A former footballer has died aged 44 after a long battle with cancer.
Vasilică Georgiu spent the last few years working as an academy coach following his retirement from playing.
He was first diagnosed 18 months ago after failing to treat a malignant tumour on his right calf.
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Another liposarcoma then appeared on his abdomen, and he underwent an operation in Cluj-Napoca, north-western Romania, just two months ago.
All seemed well until a visit to his sister in Italy, after which he returned home with severe intercostal pain.
Tests revealed the cancer had spread to multiple parts of his body, as reported by Need To Know.
Vasilică returned to the Institute of Oncology in Cluj-Napoca for intensive treatment but sadly passed away on Sunday morning (5 Oct).
He spent most of his playing career in Romania’s second tier, turning out for teams including FC UTA Arad, Tricotaje Ineu, Frontiera Curtici, and Gloria Arad.
Vasilică also spent one season in Romania’s top flight with FC Bihor Oradea in 2003-2004, before the team was relegated.
He played academy football for UTA from the ages of seven to 18, first coached by ex-Romania goalkeeper Silviu Iorgulescu, and later by Viorel Sima, a double league champion with UTA in 1969 and 1970.
During his career, Vasilică played alongside Romanian stars such as Cristian Panin, Sorin Botiș, Marius Ciubăncan, and Claudiu Drăgan.
His son Luca David is a budding young footballer hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Vasilică’s first cousin is Daniela Dodean, a three-time European champion in table tennis.
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