Ionel Ganea: controversies, Wolves stint and the tragedy that followed | OneFootball

Former Wolves striker Ionel Ganea mixed early Premier League goals with repeated flashpoints, and last year suffered personal tragedy.

As reported by ExpressAndStar.com, the Romanian joined in December 2003 after spells at home and in Germany. He arrived hoping he might keep Wolves up, but he did not.

He came through in Romania, moved to Stuttgart in 1999 and starred for the national team at Euro 2000, then cancelled a Türkiye contract to join Wolves that winter.

He scored three Premier League goals and seven in 32 overall as injuries hampered two further seasons. He later finished in Romania, then moved into coaching and technical roles.

Controversy followed him, from beating a captain at FC Brasov to clashes in Germany and an ice cream thrown at Felix Magath.

In 2004 against Scotland his challenge left John Kennedy out for three years and ultimately ended the defender’s career. Steven Gerrard later described a painful tackle, drawing a barbed response.

At Wolves he called Glenn Hoddle the most difficult manager he had worked for and was fined a week’s wages after a training fight. Back home he received a 22-game ban, reduced to 16, for attacking an assistant referee.

He was also reported to have almost fought a priest at a funeral, and later argued with a female journalist who issued a threat. Last year he and his son were in a car crash, and a month later the two-year-old died.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com