ilcu" [No contract for IIcu]. TVA Sports (in Canadian French). 26 February 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Mircea Ilcu | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  38. ^ "Un triplé pour les Carabins" [A Hat-Trick for the Carabins]. Soccer masculin (in French). 15 September 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Haddad, Sissoko et Ilcu parmi les étoiles" [Haddad, Sissoko and Ilcu among the stars]. Soccer masculin (in French). 19 March 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Profile – Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  41. ^ Lévesque, Dave (22 August 2011). "Le soccer de père en fils" [Soccer from father to son]. Le Journal de Montréal. Retrieved 18 April 2024.