{{Short description|Romanian footballer (born 1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Cosmin Matei | image = Algérie-Roumanie - 20140604 - 15 - Cosmin Matei (cropped).jpg | upright = 0.9 | caption = Matei with Romania in 2014 | fullname = Cosmin Gabriel Matei | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|9|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Târgoviște, Romania | height = 1.75 m | position = Attacking midfielder, winger | currentclub = Sepsi OSK | clubnumber = 10 | youthyears1 = 2001–2005 | youthclubs1 = FCM Târgoviște | youthyears2 = 2005–2008 | youthclubs2 = Farul Constanța | years1 = 2008–2010 | clubs1 = Farul Constanța | caps1 = 35 | goals1 = 4 | years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = Steaua București | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2011 | clubs3 = Astra Ploiești | caps3 = 6 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2012–2016 | clubs4 = Dinamo București | caps4 = 109 | goals4 = 20 | years5 = 2016 | clubs5 = Atromitos | caps5 = 11 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2016–2019 | clubs6 = Gençlerbirliği | caps6 = 28 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2018 | clubs7 = → Istra 1961 (loan) | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 3 | years8 = 2019–2021 | clubs8 = Viitorul Constanța | caps8 = 56 | goals8 = 5 | years9 = 2021–2022 | clubs9 = Dinamo București | caps9 = 20 | goals9 = 2 | years10 = 2022– | clubs10 = Sepsi OSK | caps10 = 119 | goals10 = 19 | nationalyears1 = 2008–2009 | nationalteam1 = Romania U17 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2009–2010 | nationalteam2 = Romania U19 | nationalcaps2 = 9 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam3 = Romania U21 | nationalcaps3 = 8 | nationalgoals3 = 1 | nationalyears4 = 2014 | nationalteam4 = Romania | nationalcaps4 = 2 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | club-update = 7 May 2026 | nationalteam-update = }} '''Cosmin Gabriel Matei''' ({{IPA|ro|kosˈmin gabriˈel maˈtej}}; born 30 September 1991) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Liga II club Sepsi OSK, which he captains.
Matei started out his senior career at Farul Constanța in 2008, and has since represented Steaua București, Astra Ploiești, Dinamo București, Viitorul Constanța and Sepsi OSK in his country. Abroad, he competed for teams in Greece, Turkey and Croatia, respectively.
Internationally, Matei earned caps for Romania at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, before making his full debut in May 2014.
==Club career==
===Farul Constanța=== Matei made his Liga I debut for Farul Constanța on 18 October 2008, in a match against Politehnica Timișoara.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/players/m/matei_cosmin.shtml|title=Cosmin Gabriel MATEI|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref>
===Steaua București=== Matei was transferred to Steaua București in July 2010. On 22 August, he recorded his league debut by coming on as a 85th-minute substitute for Romeo Surdu in a 3–0 win over Vaslui.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
On 4 September 2010, Matei made his debut for Steaua's reserves in a Liga II game against Juventus București, entering in the 17th minute as they won 1–0.
===Astra Ploiești=== In June 2011, Matei was transferred to Astra Ploiești.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcastraploiesti.ro/component/content/article/3-alerte/836-i-cosmin-matei-e-astral.html|title=Și Cosmin Matei e "astral"|publisher=fcastraploiesti.ro|access-date=7 June 2011|language=Romanian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008104842/http://www.fcastraploiesti.ro/component/content/article/3-alerte/836-i-cosmin-matei-e-astral.html|archive-date=8 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> He did not impress during his stint in Prahova County, appearing in only five matches without scoring.{{opinion?|date=June 2025}}
===Dinamo București=== In August 2012, Matei penned down a five-year contract with Dinamo București,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/cosmin-matei-e-dinamovist-cu-acte-in-regula-azi-a-facut-primul-antrenament-296244.html|title=Cosmin Matei e dinamovist cu acte în regulă |publisher=Gazeta Sporturilor|access-date=23 August 2012|language=Romanian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/video-dinamo-a-mai-luat-un-stelist-cosmin-matei-cunoscut-mai-mult-pentru-iesirile-din-afara-terenului-e-ciine-295526.html|title=Dinamo a mai luat un stelist – Cosmin Matei, cunoscut mai mult pentru ieşirile din afara terenului, e "cîine"!|publisher=Gazeta Sporturilor|access-date=23 August 2012|language=Romanian}}</ref> the cross-town rival of his former club Steaua. He scored his first goal in a game against Universitatea Cluj, on 2 May that year.
===Atromitos=== In January 2016, Matei moved abroad for the first time after joining Greek club Atromitos for an undisclosed transfer fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/163587/atromitos-announce-mateis-bargain|title=Atromitos announce Matei's bargain|date=February 2016|publisher= sdna.gr| access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
===Gençlerbirliği=== On 10 August 2016, Süper Lig side Gençlerbirliği announced the signing of Matei on a three-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.genclerbirligi.org.tr/yeni-transferimiz-cosmin-matei/|title = Yeni transferimiz Cosmin Matei – Gençlerbirliği}}</ref>
===Viitorul Constanța=== On 26 August 2019, Matei returned to Romania by agreeing to a two-year contract with Viitorul Constanța.<ref>[https://www.fcviitorul.ro/stiri/noutati/bine-ai-venit-cosmin-matei Bine ai venit, Cosmin Matei!] [Welcome, Cosmin Matei!]. fcviitorul.ro {{in lang|ro}}</ref>
===Return to Dinamo București=== In September 2021, Matei returned to Dinamo București as one of the experienced players in a youth-oriented squad.<ref>[https://www.news.ro/sport/gabriel-torje-si-cosmin-matei-prezentati-la-dinamo-1922400904082021091520383624]{{in lang|ro}}</ref> After several unconvincing performances, he was excluded from the first team in December 2021 by manager Mircea Rednic.<ref>[https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/dinamo-rednic-excludere-filip-matei-648676.html]{{in lang|ro}}</ref> He resumed trainings the following month after Rednic's dismissal, but Dinamo continued its poor results which led to the first relegation in the club history.
Matei became the first player to depart Dinamo after the relegation, only three days after featuring 73 minutes in the decisive promotion/relegation play-off match against Universitatea Cluj.<ref>[https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/liga-1/oficial-cosmin-matei-a-semnat-cu-sepsi-durata-contractului-1722131]{{in lang|ro}}</ref>
===Sepsi OSK=== On 2 June 2022, shortly after Dinamo București's relegation, Matei remained in the Liga I by signing a two-year contract with Sepsi OSK. He made his debut on 9 July, in a 2–1 victory over CFR Cluj in the Supercupa României.
==International career== Matei made his debut for the Romania national team in a friendly against Albania played in Switzerland, in May 2014.
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{Updated|match played 7 May 2026}}<ref name="SW">{{Soccerway|cosmin--matei/66728}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Cupa României, Greek Cup, Turkish Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="3"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Farul Constanța |2008–09 |Liga I |12||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- |2009–10 |Liga II |23||4||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !35!!4!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!36!!4 |- |Steaua București |2010–11 |Liga I |5||0||2||0||2{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- |Astra Ploiești |2011–12 |Liga I |6||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||1 |- |rowspan="6"|Dinamo București |2011–12 |Liga I |7||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||2 |- |2012–13 |Liga I |28||5||1||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||1{{efn|name=SCR|Appearance in Supercupa României}}||0||32||5 |- |2013–14 |Liga I |29||8||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||9 |- |2014–15 |Liga I |26||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=LCR|Appearances in Cupa Ligii}}||0||29||3 |- |2015–16 |Liga I |19||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=LCR}}||0||23||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !109!!20!!8!!1!!2!!0!!5!!0!!124!!21 |- |Atromitos |2015–16 |Super League Greece |11||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Gençlerbirliği |2016–17 |Süper Lig |12||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||1 |- |2018–19 |TFF 1. Lig |16||0||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !28!!1!!8!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!36!!3 |- |Istra 1961 (loan) |2017–18 |1. HNL |14||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||3 |- |rowspan="3"|Viitorul Constanța |2019–20 |Liga I |23||4||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||4 |- |2020–21 |Liga I |33||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !56!!5!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!58!!5 |- |Dinamo București |2021–22 |Liga I |20||2||2||1||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs}}||0||24||3 |- |rowspan="5"|Sepsi OSK |2022–23 |Liga I |35||6||5||2||4{{efn|name=CON|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||1||1{{efn|name=SCR}}||1||45||10 |- |2023–24 |Liga I |29||5||2||1||5{{efn|name=CON}}||2||1{{efn|name=SCR}}||0||37||8 |- |2024–25 |Liga I |27||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||3 |- |2025–26 |Liga II |28||5||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !119!!19!!10!!3!!9!!3!!2!!1!!140!!26 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !403!!56!!37!!7!!13!!3!!9!!1!!462!!67 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 4 June 2014}}<ref name="EU">{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=28684|title=Cosmin Matei|publisher=European Football|accessdate=6 November 2021}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|Romania |2014||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||2||0 |}
==Honours== '''Steaua București'''<ref name="SW"/> *Cupa României: 2010–11
'''Dinamo București'''<ref name="SW"/> *Cupa României: 2011–12 *Supercupa României: 2012
'''Sepsi OSK'''<ref name="SW"/> *Cupa României: 2022–23 *Supercupa României: 2022, 2023
'''Individual''' *Liga I Player of the Month: April 2014<ref>[http://www.digisport.ro/Jucatorul+Lunii/Aprilie+2014/ Jucătorul lunii aprilie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411051711/http://www.digisport.ro/Jucatorul+Lunii/Aprilie+2014/ |date=11 April 2014 }}; Digisport.ro, 28 April 2014 {{in lang|ro}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{RomanianSoccer|1185/cosmin-gabriel-matei}} *{{UEFA player|1908285}}
{{Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matei, Cosmin}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Târgoviște Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Liga I players Category:Liga II players Category:FCV Farul Constanța players Category:FCSB players Category:FC Astra Giurgiu players Category:FC Dinamo București players Category:Super League Greece players Category:Atromitos F.C. players Category:Süper Lig players Category:TFF 1. Lig players Category:Gençlerbirliği S.K. footballers Category:Croatian Football League players Category:NK Istra 1961 players Category:FC Viitorul Constanța players Category:Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe players Category:Romania men's youth international footballers Category:Romania men's under-21 international footballers Category:Romania men's international footballers Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia Category:21st-century Romanian sportsmen