Former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu has been diagnosed with cancer, it has been revealed in his home country. Romanian Football League president Gino Iorgulescu released an emotional statement announcing the news, revealing that he is undergoing chemotherapy.
The news comes just four months after Petrescu resigned as Romania’s CFR Cluj coach. Since then, he has kept a low profile. “I don’t know what to say. It’s a delicate situation. May there be a cure and may God help Dan recover,” Iorgulescu told local media.
“We don’t know the exact diagnosis, but we know it’s a very serious condition. He’s undergoing chemotherapy. We don’t know what he’s doing. He’s undergoing chemotherapy. We don’t know what he’s doing.”
“He played for me and also worked as a coach at FC National. I was also friends with him. It makes me sick to hear news like this. It makes my skin crawl.”
“I had and still have a good relationship with him. I haven’t spoken to him since I found out his situation was very serious.”
The former full-back, who recently turned 58, joined Chelsea from Sheffield Wednesday in November 1995. In four and a half years with the club, he played 208 games, scoring 23 goals and providing a further 20 assists.
He was part of the team that won the League Cup, FA Cup (x2), UEFA Super Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup. He left the club in August 2000 and joined Bradford City. After six months at Rodney Parade, he joined Southampton, where he spent 18 months before returning to Romania with FC National.
He retired in the summer of 2003 and turned to management. He has been in charge of several clubs around the world, but returned in April 2024 to become the manager of CFR Cluj for the fourth time.
He has led the club to four league titles, the last time being in the 2020/21 season. Last season, he led the club to victory in the Romanian Cup.
Petrescu’s three daughters have reportedly returned to Romania to support their father.
